How We Got Started: France

The Birth of the Movement in France

After World War II, American Christians became more aware of the need for missionaries in Europe. As a part of the initial wave of postwar global workers, Fred and Maurita Fogle moved to France in 1951 and settled in Lyon a year later. This marked the first Grace Brethren church planting effort in Lyon. They centered their evangelistic efforts in the “Chalet Evangélique,” a portable building used for evangelistic meetings throughout the city. Eventually, a small group of believers started meeting at this Evangelical Center, which became the Charis Alliance’s first mission point in Europe. 

The French tendency toward individualism made teamwork difficult, so the group dispersed several times. While their pioneering church-planting efforts were considered a success in a difficult country, the Fogles eventually accepted a teaching position in Paris at Greater Europe Mission's Bible Institute and left the area.

In 1958, Tom and Doris Julien arrived in France, bringing fresh energy to the mission amidst bleak conditions. The Juliens settled in Grenoble, but Tom went to Lyon on weekends to work with the young church. As time went on, they became increasingly convinced that it was necessary to create a “bridge” (a neutral place) where the country’s post-Christian society could interact with the church. Tom believed they needed to share God’s message in such a way that people could not only hear a message, but see that message incarnate through transformed people. As they prayed for a bridge, God led them to the Chateau.

The Growth of the Movement in France

In 1964, Tom Julien strategically led Encompass to purchase the Chateau in Saint-Albain for around $26,000. We used the property as a Christian retreat center with the purpose of facilitating encounters with God. It soon became a venue for all kinds of outreach initiatives, Bible seminars, youth camps, weddings, and baptisms. For nearly 60 years, this neutral space allowed people from all walks of life to cross paths, meet, have exchanges, receive training, and to discover more about God. It became an instrumental part in the testimony of dozens. 

While the Chateau began as a place of gathering, it quickly grew into a place of sending. God used the facility and its staff to establish new points of light that eventually became churches in the surrounding regions of Montceau-Les-Mines, Le Creusot, Mâcon, Chalon, Dijon, and Lyon. These churches have since grown and multiplied into the Charis Alliance of France and Europe. Now these churches are extending spiritual bridges even further than the Chateau could have done alone. 

Thanks to many faithful global workers, France has seen significant growth over the decades. After spending 40 years on the field, Patty Morris says, “There’s just been tremendous growth since those early years. When I first arrived, you could count the number of church members on your hands, and now we have five churches—one with about 250–300 people.” 

Today, the Charis Alliance continues to thrive in France with nine churches and five church plants. These efforts are largely led by a team of passionate national believers, including Florent Varak, Jeremié Biancheri, and Philippe Viguier.

A Call to Prayer and Support

Because of our movement’s many faithful workers in France, the country has now become a little less unreached. But our work there is far from over: the country still remains less than two percent evangelical. 

• Near the conclusion of their full-time ministry, Dave and Susie Hobert said, “Now that we’ve completed our part, pray that others will pick it up, because the harvest is plentiful, and we need more workers.”

• French attractive yet secular culture restrains the development of our churches. Pray for Jesus’s gospel to burst through the restrictive environment. 

• As a local church pastor who serves on the Charis Alliance Council, Jeremié Biancheri says, “The French people have a renewed curiosity toward faith as new visitors enter France. Pray that our churches would greet this regular flow of seekers with a warm welcome, understandable Sunday services, culturally sensitive biblical answers, and discipleship opportunities.”