April 27 – CNEF Outlook for 2025

As we begin week 1, please join us in praying our verse of the week from Ezekiel 36:26-27:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

Our first theme of the week is FRENCH CONTEXT.

French National Council of Evangelicals (CNEF)

Location: France, including overseas territories – based in Paris

Represented by Clément Diedrichs

Current Context

The CNEF’s vision is to: 

• Unite the different denominations in France as one spiritual body, along with other ministries in various spheres. Not for the purpose of merging them but to create synergies and highlight their complementary nature.
• Serve its members as a representative institution (specifically with government authorities) and offer them assistance in practical areas (legal, communications, project launch, etc.).
• Inspire a missionary drive, in cooperation with other ministries, so that Christ’s call to make disciples is always in everyone’s heart.

God has used the CNEF to grow His kingdom, essentially by creating links between CNEF members who belong to the Body of Christ. As the denominations and other ministries get to know one another on a personal level, the body acts more effectively, valuing each member. 

The “Regeneration” theme is perfect, because in the secularized world in which the French live, even Christians sometimes wonder whether following God day-to-day is relevant. That’s why we believe it’s essential for churches to be concrete places where people who live another life – eternal life – bear witness to the reality that following God is beneficial for them now.

Actions taken and results achieved in 2024

• Writing the text “Together on Mission.”
• An agreement was reached on the position of evangelicals with regard to their public statements, beyond their own circle.

The text “Ensemble en mission” translated “Together on Mission,” voted for by all CNEF members, gives drive and concrete form to a common dynamic for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in France. The text “Together, Committed to Society” encouraged Evangelicals not to turn in on themselves because of the “bad world” in which they find themselves, but instead be present in this very world, in all spheres, with the hope of the Gospel.

Projects in 2025

Within 5 years, we see God making the CNEF union members so intertwined that it should be impossible for them to start an evangelistic project without first talking to its sister denominations or ministries within the CNEF network. This wouldn’t be out of obligation, but out of the conviction that we are all linked to one another in the body of Christ. This will result in missional coordination as ministries within the body of Christ are valued in all their diversity and at all levels: local, translocal and even national. The CNEF Lab’ will play a role by bringing together several denominations to work together on the subject.

Prayer request

Pray that the meeting sessions on ministries, in 2025 and 2026 (CNEF Lab’), will lead churches to recognize and value the diverse ministries and pastors in their midst, so that together they will help churches give birth to disciples who will make disciples!

Further information

1. The CNEF on the Impact France website:  impactfrance.org/cnef 

2. CNEF website: www.lecnef.org/page/170867-le-cnef