Paris – God is moving in France. Beneath the surface of this secular capital, a spiritual awakening is on the march. Paris House of Prayer in Paris is a place where worship and prayer are central — week in, week out. What started small with just a handful of people is now growing into a spiritual hub where lives are transformed and community is built. “God wants to make a massive move,” says Anne Ruth Bakker, who has played a central role since the ministry’s restart in 2022.
It started small, Anne Ruth explains. “The team prayed and worshipped at different locations across the city with a small group of people, led by God. The goal has always been to offer God a sacrifice of worship and to become a place of non-stop worship in Paris, surrounded by a community—like the tabernacle of David in 1 Chronicles 23.”
After years of gathering in small groups, seeking direction, and even holding online services during the pandemic, things didn’t feel smooth. “We’re not focused on ‘numbers’ or how many people attend the services, but the team knew this still wasn’t the fulfillment of what God had spoken. They decided to relaunch one more time in November 2021. In September 2022, they moved —under God’s guidance—to another location. “I was there during the very first service at the new location.”
‘This is your home’: God calls new laborers Something unexpected happened during that first service. “Many people, like myself, had never attended a Paris Paris House of Prayer service before, and many of us heard God say: ‘This is your home, your family. Here you may serve Me.’” It felt like confirmation of the vision—and the fruit soon followed.
This is your home, your family. Here you may serve Me.
“The team felt encouraged and strengthened. People came up to them saying, ‘We’re going to help you.’ But even then, things stayed relatively small for about another year.”
24 Hours of Non-Stop Worship: A Prophetic Act Everything changed with the first 24-hour worship event, Sans Cesse (Without Ceasing). “It was absolutely crazy,” Anne Ruth recalls. “Different churches in Paris each took on a time slot. Worship and prayer continued non-stop for 24 hours and the impact was immediate.”
“The Sunday after, we were exhausted. We questioned whether we should’ve continued the usual Sunday evening service that week. But then, around eighty people showed up! Many of them had discovered us through Sans Cesse and felt: I carry this in my heart too—I want to be part of this. Many of them never left.”
A Service Led by the Spirit So, what happens during a service? That depends entirely on God’s will. “Every week, the team prays for direction and asks God what His plan is—what songs we can sing and what prayers we can pray to praise Him that Sunday. But if God wants something different during the service, we follow Him.”
She recalls services where only a single chorus from the original setlist was used. “We move as He leads us.”
We move as He leads us.
The service can go in any direction—from prophetic declarations over the city to healing. “We try to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and move in unity. If the worship team goes one way, the prayer team follows, or the other way around.”
Testimonies of Healing and Transformation The impact is both visible and tangible. “God’s presence transforms lives. Sometimes people just walk in and leave healed—without anyone having laid hands on them.”
God’s presence transforms lives.
There are stories of deliverance, of people deeply touched, and of others learning to dwell in God’s presence for extended periods of time.
“It’s not just about head knowledge, it’s about heart revelation. God wants to dwell among His people—and in this place, that’s exactly what happens.”
Revival in Paris — Just Not as Expected So, is this revival? “Yes, absolutely — but I think revival doesn’t always immediately look the way we want or imagine it,” she says soberly. “God is moving, but also clearly building churches, places & people that make discipleship possible to maintain an even bigger move. He wants something sustainable.”
The past few months have been remarkable. “During Easter, newspapers reported that more young people than ever were attending church in France. God said: the outpouring has begun. He is pouring out His Spirit in a way many people around me have never seen before in this country.”
The outpouring has begun.
Discipleship: The Foundation of Revival More and more people are coming to faith — but that requires something more. “There’s such a shortage of spiritual fathers and mothers. We need people who can walk alongside (new) believers.”
She mentions one church that grew by 250 people in just a few months — a growth that demands strong leadership and wise structure.
Creativity and God’s Plan for the Bursting City Anne Ruth spent a year working for Paris Paris House of Prayer. Now, she primarily focuses on her work with Neveah Collective, where she is part of the team led by her mentor Lizbeth Espinoza – the founder of Neveah Collective. Neveah offers various programs aimed at empowering creatives from all over the world in their faith and encouraging them to make an impact in the environment where God has called them.
‘’In Paris, many Christians work in creative industries like fashion and entertainment – places the church often labels as ‘dark’. We train them to bring God’s light into those places by living out the gospel and bringing kingdom impact. By being present with God’s love and biblical principles, people who wouldn’t normally go to a church, can encounter Jesus.’’
The vision of Neveah collective goes beyond Paris: ‘’Ultimately, we want to bring these programs to other countries as well, especially to developing nations, so we can also equip people there to pursue their God-given dreams and create job opportunities.’’
The Harvest Is Ripe — and God Is Sending Even More Workers “Just two months ago, a new wave of missionaries arrived in Paris,” Anne Ruth shares with joy. “We’re seeing how God is calling people from all over the world. The harvest is ready. And He’s sending the workers.”
The harvest is ready. And He’s sending the workers.
What started as a small group of passionate Parisians is now growing into a center of spiritual movement. In the heart of Paris, God’s presence is becoming visible. And the outpouring has only just begun.
