Moxie Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Just FYI, I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm curious. Why would a church sponsor a mission trip to Ireland?? Aren't most people in Ireland Christian already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 I don't know about Ireland in particular, but I've read that Christianity is on a stark decline in Europe in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Europe is definitely post-Christian. There are far more people there who are secular or of a non-Christian faith than those who are Christian. Church attendance is very, very low. I have a dear friend who is British (presently living in Scotland) who would say that Europe is Christian by heritage but that only a minority are actually Christian in belief and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 I don't know about Ireland in particular, but I've read that Christianity is on a stark decline in Europe in general. Absolutely! Check out this article: http://johnsonjournal.com/id66.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Europe is definitely post-Christian. There are far more people there who are secular or of a non-Christian faith than those who are Christian. Church attendance is very, very low. However, I think there is enough cultural knowledge about Christianity to allow people to seek out more information for themselves if they so desire. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 However, I think there is enough cultural knowledge about Christianity to allow people to seek out more information for themselves if they so desire. Laura But they aren't. That's why missionaries go there. It's a command for believers to go into all the world, not just to places where there isn't a cultural knowledge about Christianity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Yes, in Ireland, and in fact all of Europe, Christianity is in a steep decline. If you want more details, please pm me. I don't want to start any sort of big debate here. fyi My husband and I are 'missionaries' in England. Before we came here, I was told (by a British Christian) not to say that we are missionaries because the British people don't want to be 'missionaried'. But we did move here 8 years ago to start a non-denominational Christian church. So, if you want my perspective, feel free to pm me. Blessings, Megan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 However, I think there is enough cultural knowledge about Christianity to allow people to seek out more information for themselves if they so desire. Laura Not wanting to start a debate, or anything, but I have to respectfully disagree. We have worked a lot with young people and their knowledge of anything Christian is very limited. I know that they are supposed to learn about Christianity, and other religions, in their RE classes, but either the instruction is extremely weak, or they're not paying any attention, because most that I have met really have no idea. In addition, adults have a very skewed view of Christiantiy, that Christianity = Church of England. I'm not criticizing C of E at all because I have many wonderful, good Christian friends who are C of E. But C of E does not represent all of Christianity, and, more importantly, people pre-concieved beliefs about C of E (based on going a few times when they were a kid) are an even poorer representation of Christianity. Blessings, Megan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineFarmMom Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 But they aren't. That's why missionaries go there. It's a command for believers to go into all the world, not just to places where there isn't a cultural knowledge about Christianity. Plus, a mission trip with an emphasis on prayer walking the area would be a definite plus, to remove the scales from eyes and to remove the spiritual darkness that is evidentallly covering many people in the first place. I know a lot of people who mentally know the gospel message but they need the prayer to open their eyes to see, their ears to hear, and their hearts to understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Some foreign churches are even sending missionaries here to the U.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Missionaries who go out among people who need help and help them are in need everywhere. So I think that is great. Go and help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I just have to add that being in the middle of a culture does not guarantee transmission of that culture-- Ds has been raised by two devout Christian parents, has gone to 9 years of Sunday School, and has been surrounded by Christian believers his whole life. I'm surprised by what he still doesn't know about Christian beliefs. It's pretty convicting, but I do know that part of it is his refusal to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 and he said that the Anglican church in Uganda has a strong sense of mission to re-evangelize the West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineFarmMom Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Some foreign churches are even sending missionaries here to the U.S. I can't say I blame them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Some foreign churches are even sending missionaries here to the U.S. We have friends who are missionaries in the Appalachian Mountain area here in the U.S. and friends who started a church in a poor urban area that consider themselves missionaries to the inner city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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