Rev. François Forschlé
Founder & Senior Pastor · Assemblies of God
International Evangelistic
Center EVIDENCE
About Rev. François Forsché
Reverend François Forsché, a pastor of the Assemblies of God of France, is well known for his passion for the Gospel and his compassion for lost souls.
He was born into a poor family towards the end of the Second World War in the city of Caen (in Normandy).
His playground was the ruins of the city, which were almost totally destroyed by the bombardment during the allied landing. His parents were unconverted and both had been already divorced when they married. The home was often filled with discord and fighting. Left to himself, he came home only to eat and sleep. Growing up in the streets, he led a life of committing all sorts of pranks in order to be accepted and loved.
At the age of 14, he began working at night in the city's central wholesale food market, passing himself off as being older. Between ages 14 and 16, he worked as Docker. When he was 18, he enlisted in the army as a parachutist.
He came to Christ at the age of 23. When he was 25 years old, he began to work full time as an Assistant Pastor of the Assemblies of God in the city of Strasbourg, France.
His preaching, simple and direct, captivated the listeners from the youngest to the eldest. He became one of the most requested and well-known evangelists in France. His ministry soon became known far beyond the borders of his own country. During the years that followed, he traveled around the globe and preached in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America in more than forty countries, and held evangelistic crusades for crowds from 10,000 to 50,000 in attendance.
However, his love for his homeland keeps him well involved in the local church.
Ministry Introduction
At the time he was the director of a holiday camp for children from poor families (in France), he developed a desire to help those in need and minister to the suffering. And during the thirteen years, as the pastor in Reims (east of France), God began a new work in his life :
His heart was broken for those who were rejected by society: the disadvantaged who were held in disrepute. He soon became an official "visitor" to one of the main prisons in Reims.
Following in 1977, he founded a Crisis Center for women, prostitutes, the homeless, political refugees, unwed mothers and battered women. During a period of ten years, over 1500 women and children were given assistance in the Center.
In 1980, he became the founder of the International Christian Mission (ICI), a humanitarian organization for the countries of Eastern Europe. Trucks full of food, clothing and Bibles were sent to countries like Poland and other countries behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. He spent many hours negotiating with customs officials because he was on the black list of the communist officials.
From 1977 to 1987, he was involved into :
The Missionary Committee of Evangelical Churches for the French-speaking world. The purpose of this committee was to help provide construction assistance for schools and clinics, as well as support for missionaries.
The European Committee of Evangelical Churches for the Persecuted Church
In 1989, a new challenge would lead him to the important city of Strasbourg, to pastor the Assemblies of God church. A new church building was built in 1992, and an enormous complex of more than 43,000 square feet was built. It was at the time, and still is, the largest evangelical church in France, with an auditorium seating over 1000 people.
In 1992, Pastor Forsché felt called to start a new work in the capital city of Paris, with a church facility of over 24,000 square feet. The work was launched with two Christians and grew rapidly.
The International Evangelistic Center EVIDENCE now has a pastoral staff of twelve, more than 2000 adult members and various ethnic groups from various countries.
The ministry of the International Center EVIDENCE consists of various outreach ministries as well. In 1991, during a visit to the Island of Madagascar, Pastor Forsché was deeply touched by the extreme misery and poverty of the children. That was the beginning of the Foundation Europe Madagascar "Africa" which today has the following ministries in Madagascar :
Medical Assistance
An agricultural development program
A Professional training program
A school and nutrition program for children
This ministry represents a wonderful opportunity to present the Gospel to these children and their families.
Today, France is still a mission field, which is in need of prayer by Christians from around the world.
In 2000 François Forsché became a board member of Church Growth International- chairman: Reverend Dr. David Yonggi Cho.
The collaboration of spiritual leaders, who are used mightly by God, is a precious means of support. We thank the Lord for the growing number of pastors and churches from around the world, which are being mobilized by the Holy Spirit to help in this work. This is a great vision.
