Swiss Churches Turn to Lego and Bible Stories to Attract Declining Congregations
As attendance dwindles and baptisms plummet, Reformed churches in Switzerland are increasingly partnering with evangelical organizations to engage young people – a strategy that is sparking debate within the denomination.
Facing a important decline in membership, particularly among younger generations, many Reformed congregations are embracing unconventional outreach methods. One popular initiative, offered by the Bible Reading Association (BLB), involves building massive Lego cities alongside Bible story readings. In cities like Basel, Zurich, Winterthur, and Thun, children aged 8 to 12 are invited to construct sprawling metropolises up to 16 meters long, complete with churches, castles, and modern infrastructure.
The BLB, described by the church specialist agency Relinfo as being “close to evangelical Christianity,” frames the activity as a way to make the Bible relevant to contemporary children. The Lego constructions serve as a backdrop for storytelling, with trained leaders reading passages from the Bible.”
This trend comes as the number of baptisms in the Reformed Church has dramatically decreased. While approximately 25,000 Reformed baptisms were recorded annually in the 1980s and 1990s, only 7,111 took place in 2024. This stark decline reflects a broader societal shift toward non-religious affiliation and a decline in church weddings, reducing the likelihood of children being raised within the faith.
According to Matthias Ziehli,co-director of the BLB,the organization’s activities are well-received. “We often hear that our activities have had a positive effect,” he said. However, Ziehli acknowledged that the BLB does not track whether these programs lead to actual conversions, as the campaigns are organized by local churches and the BLB does not collect personal data from participants.
The BLB also offers other mobile programs, including a “Wooden Construction World” where children build and then dismantle structures with 80,000 wooden blocks, and a “revelation village” constructed with large plastic panels. Ziehli maintains that the BLB is non-denominational, stating, “We do not take any theological or dogmatic positions, but are non-denominational and work with all churches.”
Despite this assertion, questions remain about parental awareness of the programme’s religious undertones. Fabian Kramer, a spokesperson for the Evangelical Reformed church in Zurich, dismissed these concerns, noting that the BLB’s involvement is transparently disclosed on all promotional materials and registration forms. He also emphasized that the events are supervised by reformed clergy and youth workers, and parents are always present. Ziehli added that the BLB’s goal is simply to inspire children to engage with the Bible, not to force conversion. “this is not missionary in the sense that we are brainwashing or forcing minors to convert.” He also pointed out that children with no prior church connection often approach Bible stories with curiosity and openness.
However, the BLB’s demonstrative piety is not universally welcomed within the Reformed Church. According to Georg Otto Schmid from Relinfo, the denomination encompasses diverse factions: liberal and enlightenment-oriented groups, those focused on social justice, and evangelical-pietistic members for whom faith transmission is paramount. “A very liberal parish, conversely, would probably not invite the Lego world,” Schmid explained.
Cooperation between Reformed institutions and free church initiatives extends beyond Lego City, encompassing programs like Alphalive evangelization courses, the PraiseCamp for young people, and a Christmas parcel campaign that collected 115,750 packages for delivery to Eastern Europe by 38 trucks this year. schmid cautioned against interpreting this collaboration as a wholesale shift toward evangelicalism within the Reformed Church, noting that individuals seeking a more fervent faith experience often gravitate toward free churches.
Michel Rudin, a member of the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church’s (EKS) seven-member executive branch, expressed reservations about an evangelical turn. “A more evangelical orientation is not the way through which the regional church communities or the Evangelical Reformed Church in Switzerland will become more relevant ” Rudin stated, clarifying that he was speaking in a personal capacity. He envisions a church that fosters contemporary spirituality rooted in humanism, pluralism, and the integration of faith and scientific knowledge – a church that can bridge divides in a polarized society.
