In 2013, 77% of European countries declared suicide to be a significant public health concern. It is the number one cause of death among 10-19 year olds. There are currently over 40 million people suffering from depression and 128,000 suicides every year, throughout Europe.
Then just last week there were shocking revelations of the growing anti-semitism within Europe. CNN conducted a poll with shocking results and Haaretz exposed the bigotry at the Karolinska hospital, which is connected with the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Of course, these are just symptoms of a much deeper problem. Europe was once the center of the Christian world. Germany was the birth place of the reformation. In many European countries the majority doesn’t identify with any religion. Most rarely attend any religious service or pray. For generations people have been leaving the faith that Europe’s foundations were built on.
Fortunately, God has not given up on Europe. He is calling His children back to Himself. I was reading Acts 27 the other day and the story of Paul’s shipwreck struck me, but I wasn’t sure what about it was standing out. I pondered it for a few days, then on my way to church on Sunday, God started to speak to me through it.
Acts 27 picks up the story of Paul on his way to Rome as a prisoner. Paul is on a boat with Julius, the centurion, and the ship’s crew. They arrive at a harbor called Fair Havens when Paul says, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” The centurion paid more attention to the caption of the boat, and the majority decides to sail on for a better place to spend the winter.
It did not take long for the boat and crew to get into trouble as a strong storm started to beat them down and they found themselves in danger of losing their lives. I believe this is a prophetic picture of Europe right now. The leaders of the reformation were pointing the way to the Father, but after awhile people chose to trust in their own way and their own ideas. Since the 18th century new philosophies have been sweeping through Europe, many of them originating in Germany, that continue to push people further and further from God.
We now find ourselves in the middle of the storm in Europe. Hopelessness is leading to the depression and suicide rates. There are growing trends of anti-semitism and the refugee crisis has revealed the hatred and racism living within many Europeans. On top of all of that, terrorism has become more and more common, including support of terrorism amongst many immigrants. This is the storm that has embroiled Europe. But it is not the end of the story.
Right when the boat’s captain and crew thought all hope was lost and an angel appeared to Paul and said “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.” Paul gathers the crew, gives them this message then takes charge of the situation. Paul waited on God, then moved when He gave him the word. It took several weeks of fighting the wind and waves but because of Paul, every man on that shipped was saved, although the ship was destroyed.
I believe God is preparing Europe for this right now, and Germany is ground zero for the fight. Join with me in praying for Germany and Europe that during the midst of this storm those of us that have been sent will continue to be strong and courageous, bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, and compassion to the forgotten and discarded.
