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
Skiing Holiday Turns Deadly
On Christmas Day, an avalanche at a ski resort in Austria resulted in the injury of four people. One of the injured had been buried in the snow and required immediate medical attention. The avalanche occurred on the Trittkopf mountain around 3 p.m....
Bomb Threats: 193
As Christmas is just around the corner, people around the world are filled with the excitement of the season. In North Macedonia, however, that excitement has been replaced with fear. On December 16, the main airport, a shopping mall, schools, and...
Hungary vs. the EU
The European Union recently voted on sending a loan worth 18 billion euros to Ukraine, but it was vetoed by Hungary. The veto was seen as a continuation of a disagreement Hungary has with the EU for supposedly "undermining democracy." Other members...
Deadly Mudslide in Italy
Recent excessive rainfall and flooding in Italy have led to a tragic landslide. During the first weekend of December, catastrophic mudslides claimed the lives of at least eight people on the Italian island of Ischia, to the west of Naples. At least...
For the Love of Money
On Monday, November 21, the US Department of Justice announced that two Estonian citizens had been indicted and arrested in Tallinn, Estonia, on 18 counts of cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering. The alleged fraud is estimated to have been...
The Monarchy of Liechtenstein
The small nation of Liechtenstein, situated between Switzerland and Austria, is governed by Hans-Adam, the Sovereign Prince. While the country is technically a constitutional monarchy, the prince holds enormous power given to him by the people as...