by James Ray

The work of BIMI in Europe was initiated in the early 1970s. Those years were a wake-up call to Christians in America. Throughout American history, Europe had been looked upon as the spiritual mother of our nation. Americans were slow to accept the fact that the old mother countries had lost their spiritual life and had plunged into darkness. Slowly the Christians in America began to respond to the need of Europe by sending missionaries back to its shores.

Europe is populated by almost as many people as live in all of North America, South America and Africa combined. Today, almost ONE BILLION people live on the continent of Europe. Long ago the Apostle Paul heard the Macedonian cry, “Come over and help us.” Again that cry is heard through the lands of Europe, east and west.

Ever since the Apostle Paul walked up the Appian Way, taking the Gospel to Rome, Europe has played a significant role in spreading Christianity throughout the world. From Rome, the Gospel entered Northern Italy, where the Waldensians suffered cruel persecution centuries later, and yielded up three million martyrs for Christ’s sake.

The history of the faith in Europe has been written with the blood of many mighty Christians.

· William Tyndale died at the stake in Belgium for his work on the Scriptures.

· John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English for the common people.

· John Knox gave Scotland to Christ by his fearless preaching in Edinburgh.

· Count Zinzendorf inspired the momentous Moravian missionary movement.

Great preachers such as Wesley, Whitfield, and Spurgeon followed in their steps.

Religious freedom, bought by blood, produced an atmosphere in Europe that allowed missionaries like Carey, Taylor, Livingstone, Williams, and others to take the Gospel throughout the world.

In no more than seventy years after the missionary thrust, the continent of Europe, which had sent the light of the Word into many dark corners of the globe, succumbed to spiritual decay itself. Today we who have received the Gospel from our European forefathers must send it again to their children. At least 75% of the continent is unevangelized now. Throughout free Europe there are over 250,000 towns and villages without a Gospel-preaching, Bible-believing church.

AUSTRIA is a country of over seven million people. Of the more than four thousand towns and villages, less than 100 have a real evangelical witness for Christ. Although the populace is well educated and affluent, the excessive suicide rate — one of the highest in the world — is evidence they are groping in darkness and dying without the light.

In BELGIUM only five of every thousand are classified Protestant, yet many of these are not born-again. BIMI missionaries in Belgium have seen souls saved and a good Baptist church established.

SOUTHERN IRELAND has a population that is 97% Roman Catholic with very few Baptist churches. BIMI missionaries in the Republic of Ireland have been instrumental in starting a Bible college and are now planting New Testament Churches. Although the pace of response is slow, the missionaries are working diligently and seeing wonderful results.

A survey of ENGLAND showed that 71% of the English do not believe in the hereafter. The unbelief stems more from an absence than an attitude. The Gospel was not passed on to the younger generation and thus that generation was generally missed. There are still Bible preaching churches and great preachers in Great Britain, but far too few.

SPAIN has over 7,500 towns and villages without an established witness. The door is wide open today, but for how long?

Although atheism and agnosticism reigns, FRANCE is a professing Roman Catholic country. Thousands of towns are without any testimony of the Gospel.

This type of information could be repeated for Norway, Italy, Holland, Germany, and Greece. False religions, heresy, cults, and atheistic philosophies seek to control the minds of Europeans. Materialism and pagan religions have failed, leaving millions with no peace and without hope in God. The time is ripe to flood Europe with workers called by God, who will tell them of reality in Jesus Christ. While it is true that Western Europeans are slow to respond to the Gospel, it must be remembered that SOME DO RESPOND. The wonderful thing about Western Europe is the astounding open door. What an opportunity! For example, if there were 100 couples who would surrender for England, in four years there would be 100 new Baptist Churches there THAT could make a difference for years to come.

EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA are perhaps the greatest challenge of our time. With the fall of communism, doors long closed are now open. BIMI has found the people of these countries ready to receive the Gospel and many hundreds have been saved already as a result of special campaigns.

BIMI has missionaries in most of the Eastern European countries from Poland to Hungary to Romania to Russia and Siberia. Hundreds of people have turned to Christ through the ministry of BIMI missionaries in these countries. When the iron curtain first crumbled, BIMI led citywide crusades in Eastern Europe and witnessed the conversion of thousands of people. Unfortunately, most of the converts had no good established churches to nurture them and an advantage was lost. However, there are now many missionaries in this part of the world and new converts are trained and discipled.

Teams going to Eastern Europe led by the European Director of BIMI have distributed almost one million Bibles and millions of Gospel messages. Who would have ever thought that Christians would touch ONE MILLION HANDS in the old Soviet Empire, placing in those reaching hands the blessed Word of God?

BIMI is urging her 160 missionaries in Europe to renew their efforts toward the younger generation. There are 1.8 billion children under 15 years of age in the world. In Europe alone there are almost 200 million children under 15 years of age. How many William Careys, David Brainerds, David Livingstones or Amy Carmichaels are out there waiting for the seed of the Gospel. Then again how many potential Hitlers, Karl Marxs or Stalins are out there who might respond to the Gospel and be saved. There is no way to measure the power of children.

Of course, missionaries are urged to continue the pursuit of adults. This is vital, but THE CHILDREN and young people of Europe present an astounding opportunity for the future. Children become adults in a short handful of years. Their young and tender hearts are fertile ground, waiting for the Gospel seed that can change their lives and the world FOREVER.

Couples are presently on deputation for Eastern European Countries and the USSR, but many more are needed. Only God knows how long these doors will remain open. Millions of people in Eastern Europe and Russia are seeking and begging for light. Bible-believing Christians must seize the opportunity now or it may soon be lost.

From a thrust in the early 1970s, BIMI has spread its workers over most of Europe, geographically. However many countries have only one or two couples when literally hundreds are needed to cover the thousands of cities. At least 500 couples are urgently needed to take advantage of the greatest open door for the Gospel since the first century.

BIMI is prepared to help couples who respond to raise their support and locate in Europe. A director is assigned to aid them on their deputation and field needs. The annual Candidate School instructs and provides additional information and help.

So much depends on us. We must not fail God in this tremendous hour lest we echo the plea of A.B. Simpson who wrote:

“Oh Church of God what will thou say when in the awful day they charge thee with their DOOM.”

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jonathon & Mandy Crews -  BRAZIL
Joel C & Brooke Daku -  KIRIBATI
Paul W & Martha Daku -  FIJI ISLANDS