Overcoming 5 Challenges in Reaching the New Dark Continent

Europe: Just say the word and it invokes a mixed array of images:

Some think of luxurious vacations in the Swiss Alps, unencumbered days under the Tuscan sun, supple and sublime Boudreaux with the perfect balance of tannins and oak, and young backpackers trekking between hostels.

Others think of the continent that gave us two world wars and introduced death on an industrial scale, unheard of before in human history.

Still others think of an old continent with aging nations meandering along, untethered from former empires of greatness and world domination.

Whatever people think of when they think of Europe, rarely do they think of it like I do: I think of Europe as a mission field.

Once the citadel of Christianity, it has become a graveyard of cathedral tombs echoing days of life long past.

Europe has become “The New Dark Continent.”

The 10 most Gospel resistant people groups in the world are all located in Europe.

This is my field.

From the vast Russian steppe in the East to the rugged Portuguese coastline in the West; From the Mediterranean sun that baths Athens to the cold harsh rain and winds that clothe Scotland, this is my field, though I am a stranger here. Yet, I am not alone.

I work with some of the finest missionaries and nationals I have ever met. They are among my dearest friends and ministry partners. I feel a kindred heart with them unlike anything I have ever experienced in my own homeland.

We share a deep love and calling for Europe. And we share some common challenges in reaching this continent we love so much.

All missionaries face language, culture, and political challenges. Beyond these universal challenges each nation or people group present unique challenges for the missionary. Working in Europe, I have observed at least 5 Challenges in Reaching the New Dark Continent:

1. Europe is “Post” Everything.

Europe is Post-Political, Post-Modern, and Post-Christian. It is beyond the scope of this article to unpack what each of these mean. Indulge me a little and let us leave it at Europe has lost all faith in political systems and ideologies; Europe has lost all faith in rationalisms ability to explain the world; And Europe has lost all faith in religion to be of any relevance.

Certainty is gone. Truth is questionable. Knowledge is limited. Meaning is up for grabs.

2. In spite of being “Post Christian,” many Europeans still find cultural and ethnic identity in their national religion.

To be Irish, Polish, or Italian is to be Catholic. You may be an atheist, but you are still Catholic.

To be Russian, Serbian, or Greek is to be Orthodox.

To be Albanian or Bosnian is generally to be Muslim.

If you give up your religion you give up your ethnic and national identity.

Reaching them with the Gospel entails reaching them within their culture, against all cultural prejudice, because God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,” (Acts 17:26–27, ESV)

3. In Europe, we must overcome the abusive relationship Europeans have experienced with religion. Their reference point to Jesus and His Church is seen as an abusive relationship – We must Re-Present Jesus to them.

European history is scared with religious wars. Families and nations have been torn apart because of religion. After hundreds of years Europe has had enough. Religion is not only irrelevant: it is the problem.

When we tell them about Jesus they think we are trying to bring them back into that abusive relationship. We have to overcome their experience with religion in order to introduce them to Jesus Christ: The Jesus they think about is not the Jesus we are talking about.

4. We must overcome prejudices about Europe.

Want to derail an American politician? Accuse him or her of being a soft European-styled liberal politician. That can be as damaging as a very questionable selfie.

Want to make eyes roll? Tell someone you are a missionary to Europe.

You can be a missionary Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, or the Middle East, and wow, you are a true missionary. But go to Europe and you are not a missionary, you are a “vacationary.”

I hear comments like, “Boy, I wish I could be a missionary in France, or Italy, or England, or…” add any European nation you want. As if these men and women are on permanent vacation.

Let me give you a glimpse of what people serving in Europe deal with: Go to Africa, Asia, Central or South America, get a crowd, take a picture and you are a hero. Supporters love the big crowds.

In Europe, we don’t get the crowds. We celebrate the ones and the twos. Everyone else gets to celebrate the hundreds and thousands. We are plowing hard, fallow ground here. We get to celebrate the ones and the twos knowing that someday Europe will be a fertile field again. We are plowing and planting for that day.

Sure, we have Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and good food. But we did not go on the mission field for those things. We could have stayed in America if we wanted that. We went because Jesus called us. We went to reach souls. We are broken over the hardness of this continent we love so deeply. We serve it in hope that someday others will get to enjoy the fruit of our labors just as those in Africa are now standing on the buried shoulders of those who came before them.

5. Europe is hard and expensive.

Back when Africa was the Dark Continent, missionaries were sent out with living supplies and a casket. After an average of two years they died on the field and were shipped back home. We rightfully hail them as heroes. They have earned the martyr’s crown. We esteem them as, “those for whom the world was not worthy.” They gave the last, greatest sacrifice.

Now, in Europe, our missionaries do not face death for the most part: they face years of plowing fallow ground and being assessed by supporters back home who wish they would get their act together like the folks in Brazil, Mexico, and the South Pacific.

Yet, we labor with the call that 750 million deserve to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ just as all the other peoples of the world.

I cringe when I hear someone say, “We can support three missionaries in the juggle for the cost of one missionary in Europe.” I cringe because I wonder what it will be like on the Day of Judgment when we give an account and we look at the millions of Europeans who have never heard the Gospel and we have to tell them, “Sorry, we made a financial decision. You were just too expensive and not worth the cost. It’s not personal, it’s just business.”

Yes, being a missionary in Europe has its challenges, but I would not trade places with anyone anywhere for any reason.

I have this hope, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.” (Isaiah 35:1–2, ESV)

This is my hope. My conscious is bound.

Here are Some Ways You Can Help Our Missionaries in Europe:

1. Cover us: Pray for the Missionaries and Leaders Serving Throughout the New Dark Continent. Support us in every way. We get discouraged and tired because the ground is hard and filled with rocks. Protect us from accusations of the enemy and the self-defeating doubts we all struggle with.

2. Connect with us to celebrate and encourage. Facebook, email, and Skype are great ways to keep us connected to the life source of the local church. Solomon said in Proverbs 25:25,

“Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

3. Partner with us financially. All of us who serve in Europe have more opportunities than we can keep up with. You can help us meet the overwhelming need.

Here is a list of our missionaries serving in Europe. Pray about connecting with them. Click HERE.

Here is one example of an opportunity to reach a city with less than 1% evangelical Christians:

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.

Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, or in Stitcher so you don’t miss an episode!