Europe
Why Europe?
Europe is the 3rd most populous continent in the world with about 750 million people (11% of the world population). Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey, which are in both Europe and Asia, add another 110 million people to that number.
After Asia, Europe is the second-most densely populated continent in the world and has over 60 cities with more than 1 million people. All of these people are people for whom Christ died, and we must tell them the good news of the gospel.
For 600 years, Europe has played a significant role in global affairs, and it still wields worldwide influence. Europe is actually home to the highest number of migrants of all global regions (over 70 million migrants). The influence and financial resources of Europe should be leveraged to make it a strong missionary sending continent again.
Estimates of the number of Christians in Europe can greatly vary depending on how you define a “Christian.” Operation World estimates that only about 2.5% of the population of Europe are evangelical Christians which according to them is the lowest percentage of all the continents. Sadly, not only are there many false religions in Europe but secularism is quite entrenched and Islam is on the rise. By 2030, 8% of people in Europe are expected to be Muslims.
A recent report (North American Mission Handbook, 22nd Edition) revealed that the number of North American Baptist missionaries to Europe declined by nearly 50% over the last 16 years. Despite many European countries having a strong Christian heritage and a history of sending out missionaries, there is a real shortage of labourers in Europe. There are many areas across the continent where it would be very difficult to find a doctrinal sound church to attend.
Because of the misconceptions and challenges, must negativity has developed about mission work in Europe. It is most certainly not an easy place, but there are many opportunities for those who come with the right training and the right mentality. There are many places across the continent where God is at work and doors are open.
Countries
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Azerbaijan*
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and H.
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Georgia*
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan*
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia*
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey*
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
Europe Director
Jim & Sandy Roberts
VBM Europe & North America Field Director
My wife and I served as church-planting missionaries to Scotland and pastored a church in South Carolina for many years. We know firsthand the challenges of ministry in both Europe and North America, but we are very optimistic about the opportunities on both continents.
We’d love to talk with you about whether European missions or North American church-planting might be God’s plan for your life. Please get in touch!
Europe Missionaries
Dustin & Ashley Brown
Church Planting Missionaries to Turkey
Benjamin & Patricia Broyles
Church Planting Missionaries to the Balkans
Sam & Beth Quinn
Church Planting Missionaries to the United Kingdom
Brady & Sarah Van Winkle
Church Planting Missionaries to Turkey
Europe News
Turkish Government Seeking Answers
The recent tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria has left the Turkish government with a reason to detain, question, and arrest many building contractors. The devastating earthquake has claimed the lives of more than 33,000 people as of February 12....
Bulgarian Governmental Debacle
In just two years, the Bulgarian people have been called on to vote five times in national elections. The most recent vote has been announced for April. President Rumen Radev dissolved the parliament in the first week of February and an interim...
Irish Protestors: “No More Migrants!”
While many protests against the influx of migrants and asylum-seekers occur in Ireland near refugee centers in small neighborhoods, recently a larger protest was organized and held in Dublin. Ireland has historically prided itself on its warm...
Gas Pipeline Explosion
On Friday, January 13, an explosion occurred in a gas pipeline that runs from Lithuania to Latvia. Fortunately, no one was reported injured. The gas supply was promptly cut off and the fire was put out, however, the damaged pipeline was unusable....
World War II Reparations
When Poland's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party took power in 2015, it began calling for reparations to be paid by Germany for World War II. The most recent effort to begin talks on reparations was in October of 2022 and was quickly dismissed...
Military Funding by Canceled Holidays
In November of 2022, Mette Frederiksen won a second term as Danish prime minister. Just one month later in December, she faced severe backlash for proposing to cancel a national holiday. The holiday in question is Great Prayer Day, established over...
