Gibraltar: Mediterranean Mission to Seafarers
The Mediterranean Mission to Seafarers Gibraltar is a kindred society of Mission to Seafarers of which Her Majesty The Queen is Patron. In the early days the Mission operated from a Nissan hut in the port area and even had its own launch ‘The Flying Angel’ which was used to visit ships anchored in the bay.
The Dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity currently acts as the Mission to Seafarers Port Chaplain. Along with other appointed ships’ visitors from the Cathedral he works in partnership with clergy and lay colleagues from the Roman Catholic Apostleship of the Sea, the Sailors Society and other faith groups to meet the spiritual needs of seafarers visiting Gibraltar. The Dean and his colleagues are available to offer Christian services, spiritual support and opportunities for prayer and quiet reflection. There is also a Flying Angel and Port Authority Club that is managed on behalf of Mission to Seafarers.
Germany: Longs for hope
Operation World reports, ‘The decline of Christianity has drawn believers together. Prayer movements are forming and spreading as are city- and region-wide unity initiatives among churches, a revitalized spirituality and an openness to a new way of doing faith’; and Missionary ECM works with several teams, particularly in the eastern German province of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and in the southwest of the country. In eastern Germany, communism and after that economic difficulties left deep marks in the spiritual lives of the people. The Christian faith is reduced to the margins of society. Many people don't know what the Gospel is all about. ECM desires to bring the Gospel to their attention again by active, living Christian communities, as a new message that gives hope for the future. A large number of refugees from several religious backgrounds live in southwest Germany and are trying to build a new life. ECM helps to support them with that and wants them to get to know the Gospel.
France: Least evangelised country in Europe
France is one of the countries where the Reformation started. The Roman Catholic Church has played a predominant role in French society and mentalities in the past. Anti-religious sentiments have developed in France since the 1970s and in 1999 those who identified themselves as French Evangelicals were labelled a ‘sect’ by a government commission. There are 36,550 cities, towns and villages in France and 35,000 of them do not have an Evangelical church. Meanwhile, Islam has seen strong growth. For each Evangelical Christian in France, there are ten practicing Muslims. France has developed a reputation as a ‘missionary graveyard.’ It is one of the least evangelised countries in the world - only 0.4% of the population are Evangelical Christian. It is both essential and urgent that everything be put into place so that the Gospel is preached with strength and vigour.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands consists of 18 rugged islands between Iceland and Scotland, 16 of which are inhabited. The official language: Faroese, which is of the Scandinavian family; (Danish). Christian resources are plentiful for this small population with two Bible translations (and one modern paraphrased NT being prepared). There is a Christian radio station (Radio Lindin). They have a Christian TV station (Iktus Christian TV) and online Bible in Faroese. They have their own Christian magazine and two bookstores.
