Grenoble growth brings bureaucratic challenges
The city of Grenoble in the French Alps has seen remarkable church growth in recent years. Over the last two years, no less than five evangelical churches have found themselves looking for new worship spaces, three of them specifically to accommodate their growing congregations.
Another encouraging development is that recent church plants are already seeing full Sunday services. As building size becomes a constraint, the solution, in theory, seems simple enough: move to a larger space. Yet this is where the challenge comes in.
letter from France
KFC – and the fires of suspicion
The recent announcement by fast-food chicken chain KFC, that several of their restaurants will become 100% halal, has caused a social media storm in a nation that is allergic to any hint of religion influencing the public space.
Evangelicalism has not been spared from scrutiny either. In September 2025, France 1 TV channel aired a special broadcast titled "Évangéliques: un succès pas si angélique?" (Evangelicals: a not so angelic success). The broadcast was biased and one-sided, presenting evangelicals in a negative light. The report adds fuel to the fire of suspicion that already follows evangelicals in France. The CNEF (National Council of Evangelicals) immediately issued a statement calling the broadcast “a blatant attack on evangelical Protestantism and the Christian faith as a whole”.
letter from France
Mariam’s story
I still remember the first time she walked up to me before a Sunday service. “I’m new here. I’m not a Christian, and I’ve never been to church before. I’m not sure what I am supposed to do, but would it be okay if I came to your church?”
Mariam (not her real name) was a student studying in France. She arrived from a country with little to no gospel access and no idea how to get it. Yet, for several years, she has had a desire to find out more about Jesus. So, when the opportunity to study in English in Europe arose, she was excited to visit a church for the first time. There was a snag, however, as she did not speak French. Nevertheless, Mariam went to a French church where a few believers who could speak English took her under their wing. They then brought her to the International Church.