Austria is at the eastern end of the Alps, 62% of the country is mountainous. Vienna and the east are flatter. There are 8.3 million inhabitants, of whom 2.1 million live in the capital Vienna. The next largest cities (with populations) are Graz (245,000), Linz (188.000), Salzburg (149.000), Innsbruck (117,000), Klagenfurt (92,000), Wels (59,000) and Villach (58,000). In the cities there are significant numbers of immigrants coming mainly from Turkey, the Balkans and Africa. 

The official language is German, strong dialects are spoken in some areas. Parts of the south have a higher number of ethnic Slovenians and that language is also spoken in some villages.

Austria has a well-developed social market economy and a high standard of living. Tourism (the alpine regions to the south and west and in Vienna) and forestry and agriculture are predominant industries, with some manufacturing (especially in the north and east) and commercial centres in the cities. 

The future for the evangelical church in Austria is challenging but positive. There are the beginnings of a huge shift in the Austrian mentality about religion. We are moving into an era of pick and mix religion and that offers significant opportunities as well as important challenges. Before to be Austrian was to be Roman Catholic and that is changing; large numbers of people are giving up their nominal membership of the Roman Catholic Church (having to pay an annual church tax probably contributes to this.) Younger people see the traditional church as having lost touch and are more open to other faiths and ideologies. The more urban areas are seeing rapid change. In rural areas this is naturally slower.

The opportunity is there for the evangelical church to help people reconnect with God and to see the relevance of a Christ centred life. The Gospel remains the same but religiosity changes. New and culturally sensitive forms of worship, life application preaching and teaching and small groups meetings are important weapons in the church’s armoury. Friendship evangelism has long been important in Austria but now more so given that the population is becoming more mobile and community integration (with its corresponding pressures) is lessening.

However the new spiritual climate also brings with it the challenge of other religions and ideologies. Esoteric practices, pseudo-biblical cults, eastern religions and the occult are becoming much more widespread. The evangelical church has to proclaim the absolute truth and expose the dangers of moral and religious relativity.

Another consequence of people leaving the Roman Catholic Church is religious apathy driven by the forces of materialism and secularism. Many people are simply comfortable and have no perceived need of God.

There has been a Protestant witness in Austria for centuries, but it has never been very strong. There are still only an estimated 25,000 members of evangelical churches; less than half of one percent of the population would claim to be born again. However with around 200 evangelical churches (including Baptist and Mennonite) and many other protestant churches there is a good foundation for mission.

The greatest need in the Austrian evangelical church is for Austrian leadership. The majority of the Austrian churches still rely on foreign missionaries. In the last few years mission agencies and local churches have begun to change their thinking and address this vital issue. Many young Austrians are now taking up the challenge and are training for ministry. However many of these people are still reliant on foreign funding or have to work part-time. The Austrian church will need to take on this financial challenge but the rewards should be great.

We now have a vibrant, motivated team of 13 members. David James (pictured with Linda) is Field Leader and he believes that God is calling more workers into ministry in Austria. Another couple from Scotland will be joining the team in Linz in the summer of 2009. Our Vision is to see second generation churches planted in Austria with significant Austrian leadership and autonomy.   Our emphasis is on identifying, training and mobilising Christians for ministry in Austria.

Church planting in Linz

Dietmar and Brigitte Jowanka have planted a multi-cultural church in Linz. Following a period of evangelism and preparation, the Grace International Fellowship started weekly services in German and English in 2005. As well as Austrians the church is made up of Africans, people from the Balkans and some Asians. The church is particularly attractive to students.

Many of ECMs missionaries in the southern province of Carinthia are involved in church development. In particular this means teaching in the churches and training and discipling leaders and potential leaders.

Project Wörthersee - A new church plant in Carinthia

Together with the Klagenfurt church where the Neumanns and Harrisons are based, ECM has started a new church plant project 10 kilometres to the west in Moosburg, Krumpendorf and Portschach. Matthias and Pauline Hollensteiner moved to the area at the end of 2007 and together with a small team of local believers form the nucleas of this church plant. Housegroups and children's clubs have been started. For this project we need to expand the team; we need people with experience of church planting and gifting in evangelism.

Christian bookshops in Carinthia

Additionally three of the Carinthian team work in local Christian bookshops providing an important service for the churches, a witness in the towns of Klagenfurt and Villach and opportunities to share God’s Word with visitors.

Youth work in Carinthia

Youth work is vital in Austria and a significant ministry for Jacqueline Stolk and David & Linda James. The up-and-coming generation largely wants nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church but is seeking after meaning – evangelism is important for this impressionable group. Within the evangelical church we are discipling young Christians and encouraging them to discover their gifting and calling. Where there is a sense of God’s call on people’s lives we are helping people gain appropriate training and move into that ministry.  

Teebus in Villach

One key area of youth outreach is the “teebus” project. Together with a group of up to 20 volunteers Jacqueline, David and Linda take a bus (tastefully converted into a tea and coffee bar) into the town centre on Saturday nights. Young people are then invited in for coffee and a chat. Typically between 60 and 120 people come into the bus which is now established as a popular meeting place (some youth even saying it is the best meeting place!) The bus is variously known as the Jesus bus or the God bus (even the sect bus – but the team does their best to dismantle false prejudices!) The young people know that the team is concerned about them, their lifestyle and their problems. In conversation the team communicate God’s love to the majority of the visitors.

Missionary Principles – do it right!

• We are committed to full co-operation with the national church, believing that this honours God and is effective.
• The BEGÖ is our chosen strategic partner in Austria and can provide direction to our churches.
• We believe in working through dynamic teams. We do not want to work in isolation. We are currently focusing our resources in the city of Linz and region of Carinthia.
• We recognise the strategic importance of Austrians taking a lead in church planting. Our goal would be to have Austrians sharing in leadership within 3 years after starting a church plant and to have a local leadership team in place before we leave a church.

o       It is vital that we identify and motivate those Christians with the necessary gifts and qualities (or potential gifts and qualities) for ministry and leadership.

o       Providing a range of flexible training interventions to equip those in ministry (or those moving into ministry) is key.

o       Mobilizing Christians for ministry requires sensitivity and cultural understanding. Attitudes to ministry and in particular leadership will need to be developed.

o       Mobilizing Austrians in the area of evangelism will be vital for the vision of seeing second generation churches planted. Here leading-by-example will be very important.

Ministry Opportunities – you can do it!

Austria is in need of church planters and evangelists to help people find God again. A measure of patience is required; people are slow to accept anything too radical (a sub-conscious cultural link to the Roman Catholic Church remains). Being able to build friendships in the local community is important.

It is essential that our missionaries can work in teams; the local ECM team and the local church leadership team. Our ministry involves working alongside Austrians; helping them to mature, planting churches with them and just as importantly learning from them.

We need people:

Ø      who are walking closely with and listening to God and who expect him to do great things.

Ø      who have a Bible College training.

Ø      with a good command of German or the commitment to learn German for their first two years on the field.

Ø      who are willing to engage with and adapt to Austrian culture.

Ø      who are willing to continue training.

Ø      who are willing to submit to local leadership and remain flexible.

Austria offers opportunities and challenges to Christians willing to serve long-term in helping the fledgling church re-connect people with God. Is that you? 

Contact

Please send us an email with your name, country of origin, and interest to ecm.int@ecmi.org Be sure to include Austria on the subject line.

• Please pray that the evangelical church in Austria would be able to respond and where appropriate adapt to the new Austrian attitude to religion.
• Please pray as we seek ways to break down barrier caused by being considered a sect by many in the community
• Please pray for effective Austrian leadership in the churches.
• Austria needs more church planters and evangelists; either from within or from mission organisations.
• ECM specifically needs people with the skills and experience in evangelism and children’s work for the Project Wörthersee church plant.
• The ECM team in Linz our also in need of people with skills in evangelism among students and ex-pat communities. 
• The young people need encouragement to use their gifting, to train and to move into ministry.
• The evangelical churches need to become less financially dependent on foreign support.
• Please pray for the ongoing evangelistic ministry of the ECM team. Pray especially for encouragement in this dry land.
• Pray that the teabus work would have a great impact in Carinthia.
• We need to pray for God’s blessing on Austria and to seek the Lord’s face as we plan our ministries.