Peaceful demonstrations in Europe (file photo)
That's why Greater Europe Mission is focusing on the Muslim community. 'Roy' is a GEM missionary in France. "In the next 15 years there's an expectation that the Muslim population will double. That's due to the continued influx of Muslim background immigrants and the fact that they are having larger families then the typical European families."
The growth is taking place despite European nations making it more difficult for Muslim immigrants. Roy says if this growth continues there are will be a major clash in cultures.
While this clash seems imminent, GEM is partnering with a number of organizations who are reaching out to the Muslim community. Roy says they're seeing success. "The North African background immigrants are coming to the Lord and they're starting to develop their own associations, they're own churches. That's something we've never seen before. We're seeing them become more vocal. That's encouraging a number of people to come out of the closet."
The anti-Muslim policies are having other effects. "There is a fair amount of discrimination in different countries, difficulties in getting jobs and so on. And, so especially for the young people there's a resurgence of a militant Islam, which may be fairly ignorant of what Islam is, but it's their way of saying, 'we reject this culture.'"
These radical elements can be violent. So, Roy is asking Christians to pray for them. "Pray for open doors -- that we would have those open doors, that we would be bold. That, despite the fact that there might be threats or veiled threats from militants, that God would give us the words to speak at the right time and the right place."
The word can be challenging and frustrating, so pray for Christians working in this field that they would have strength and the stamina to keep the work moving forward.
