Meet Lesly Joseph. In one of his prayers, this American marine turned pastor saw himself living in France -- and left his native New York to establish a church in the Paris suburbs. Surprised? Shocked, perhaps? Joseph is only part of a larger America-based evangelical movement which has been aggressively expanding throughout Europe. And what better terrain than the alienated banlieues to proselytize? "How come he can survive in the mostly Muslim suburbs, land of the ubiquitous mosques," asked an American friend? "France is 85% Christian," Joseph argues. "France needs to return to God" -- whether it's Allah, Yahve or Buddha. This remains to be seen. Meanwhile, it's great opium for those desperate enough not to have anywhere else to escape to.illustration via geezmagazine.com
