In October 2025, during the PCSBA’s 87th convention, a meeting of the PCSBA’s Missions Committee was held, at which a decision was made to declare 2026th the Year of France. This means that, drawing on the missionary experience we gained in Italy and Spain, where new churches were planted, the Gospel will once again be preached through home groups, while missionaries for future permanent ministry are sought at the same time. Later, churches would grow out of these home groups.
It was decided to intensify the work in France, and the first steps in this direction have already been taken. On January 13, a Zoom conference was held. Representing the PCSBA were President Alexander Pronin, Head of the Missions Department Vadim Yurchak, and Head of the Education Department Sergey Pronin. From the French side, 13 people participated, ministers serving in various regions of France.
By mutual agreement, it was decided that for better coordination, the work in France should be divided into three main regions:
- Northern France — Strasbourg
- Central France — Paris, Lyon, and surrounding cities
- Southern France — Marseille, Cannes, Nice, and Monte Carlo
At the beginning of the meeting, we got acquainted with the brothers and asked them to share how they came to France, where they came from, what kind of ministry they are involved in, and what significant events have taken place in their lives during these years of large-scale migration, while military actions continue in the countries of the former Soviet Union. In some places, there are already organized churches of 30–40 people; in others, small groups. Most of them exist where there are many Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking immigrants.
Our first conference was very productive, and we made a number of decisions. First, in February, the local brothers will hold a spiritual edification conference, and we will support them so that people from all over France can come together and spend three and a half days there in fellowship. We also planned to create a common group on a social network so that we can actively communicate, support one another, pray for one another, and pray that new churches would be established in France and the Gospel would be preached among the immigrants who have found themselves there.
The next issue concerned holding missionary evangelistic camps in France this summer in all three regions. The President of the PCSBA and I are also planning in to hold three regional conferences for ministers in France September. During these conferences, relationships between them and us will be built, and tactics and strategies for ministry will be developed together with other missionary unions, missions, and associations of Slavic Christian churches that already exist in Europe.
We also discussed the possibility that the PCSBA’S Missions Department would provide ongoing support to several ministers in different regions where it is planned to develop ministry, open groups, and eventually establish churches.
We ask you to pray for the development of ministry in France, for missionaries for this country who would come there for an extended period with the goal of planting churches, and for the resources necessary for this ministry.
Vadim Yurchak,
Director of the PCSBA’S Missionary Department
Translated by ChatGTP
