Refugee ministry in austria

The nations are on the move to Europe!

During Jeff’s first two-year term in Vienna, Austria (2000-2002), he and his former teammates had the privilege of sharing Christ with people from over 50 different nations; many of whom had never had the opportunity to hear the gospel in their home country!

Our ministry vision is...

“To love and lead refugees from many nations into vital relationship with Christ and his church.”

As we tangibly minister to the felt needs of refugees (in partnership with our teammates and mission-minded, Bible-believing churches of Vienna), trusting relationships are formed that allow us to introduce these people to Jesus; the only One who can truly meet all their needs for peace, security, and hope for the future.

the context and the people

Vienna, Austria, home of classical music and ornate architecture, is also home to thousands of desperate men, women and children from many nations residing in crowded, run-down housing projects scattered across the city. Who are these people? Why are they coming to Austria?

They are primarily Middle-Eastern, African, or former Soviet Bloc non-Christians fleeing wars, persecution of all sorts (political, religious, ethnic), and economic crises, in their homelands in a desperate attempt to find peace and a better life in the West. And while most asylum seekers don’t actually target Austria as the country in which they want to seek a new life, they usually don’t have much control over where they end up. That is because they are often smuggled into the West by ruthless, greedy people traffickers who could care less whether their “clients” even survive the trip, let alone whether they reach their desired destinations.

Those who do make it to Austria are then faced with a new series of challenges. First, in order to stay in the country legally, they must convince the authorities that their lives were in danger in their home countries. If granted, they must then learn a new language, find a job, and try to fit into a very different culture, one that has traditionally not been very hospitable to foreigners. These people are the modern day “strangers or aliens” the Bible urges us to love as ourselves (Lev. 19:34).

As tragic as the refugee experience is, it presents a unique opportunity for thousands of hurting and hopeless people from many nations to hear — often for the first time — the true, complete story about Jesus. Through faith in him, they may gain a “citizenship” that can never be lost or taken away.