With about 80% of French mothers working outside the home, most French children spend more time in day care and school classrooms than they do with the their parents. While the care system is good, there is no mention of God. “The school is completely free from religion,” writes Peter Rapp. “God must not be mentioned.”

In families where both parents are believers, providing a Christian influence and Bible teaching must be intentional during times when the entire family is together. In families where only one parent is a believer, the task is much more difficult. Peter and Sigrun Rapp recently shared some examples how children fare in these households.

Cecile would be happy to bless her child in church, but the father is Muslim; although he comes to church regularly, an evangelical blessing of the child is not possible.

Leane brings her two and a half year old daughter to church when her husband is working. If her husband is not home, she will sometimes have an hour of prayer with her daughter.

“Sometimes, at the market stand, when we have offered a Christian magazine to a child, one parent will be very pleased,” notes Peter, “while the other will be totally against it.”