ADVERTISING
How should we report about Justin Bieber, Kanye West and other cases of well-known personalities who are considering the Christian faith?
“The strong spirituality and familiar atmosphere in independent evangelical churches respond to the needs of the new converts”, admits a Protestant minister. Many converts face threats after leaving Islam.
A view of Zürich, in Switzerland. / Wikimedia (CC)
In Switzerland, several churches report about conversions to Christianity among former Muslims.
The Counselling Centre for Questions about Integration and Religion (BIR, in German) confirmed this trend among refugees. “In the last month, the reports talk of Afghans and Kurds who are converting to Christianity”, the coordinator of BIR, Kathrin Anliker, told the 20 Minuten newspaper.
Many reject the experience of radical Islam they suffered in their home countries and are now open to new worldviews, Anliker believes. “Furthermore, some people who are getting baptised in Switzerland already had a Christian faith in their homeland, but had to hide it for fear of being persecuted.”
Are some getting baptised just to have more chances to get asylum? Léa Wertheimer, spokesperson of the State Office for Migration makes it clear that in Switzerland a conversion to Christianity has no effect in the state's final decision: “We check every case and decide if the person gets asylum or not based on the Swiss Asylum law.”
Still, the BIR asks all Christian leaders to analyse the reasons behind every conversion: “Churches should be reluctant when someone seems to be just looking for a document that confirms their conversion to Christianity.” Even so, these fake conversion are not usual, she admits.
MANY JOIN FREE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
A big number of the refugees who convert to Christianity in Switzerland are joining free evangelical churches. “The strong spirituality and the familiar atmosphere which are found in independent evangelical churches probably respond better to the needs of the new converts than the somehow detached state churches”, says Philippe Dätwyler, a Reformed Protestant Church minister.
The FEG denomination holds worship services in Persian. The Free Evangelical Churches (FEG) denomination in Zurich now offers two worship services for Iranian and Afghan Christians, led by a Persian pastor. About 60 people take part in these meetings, the denomination explains.
Armin Mauerhoffer, a FEG pastor, believes evangelical churches should make it a priority to serve these newcomers. “New refugees come to our meetings regularly with a desire to join our community.” This is why the sermons in his church are now translated into Persian.
THE RISKS FOR NEW CHRISTIANS
It is not easy for a former Muslim to convert to Christianity. Several have suffered assaults and receive death threats from fellow asylum seekers who do not respect their right to change religion.
Returning home to an Islamic country is also risky after leaving Islam.
REFUGEES BECOMING CHRISTIANS IN EUROPE
Media in several other European countries have reported about similar trends in conversions to Christianity.
Evangelical Focus reported about cases happening in Finland, the UK and Austria, Germany, Belgium and Albania.
We need to ‘speak’ with actions as well as with words, and start with the people around us.
Archaeological excavations have shown very old representations of roosters have been found in the Holy Land, specifically in Tell el Nasbeh and Gibeon.
Julia Doxat-Purser: 25 years of EEA office in Brussels
An interview with the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance about how evangelical Christians work at the heart of the European Union.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Lars Dahle: Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
IFES World Assembly: ‘Messengers of Hope’
Students, graduates and staff of the global evangelical student movement reflected together on how the books of Luke and Acts apply to today's universities.
Christians at work - the missing link in fulfilling the Great Commission
Photos of the Lausanne Movement Global Workplace Forum, celebrated in Manila.
European Freedom Network Bridge 2019 conference
Images of the fifth EFN gathering. Experts, activists, counsellors and church leaders met in Pescara, Italy.
Algerian Christians worship God as police arrives to close church
Video of the moment police officers enter a Protestant evangelical church near Tizi-Ouzou to close it. Church members do not stop singing, and peacefully resist later.
Porn exploits victims of human trafficking
The European Freedom Network launches a new anti-trafficking campaign: “You have no way of knowing if the porn you are looking at is from someone who chose to be there or not”.
What makes humans different to artificial intelligence machines?
David Glass, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Ulster University (Northern Ireland) analyses whether a computer can have emotions or a conscious experience.
A tent of hope for Venezuelan refugees
Thousands still cross the border to Colombia every week, and many continue on foot into the interior. Christian young people have set up an aid station along the road.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
If you want to comment, or