(This is the second of three emails about the what, why, who, and how of our ministry in Europe. )
We live in the Netherlands, one of the most secularised countries in Europe. Yet Theological Universities reported a record number of new students enrolling in September. Every year 150 churches close (approximately), yet every week new churches start (reportedly).
When I grew up in the eighties, the world was simple: we were the good guys and on the other side of the Iron Curtain were the bad guys. As a child, I somehow assumed that we, Westerners, all believed in God, and the bad guys were all atheists or, perhaps, persecuted Christians. While I knew that most Dutch people actually did not go to church, somehow I still grew up in a ‘Christian country.’
In 2001, a colleague at work told me she was fourth-generation unchurched. She was very well educated, but she simply didn’t know a thing about faith. She gave ‘secularisation’ a face and a name for me. I was struck by the matter-of-factness of her remark. As if she said, this is just the way things go, and that is no big deal. This fits the story we usually hear about secularisation. But is this decline of Christianity inevitable?
The other story
There is also another story. You have perhaps seen the reports and discussions about a renewed interest in faith in God among Gen Z, the younger generation. (I wrote about this here). These are not isolated incidents. Also in Wageningen, we know several students who shared how they came to faith recently.
How do (some) Europeans find faith again? In many different ways, but here are two ways which we have learned to walk on our own journey of faith: the way of learning and the way of silence.
One of the fascinating things about Gen Z is that many are drawn to the more traditional, liturgical, and sacramental Churches. They are not interested in a spiritual quick fix, but in learning about something more substantial.
I can relate to this longing. This was the same desire that brought me into the Anglican Way back in 2008. In the last decade, I have taught about culture and history, philosophy and theology in workshops and seminars. In 2027, part of our ministry will be to do more of this across different European countries where our church planters are active.
During a recent retreat at a monastery, I was struck again by the power of silence. It is good to spend an hour without distractions, but it is also difficult. During the writing retreats which Janneke organises, she often sees that people need time and structure to become still. Only then can they listen deeply. We use some of the skills developed during these retreats in our member-care ministry, encouraging our team members’ wellbeing.
Encouraging people on the way of learning and silence is one of the most rewarding things we can do. Some people ask, will this new openness to spirituality turn the tide of decline? The new interest in faith and Christianity will not fill Churches overnight. But the encouraging news is that the new converts are active in their faith. The challenge will be to catechise them well, to teach and learn together.
Will you join us in this strategic ministry? Our monthly budget is $ 5000, half of which is already covered by a part-time job. We have received the first donations toward our current fundraising goal of $2500/month by December 31st, 2026. This breaks down to: 10 x $250/month, 25 x $100/month, or 50 x $50/month. Will you join others who partner with us to fund the remaining part? You can do so here: https://www.emmauseurope.org/donate/