P r a g u e – Although Europe is increasingly faced with the challenges of a complex and diverse post-Christendom culture it does not mean that Europe is in a post-Christian age – in fact, there are many new opportunities to awaken the interest of people in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That was one key emphasis of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) Missions Conference held on the campus of Prague’s International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) from 11 to 15 June. The conference, which was entitled “Living Water in a Dry and Thirsty Land”, was an opportunity for Mission Secretaries, as well as younger mission leaders within the EBF’s member churches to explore the theme: “New Ways of Mission and being Church in Contemporary Europe and the Middle East.” The EBF in partnership with the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) hosted the conference. The BWA supported 20 younger mission leaders from Western and Central Europe, as well as some participants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, to attend the event.

According to Darrell Jackson (Gloucester), a British missiologist and advisor to various mission societies, there are regions of Europe where cultural Christianity continues to be an integral part of society. These are often regions where a particular Christian tradition is strongly or officially linked to the state. Scandinavia remains largely Protestant; Catholicism retains many adherents in Italy and Poland, and the same remains true for Orthodoxy in Greece. The religious landscape is complex: those who simplify a region’s religiosity commit the same mistake as Christian missionaries in the 19^th century who spread Western culture and lifestyle along with the Gospel. For example, the majority of Icelanders believe in the existence of mystical figures such as elves and gnomes. During a stay in Budapest, Jackson made the acquaintance of a Tibetan monk who had become a great hit among successful business people by foretelling their future. Many immigrants to Western Europe are Muslims or Hindus – all are equally in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today’s Christians are called to influence all of society positively with the Christian faith.

Stuart Murray-Williams (Bristol), a mission consultant and church planter, echoed the reflections and experiences of Jackson. He argued that it is simply false to assume that people today are not interested in matters of faith. If Christians make the effort to become acquainted with and befriend people living in multi-religious societies, they will notice the interest that people have in the Christian faith. Murray-Williams warned Christians not to distance themselves from the representatives of other religions. Instead, Christians should be involved along with members of other religions in working for the common good of all.

Gary Nelson (Toronto), General-Secretary of Canadian Baptist Ministries, underscored the necessity for awakening a new passion for mission among the Baptist Unions of Europe. To that end, congregations will need to leave their remote “islands” far removed from humanity. Nelson criticised superficial mission programmes and church movement initiatives for attempting only to improve their outward appearance. He said that only rarely do non-believers wander onto “Christian territory”, instead congregations must venture out onto new, unbeaten paths. Christians need to begin to live out their lives in the “borderlands” of society: where they engage with others, and witness to the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nelson’s topic was entitled: “ReVisioning Church – a View from North America”, emphasising the point that he is a Canadian and not a US-American, Nelson noted the many similarities between the Canadian and European contexts.

Various case studies from contemporary mission efforts in Europe were presented at the conference. The 50-plus participants were particularly impressed by a project from Bulgaria, aimed at improving the lives of minority groups from the Sinti and Roma people. In order to improve health and hygiene conditions for Sinti and Roma minorities, the Baptists of Berkovitza near Sofia have opened a public bath house in their church centre. Education and pastoral care is also part of the churches engagement with the Sinti and Roma people. Carsten Hokema (Oldenburg), mission consultant for the German “Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches”, introduced his Internet-driven “ewigkite.de” project. As a pastor and a sports enthusiast, Hokema’s goal is to share his life with others involved in kite sports. One of the exciting new additions to the activities of “ewigkite.de” will be the use of an inflatable church, which will be used as a sacred space and meeting point for people during kite festivals. Anton Suprun, presenting a case study from his congregation in Kiev, Ukraine noted the positive responses of people to business and English courses. Additional case studies from Denmark, Scotland and Sweden were also presented.

Bible studies were given by former BWA-Evangelism Director Tony Cupit, now responsible for the Baptist World Alliance’s “Living Water” Conferences, as well as by Valeriu Ghiletchi, General-Secretary of Moldovan Baptists, and Peter Penner, lecturer on missiology at IBTS.