GBU – Pioneering in Corsica

Emmanuelle is a French woman living in Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean. She is married to Pascal, a Corsican, and they have a 3-year-old son. She is a staff member for Aumonerie GBU France (Groupes Bibliques Universitaires), an evangelical organization that works alongside high school and university students, and is part of IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students). Her husband is part of a team pioneering a church in northern Corsica.

Have you ever heard of Corsica?

Corsica is a French Island close to Italy. It became part of France in the 18th century after the Corsican independence fighters lost against the French Army. But if the language, administrations and services are the same as continental France, the culture is totally different. History, hardships, invasions and insularity have forged a proud, independent people and nation.

Challenges

When you are French and an Evangelical, being a missionary in Corsica is like being an overseas missionary because the culture is so different from your own. Roman Catholicism is part of the identity and mingles with politics and official events, whereas continental France is very secular. The Protestant church – let alone the Evangelicals – is a tiny minority and is perceived as ‘non-Corsican’. So, when Aumonerie GBU France sent Emmanuelle to Corsica to pioneer a ministry there, she was met with a real challenge! The vision is to establish GBU in Corsica: to reach out to students by the means of student initiative and the Bible (students leading evangelistic Bible studies and organizing events relevant for their campus culture). It took her three years to be able to launch the campus ministry, and it kicked off amongst international students. She is proud and honored to witness God’s work among these students, but it is only the beginning. She’d like to begin a high school ministry and she’d like to see Corsican students have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because Corsica is so religious, many people don’t see their need for the Gospel. Because Corsica is so proud, they don’t easily accept another ‘religion’. And on top of this, evangelical churches are few and badly distributed on the territory: most of them are on the coast in bigger cities, when there are so many inland villages to reach. Most of the churches are in Southern Corsica, leaving a barren north. What if a Corsican student met Christ at university and took Him back to their village?

Support the work in Corsica

They have come to Corsica to live and serve long-term. But they need partners to support this mission, both financially and in prayer. Would you consider being part of the team?