Evangelical Literature and Radio

English literature is much used in certain evangelical circles on the continent. Publications of the Inter-Varsity Fellowship or of Billy Graham, for example, are often translated or adapted in the different languages.

French literature is very limited. Europe has only two million French-speaking Protestants. Among those available are books on Barthian theology, translations of Barth himself, Brunner and other modern theologians, and reprints of Calvin and Luther. In the evangelical field about 850 titles are obtainable. The Davis Bible Dictionary, considerably revised and enlarged, has now been published in French. We have no one-volume Bible commentary and hardly any conservative biblical or theological text books. Authors are few in many subjects. There is a number of small publishing houses, but their efforts are scattered.

In German literature one finds everywhere the theology of Barth, Brunner and Bultmann. Critical theories have influenced even some independent groups. Excellent positive impact has been made by the Bible Dictionary and other publications issued by R. Brockhaus; Pastor Rienecker’s series of Bible commentaries; Scripture Union literature; and works by Erich Sauer, Dr. H. Bürki and Dr. G. Wasserzug.

In Italian literature the list of evangelical works is very small (there are only 100,000 Protestants in Italy’s population of 50 million). About 30 titles have been published by Biginelli in Rome; others are made available by the Waldensian church, and by the Conservative Baptists in Naples. Books in English and French are utilized by Christian workers.

Spanish and Portuguese literature from Latin America is often used by the tiny evangelical minorities of Spain and Portugal. In Spain it is virtually forbidden to print or import evangelical works; stocks are sometimes seized and the printer prosecuted.

Dutch literature is plentiful and freely available, and is characterized by the orthodox Calvinist teaching found in the works of G. C. Berkouwer and others.

Evangelical literature in Europe needs a series of key books which will present the Gospel powerfully and intelligently. May God send authors, funds, bookstores and colporteurs for this urgent task.

[René Pache is President of Emmaus Institute in Lausanne.]

In a population of over 600 million on the European continent it is estimated that there are 100 million radio receivers. Unhappily for Gospel broadcasting, most of the radio stations are under government control, involving a limited amount of free time more or less proportional to the number of Protestants in the population being granted to the “official” Protestant groups. In France (2 per cent Protestant) a 30-minute religious service is broadcast on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. In Belgium (1 per cent) a 15-minute broadcast is allowed on Monday evenings at 6:30, and a 30-minute morning service four times a year on special occasions such as Christmas. In Italy (0.2 per cent) a 15-minute Sunday service at 7:45 a.m. is broadcast. Spain, Portugal and Greece allow no Protestant broadcasting. Switzerland, roughly 50 per cent Protestant, has a one-hour Sunday service at 10 a.m.

The pioneer evangelical broadcaster in French was Rev. F. Durrleman, founder of “La Cause.” He and his colleagues broadcast once a week on three stations: Radio Luxembourg, Radio Paris, and the “Poste Parisien,” between 1928 and 1939. These were then all commercial stations, but at present the only European stations on which time may be bought for Gospel radio are Radio Luxembourg, Radio Europe No. 1, and Trans World Radio (short wave only).

The first paid French Gospel broadcast after World War II was produced by the writer of this article and European colaborers in 1946, and this has continued on Radio Luxembourg until now. This station carries also a daily French program on its two transmitters, at 5:40 and 6:40 a.m. respectively. Radio Europe No. I also has a daily (except Sunday) Protestant broadcast in French at 5:45 a.m. Unfortunately, certain sects are also using these facilities. Trans World Radio now broadcasts some 44 hours a week in 18 languages, mostly in the late afternoon and evening. Radio Luxembourg II carries 1½ hours of Gospel broadcasting in German each morning from 5:30. In largely Protestant Sweden the government radio gives the various religious groups 30 minutes each morning.

Europe’s greatest need is a strong Christian station, operating in the broadcast band.

[Miner B. Steams is Executive Director of Global Gospel Broadcasts, based in Brussels. He holds degrees in Science and Theology (including the Th.D).]

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.