On May 1, 2004 the European Union (EU) expanded with the accession of ten new countries placing Vienna at the heart of the “New Europe.” It is a strategically vital city to the European continent as the 25 countries of the EU operate under a standard currency and within a single market.

The EU has a stated “Cohesion Policy” which is a planned effort to use the influence of cities to bolster entire regions into prosperity. As the more developed and economically stronger countries of Western Europe influence and invest in the less developed and economically weaker countries of Eastern Europe, Vienna’s importance will increase as it operates as the bridge between east and west.

Businesses are moving to Vienna, or expanding their current operations in Vienna, because it is the bridgehead through which the New Europe, both east and west, is reached.

While the church is not a corporation, and church planting is not a business, it is important to acknowledge the reality that the business and political worlds understand: through cities entire regions are altered and Vienna is one of the most important and significant cities in all of Europe.

To impact Vienna is to potentially impact millions of people throughout the European continent.