Discover
The identity of the nation
France is one of the most influential nations in Western history: the birthplace of revolutions, Enlightenment philosophy, art, and diplomacy. Ideas that shaped the modern world set out from Paris, and for centuries the country was one of the great centers of European Christianity, with cathedrals, monasteries, and missionaries sent to the four corners of the earth.
Today, however, France is one of the most secularized countries on the planet. Although most people still identify culturally as Christian, practiced faith is a minority. Among young people, most declare no religion. The great churches, once full, now serve more as historical heritage than as living communities of faith.
Laicity, the principle separating religion and state since 1905, is a central value of national identity. It guarantees freedom of belief, but it also fosters a climate in which faith is seen as a strictly private matter, distant from public life.
At the same time, France is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, a result of immigration from North Africa and the Middle East. There are also communities from many peoples who came from former colonies, Jews, Asians, and Africans. It is a mosaic of cultures living together in a single nation.
Amid this drift away from religion, there are signs of hope: evangelical communities have grown steadily, especially among immigrants and young people, opening new places of worship every year. France remains a challenging field, where the gospel needs to be re-presented to a people who, in large part, already consider it a thing of the past.
- 5th century The Franks settle in Gaul; Clovis converts to Christianity and unites the kingdom.
- 800 Charlemagne is crowned emperor, a milestone for European Christianity.
- 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: thousands of Huguenot Protestants are killed.
- 1685 The revocation of the Edict of Nantes drives Huguenots into mass exile.
- 1789 French Revolution: the fall of the monarchy and the proclamation of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
- 1789 The start of dechristianization: church property confiscated and worship restricted.
- 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned emperor and reorganizes Europe.
- 1905 The law separating Church and State enshrines laicity.
- 1914 France suffers immense losses in the First World War.
- 1940 Nazi occupation; Charles de Gaulle leads the resistance.
- 1958 The founding of the Fifth Republic, still in effect today.
- Today A secularized and pluralistic nation, with Christianity in decline and growing religious diversity.
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Frenchofficial, spoken by virtually the entire population
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Arabicspoken by a large community of North African origin
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Regional languagesBreton, Occitan, Alsatian, Corsican, and Basque, used locally
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Immigration languagesPortuguese, Spanish, African and Asian languages
France is the largest country in Western Europe by territory, with landscapes ranging from the beaches of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean to the snow-capped Alps and the agricultural plains of the interior. It borders Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and other neighbors, a position that has always placed it at the center of European history.
Major cities
- ParisCapital, cultural, political, and economic center
- MarseilleLargest port in the Mediterranean, a highly diverse city
- LyonCulinary and industrial hub
- ToulouseAerospace center in the south
- NiceCoastal city on the French Riviera
- BordeauxFamous for its wine region
Climate and temperature
Croissant
Crescent-shaped flaky pastry, a symbol of French breakfast.
Baguette
Long, crusty bread, present on the table every day.
Cheeses
Hundreds of varieties such as brie, camembert, and roquefort.
Coq au vin
Chicken slowly cooked in red wine, from Burgundy.
Ratatouille
Roasted vegetables with herbs, a typical dish from Provence.
Escargots
Snails prepared with butter, garlic, and parsley.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Value on laicity
The separation of religion and state is a pillar of national identity.
The art of living
Cuisine, wine, and good moments at the table are taken seriously.
Pride in the language
French is defended as an expression of culture and nation.
Intellectual debate
The discussion of ideas and philosophy hold a central place in public life.
Reserve in relationships
Closeness takes time, and initial formality is common.
Attachment to heritage
History, architecture, and traditions are carefully preserved.
- Treating faith as a public matter Religion is seen as private and personal.
- Generalizing about immigrants Society is diverse and the topic is sensitive.
- Ignoring the language Trying to speak French, even poorly, is much appreciated.
- Being rushed or superficial Relationships and conversations take time and depth.
- Belittling local culture Cuisine, art, and history are sources of pride.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Faith is considered outdated, and God dispensable in modern life.
The healthy separation has become, for many, indifference or hostility toward the sacred.
Trust in reason and science often excludes the spiritual.
Comfort and consumption have taken the place once given to faith.
Historical greatness can breed self-sufficiency before the gospel.
The idea that all truth is personal empties the search for God.
Many call themselves Christian without any living connection to Christ.
Privatized faith leaves people without community and without discipleship.
Large Muslim communities have very little access to the gospel.
Esoteric practices grow where traditional faith has receded.
Entire generations grow up without any reference to Christianity.
Past religious conflicts have left distrust toward the Church.
France guarantees religious freedom by law, and Christians can live and express their faith without major restrictions. The environment, however, is marked by a strong drift away from religion and by a laicity that, in some contexts, treats the public expression of faith with suspicion.
The greatest difficulties do not come from the State but from culture: believers may face mockery, social marginalization, or pressure to keep their faith strictly private. Churches, synagogues, and temples have occasionally been targets of vandalism and desecration.
The situation is more delicate for people of Muslim background who convert to Christ, who often face rejection from their own family and community. Even so, compared to many nations, France is a place of relative freedom, and the greater challenge is spiritual: rekindling faith in a people who, in large part, have already considered it over.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
France brings together dozens of people groups, from the majority French to many immigrant communities from North Africa, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. Several of these groups have very little access to the gospel, and the secularization of the French majority makes the field even more challenging. The country is, at the same time, a historic center of Christianity and one of the greatest mission challenges in Europe.
- 4.6M Unreached 6,9%
- 879K Minimally reached 1,3%
- 58.2M Superficially reached 87,6%
- 2.4M Partially reached 3,6%
- 415K Significantly reached 0,6%
- 44 Unreached 36,4%
- 9 Minimally reached 7,4%
- 33 Superficially reached 27,3%
- 26 Partially reached 21,5%
- 9 Significantly reached 7,4%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Berbere Imazighen Frontier
Sahrawi Frontier
Árabe Da Jordânia
Moroccan Arab Frontier
Judeu Francês Frontier
Checheno Frontier
Árabe Sírio
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
especially in Paris
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn French: the language is essential and highly valued, English helps less than one might think.
- Respect laicity: faith is treated as a private matter in public life.
- Allow time to build relationships: trust comes slowly.
- Be mindful of the cost of living in Paris, high especially in housing.
- Value the local culture: cuisine, art, and history open doors.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.