A spontaneous gathering of mourners on Place de la Republique in Lille the evening of the attacks of Charlie Hebdo in Paris

Writes our cross-cultural worker

With the events of last week it seemed only appropriate to give vent to my thoughts in this space [his blog].

This weekend in Lille, as in almost every other major city in France, there was a march in homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks on January 7, 8 and 9. In Paris, there were an estimated two million people in the streets. And between four and five million people gathered across the country. At the same time, a few isolated attacks on Muslim places of worship were reported as well.

Conversely, in Germany, prior to last week's events, there were multiple marches in different cities campaigning against the "Islamization of the West."

Now more than ever France and Europe as a whole need your prayers. It is all the more pertinent to our ministry because these are our people, the ones who we have come here to specifically reach.

Please pray with me for France.

Pray for the families of the victims.

Pray that the church would have an appropriate response.

Pray for leaders as they make hard decisions in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Pray that these events would not result in further marginalization of Muslim populations.

Pray that the Lord would use these events for his glory as improbable as that might sound.