In 2008, we welcomed over 2,500 visitors.
Click here for 2008's results.
In 2009, we almost tripled that number with over 6,800 visitors and 643 registered intercessors.
Click here for 2009's results.
This year, although we had 3,400 visitors, 954 individuals join us in united prayer for France during the 21 Days of Prayer!
Click here to get the detailed survey responses (with testimonies)!
Again, this year, we also compiled a number of news articles that give us a small perspective on what was happening in France during our time of prayer.
Only one person contacted me after my name was listed as a contact person in San Diego. We prayed together twice during the campaign in my house. It's the FIRST time I prayed for France WITH ANOTHER
PERSON, believe or not. I learned from her that the pastor(Ray Bentley)of the church (Maranatha chapel)she attends has a heart for France.(He kept thinking about France somehow last year. He prayed about it, and in an answer to his prayer, he "happened" to meet, on a trip to Israel last November, a French pastor serving in Paris. The French pastor actually visited and spoke at Maranatha chapel recently. It was saved in the church website's archives and I got to watch it!). On a prayer gathering for missionaries of my church, I happened to be in a small group where I met a lady who's a retired French teacher. I told her about the Pray for France campaign and she was VERY interested. I believe, for the next year's campaign, we can have a visible prayer group formed in San Diego.
This morning (5/28/10) at church, a Jewish believer who was born in France spoke at my church about how Jesus is found in the traditional Jewish Passover celebration. I gave him a copy of the Prayer Guide that I had. He didn't seem to know of it, but he has family in France and a great heart for it. I pray that he will be blessed by the guide.
I felt like the Lord reminded me that our prayers do have an impact on His plans and purposes for France. It's exciting to be a part of what God is doing in France through our prayers. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of the prayers for France.
A call to prayer for any reason is so beneficial in enormous ways, too numerous to mention. This time has refreshed my resolve to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in praying for our world, and for those who need prayer, but have no-one praying for them. God bless your organisation for putting out the call for prayer for specific nations. We will never know this side of heaven what it has achieved, but we do know that we benefit from corporate prayer wherever it is made and for whatever reason, in the Spirit. I will continue to pray for France, as I read somewhere that they were the very first country to denounce the existence of God, and they have been one of the forerunners of atheism and inquisition in the past. They were also instrumental in the birthing of a great revival and God has great plans for France in the end times in the final revival to herald the end of this earth system of government. King Jesus will rule.
I know that it is a miracle to have so many countries to pray for France and her peoples. In the past 2 years God has been teaching me to pray. I stumble, but welcomed the opportunity to pray for France in particular and to learn more about taking needs to God. My reason especially to pray for France is that I was on a mission trip there in 2003. I have been on evangelistic trips in Brazil and Africa and have seen many people pray to receive Christ. France was a difference experience. I still remember the people I met there. I remember that the people we encountered seemed disinterested in the gospel. As I spoke with Christians they told me about Hugenot persecution, and my heart understood the coldnes. That kind of slaughter must harden people's hearts for years. I prayed for France before this particular campaign and will continue to do so.
I have wonderful flame in my heart to serve for France. Thank you very much ! By praying for France it helped me keep the rest of the world in my mind a prayer time. Sometimes in America we get self centered, especially during a recession like we are going through currently. I was really surprised at the statistics concerning the amount of Atheists and the lack of Evangelical Christians that are now in France.One of our District preacher’s daughters is in France now working in the ministry and this prayer time helped remind me to pray for her. I was also very impressed with the devotional because the content was of high quality and not like many of the watered down devotionals we have here in America. I also loved learning about French history and the history of the church in France, it made the experience more tangible. I am also thankful for the Google translation page because I was able to translate some of the web pages that were listed in the devotional into English, furthering my absorption of the ministries in France.
God helped me very much by giving me the love for other people from different countries. I was very blessed to know what is happening in other countries and by the topics that were treated in the guide. Ya, I just feel more comfortable with my french colleagues, and think, the Lord has totally restored my heart from my unfriendliness towards France and its citizens.
For some reason, the days focusing on France's 'roots' in Christianity resonated with me most. This past weekend, a good number of the youth I have previously worked with in the Lyon area participated in Pacques 2010 where 1000 French-speaking Christian young people gathered to be encouraged and challenged in their faith. As a result of using the prayer guide, I prayed for them to turn their world upside down just like their forefathers have done previously, to be the catalysts that will return France to its roots in knowing their great God.
I learnt from reading the prayer notes and from other history sources about the way the Christian church in France came to be how it is and how the attitudes towards the church have been shaped. This helps me to appreciate some of the intellectual, cultural, social and religious factors which can result in barriers, strongholds and divisions hindering the working of the Christian Gospel in France.
I was not aware of the Pray for France movement at all but saw a banner ad on the web and began a few days in. I have had a heart to serve in France for a few years but things have never opened up for me.
During the first few days of prayer I felt led to contact someone I know in ministry ther and we are discussing plans for my family to go. Perhaps next year I will be praying in France!!
The following articles do not necessarily reflect opinions of the CCFOF or other Pray for France coalition partners but are simply a snapshot of "faith or politically significant" news that happened during our time of prayer.
Articles in English
France plans bill banning burka
Sarkozy promises to ban the burka
French mosque reopens after protest disruptions
French Muslims hit with religious bias
"No to Islamization" campaign boosts Front National numbers
Articles in French
Les églises catholiques de plus en plus vandalisées
Les chrétiens, cibles vulnérables
La justice interdit les affiches controversées du FN
Douze propositions pour renforcer la laïcité
So how can we continue to fuel the fires of prayer and build on this wonderful prayer event?
1. Sign up for our prayer calendar. You'll be texted and e-mailed prayer topics as the events happen.
2. Check our Monthly Prayer Letter and keep connected to what's going on in France throughout the year and have material for on-going prayer!
3. Visit an exceptional blog by Robin in Alabama: Praying for France at Blogspot
4. Stay connected with prayer events by visiting our partners' websites!
France's Evangelical population is about .8% (500,000 out of a national population of 62 million).
There are 2,011 Evangelical churches in the entire country and over 250 towns with populations of over 10,000 have no Evangelical church at all.
In a recent survey, 51% of the population identified themselves as "Catholic" however only 9% of those believe in God as a personal, relational God.
France's atheist population is 31%.
There are 30,000 occult workers (spiritists, mediums, etc.) in France - there are 2,300 full-time Christian workers (pastors, evangelists, missionaries)
However, in the past 12 years, over 400 new churches have been started AND for the first time in over 20 years, the Protestant popluation has gone from 2% to 3% (driven largely by Evangelical growth).
Want to see where some of us were praying during the campaign?
Click here for a Google Map with our locations!