Frequently Asked Questions

An Evangelical Church is a large multicultural family of all ages from all walks of life who love to share moments together with the Bible and Jesus Christ at the center. It is a Church which emerged from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and which submits to the authority of the Bible. It preaches open access to God without intermediaries and finds its roots in the New Testament model of the Church. The Church is not an edifice or a hierarchical religious organization, but a spiritual reality which takes shape in fraternal, non-clerical communities, in which everyone participates with their gifts.

The « Action Biblique » literally translated as biblical action, is an evangelical missionary work that began in 1907, whose initial vocation was the dissemination of the Bible, and which, over the years has given birth to the SBG – Société Biblique de Genève, to the “Maisons de la Bible ” the IBG – Institut Biblique de Genève, and several local churches and at the JAB – Jeunesse Action Biblique. Its presence has grown in Switzerland, France, Brazil, Bolivia, Ivory Coast, Portugal and Italy. Today it has about over fifty churches.

JAB or Jeuness Action Biblique translates to Action Biblique Youth in English. The Action Biblique churches organize a large number of activies for the children and youth of all ages.  Since 1933, Action Biblique has organized Bible clubs for children and youth camps.  The summer and winter camps have become the main activity of the jab an include a wide variety of activies including sports, hiking, skiing in addition to biblical teaching.

A small fictional story:

“A father formally forbids his child to put his hand on the lit electric stove otherwise he will burn and hurt himself. Even though the child has never been burned, he understands that it is serious and that for his own good it is best to obey. But, unfortunately, one day he puts his hand on the burning plate and burns himself badly and in terrible pain. Obviously his loving father cares for him and watches over him, until he is healed.“

True story of mankind:

“God formally forbade the first men to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, otherwise they will die (Genesis chapter 2, verses 16-17). Although at that time evil and death were foreign to their existence, they understood that it was serious. Yet one day they nevertheless ate of this fruit and evil, suffering and death returned to humanity. Obviously, a loving God accompanies humanity by allowing more life rather than what was merited as a consequence of his actions. Moreover, total healing is paid by God at the cost of the perfect life of Jesus.“

In short, the independence of mankind from God brought evil, suffering and death. Yet God demonstrates his benevolence through the life He makes possible, with His grace, His care and offers His presence and His comfort to whoever wishes to accept it freely.

Who better than anyone can accompany in the midst of suffering? Indeed, the Bible says about Jesus:

Isaiah chapter 53, verses 3-4;

3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The major difference is in the value of the Bible which reveals the person of God for Christians. Evangelical churches, like the great reformers (Calvin, Luther etc.) claim that the Bible is totally inspired by God. Therefore, it is the norm of their lives. Current liberal Protestant theology does not view it that way.

2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 16-17

“All Scripture is inspired of God and useful for teaching, for convincing, for correcting, for instructing in righteousness, so that the man of God may be formed and equipped for every good work.”

Being an evangelical church ourselves, it would be strange to answer “yes”. In answering this question we try to be as objective as possible.

First, the federal and cantonal authorities have no specific fears with respect to evangelical churches.
Second, sectarian movements are often characterized on the basis of certain criteria such as: dictatorial leadership of a person, annihilation of the person, of his personality, of his freedom, as well as a dubious relationship with money and often with suspicious customs/traditions.

Following the biblical example, the conduct of a church is always collegial and moreover constituted as an association of members to meet the requirements of the authorities. The Bible invites personal decisions (never constrains) and the development of the different gifts, capacities, personalities of believers for hte benefit of the community. There is no compulsory membership fee for anyone. If there is a donation, it is only voluntary (in other words there are no fees for religious services). The Bible invites real transparency and respect for one’s neighbor in all relationships and clearly in matters related to morality.

Regarding church leaders, the Bible says (1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 7): “He must finally receive a good testimony from people outside”.