THE GOSPEL IN A FREE MARKET

by Kevin Bodsworth

Coming from the UK, where it seems that there is an evangelical church within reasonably easy reach of most people, France strikes us as a country of deep spiritual needs. In the South, reportedly one of the most widely evangelized regions of France over the centuries, it often takes an hour to drive to such a church.

This is surprising when you consider that protestant Christianity was planted in Provence as long ago as 1170 by the Vaudois, disciples of a rich merchant, Pierre Waldo, who gave away all his worldly possessions to follow Christ. Over the next 400 years the Vaudois were systematically persecuted, and just a few kilometres from the MEPA base is a village named Mérindol, where numerous protestants were executed for their faith.

There is not just the need for workers for God here, but also for a Holy Spirit-inspired thirst for the things of God. In Cavaillon, where we do a weekly market stall, a woman sells coloured pieces of glass which are supposed to hold astrological powers, and her stall is always busy. We think we've made a breakthrough when we sell one Bible in four hours, but she can sell thousands of francs' worth of occult merchandise in the same time.

Maybe that leaves you untouched, or feeling that that's just the way the world is today, but it grieves us and casts any worries we may have into the shadows, as the spiritual emptiness becomes very clear. It is difficult to express on paper the burden we have for the French, and we can only implore you to pray, pray, and pray!

Kevin and Carol Bodsworth are missionaries with WEC International on secondment to MEPA.