European Evangelism

                                                                                                                   Vol. VI, No. 9, December 1993

 Poised on the brink of a new era in Europe, Southern Baptist FMB leaders report they sense "a new move of God's hand" among the people there. John Floyd, FMB area director for Europe, and regional vice president Sam James returned in October from the annual congress of the European Baptist Federation in Kishinev, Moldova. "There's a new spirit about church planting among Baptist leaders," James said.

Last year the number of mission workers assigned to the area took a dip, partially resulting from backlash after the Board ended financial assistance to Ruschlikon Baptist Theological Seminary in Switzerland two years ago. But today mission workers in the area total 360, a 28% jump from 1991. That's an increase not only of career missionaries, but also of more mobile, short-term International Service Corps personnel. The FMB has deployed new personnel throughout the former communist bloc, but others work in such western countries as Belgium, France, Portugal, and Spain – at the request of the Baptist Unions there. In November Floyd expects United Kingdom Baptists to request ten more Southern Baptists, the first such invitation since the Ruschlikon defunding. [BPI