ADVERTISING
The confinement in our homes is forcing millions to stop abruptly, cancel all our plans, and take time to look in the mirror.
“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.
Exile can be fruitful and fertile when we see it as a season to build, to love, and to pray.
Despite being a plant that grows wild in Palestine, it is never mentioned in the Bible.
How easy it is to attach God’s name to our particular cause, to our political party, to our church denomination, and boldly proclaim to the world, ‘God is on our side’.
Jonathan Tame: Economy, looking back at the decade
The Director of the Jubilee Centre (Cambridge) analyses the impact of the financial crises on families, and the future of the workplace in a connected world, from a Christian perspective.
Jim Memory: Europe, looking back at the decade
Jim Memory analyses the main issues that have changed Europe in the 2010-2019 decade. How should Christians live in a continent that has lost its soul?
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.
Photos: European Week of Prayer
Christians joined the Evangelical Alliance Week of Prayer in dozens of European cities as local churches came together to worship God.
Photos: Students at ‘Revive Europe’
Photos of the student conference that brought together 3,000 European Christians in Germany. ‘Revive our hearts, revive our universities, revive Europe’.
How should Christ's love inform your parenting of teenagers?
Dave Patty shares about the notion of parenting children on God’s behalf.
What is a prayer meeting?
“Prayer is like a fire. One spark that someone prays should ignite a passion in someone else”. Mike Betts leads the network of churches Relational Mission.
Video: Highlights of ‘Revive Europe’
A video summary of the student conference that gathered 3,000 in Karlsruhe, Germany. 6 days in 6 minutes.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
If you want to comment, or