On this episode of The Missional Leader, Rob Hoskins sits down with Pastor Ivan Carluer, who is transforming the landscape of ministry in one of the world’s most secular cities: Paris, France.
Located in South Paris, Martin Luther King Church (Église MLK) is breaking barriers in a neighborhood long considered unreachable for evangelical faith. More than a church, MLK is part of a $30 million community center that serves people from all backgrounds, including Muslims, Jews, immigrants, atheists, and seekers.
Ivan shares how the church has welcomed over 500 new believers through baptism in a single year. He explains why the name Martin Luther King was chosen to resonate with the diverse community, and how the church operates seven days a week to meet real needs through social services, weddings, concerts, and neighborhood events.
This episode is a practical and powerful conversation for anyone who wants to think differently about church in the city. Ivan’s story is filled with insight, honesty, and hope for what God can do when we follow the Holy Spirit with humility and boldness in challenging urban contexts.
What You’ll Learn:
- How Ivan Carluer planted a church in one of Paris’ most secular and politically left-leaning districts
- Why naming the church Martin Luther King was a strategic act of contextualization
- The story behind a $30 million community center that operates seven days a week
- How MLK Church maintains gospel integrity while building friendships with Muslim leaders, bishops, and local politicians
- Why “Bible & Bread” house churches are exploding across France, and what it means for the future of church gatherings
- How Ivan navigates pluralism without compromising on the exclusivity of Christ
- How Ivan Carluer planted a church in one of Paris’ most secular and politically left-leaning districts
About Pastor Ivan Carluer
Ivan Carluer is the founding pastor of MLK Church and visionary leader behind the MLK Community Center Grand Paris. A trailblazer in contextual urban ministry, Ivan has pioneered a model of church that merges spiritual depth with social impact, drawing over 1,000 new attendees every six months. His leadership has been featured on French national TV, and his church is widely recognized as one of the most innovative in Europe.
Resources from this Episode:
This conversation echoes themes from Rob Hoskins’ newest book, Theology of the City. If you’re passionate about bringing spiritual transformation to modern cities, this book will inspire and equip you to engage more deeply in your context.
To learn more about Rob’s new book, “Theology of the City,” visit https://robhoskins.onehope.net/theology-of-the-city/.
