Jeff Fountain and his wife Romkje are the initiators of the Schuman Centre for European Studies. They moved to Amsterdam in December 2017 after living in the Dutch countryside for over 40 years engaged with the YWAM Heidebeek training center. Romkje was founder of YWAM The Netherlands and chaired the national board until 2013. Jeff was YWAM Europe director for 20 years, until 2009. Jeff chaired the annual Hope for Europe Round Table until 2015, while Romkje chaired the Women in Leadership network until recently. Jeff is author of Living as People of Hope, Deeply Rooted and other titles, and also writes weekly word, a weekly column on issues relating to Europe.
For the fourth time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we are celebrating the Word of God becoming flesh as angels proclaimed peace on earth. So where is the peace? The Christmas carols seem totally detached from today’s headlines, but they tend to sing about the outcome of God's promise, not the process.
Two sharply contrasting views of Europe surfaced last week, one from Washington, the other from Brussels. These two visions imply very different futures for Europe and the wider world. We could be headed for an unwelcome geopolitical situation that will polarize the world into a values bloc and a power bloc.
How should followers of Jesus respond in a time of political turmoil and cultural fragmentation, when the loudest voices often drown out the wisest? We don't need to guess. God has revealed what the Lord requires of us, and Jesus demonstrated the practicalities of it. God's people must keep justice, loving mercy, and humility at the forefront of our ethics as a compass to guide us.
The rise of politicians from America to Russia claiming to champion Christian values and peace yet preaching hatred and division is polarizing families, churches, and communities even far beyond their own countries. Something like this has happened before. Will we Christians learn from recent European history and seek first Christ's kingdom or continue to ride the slippery slope to human totalitarianism in our contexts?
Religious leaders and communities are being asked by Ukrainian faith leaders to pray for the victory of truth and a just peace for Ukraine, confident in the knowledge that God acts in history and can change everything, including stopping the bloodshed. Ukrainian Independence Day is being tagged as a special opportunity to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.
"Free Church" denominations were once breakaway sects from the mainstream Western Church 500 years ago but they have become the growing mainstream. This established mainstream must learn from their past as indigenous expressions of the Church are rapidly multiplying. It is too easy for established Christians to persecute followers of Jesus who seem to deviate from our norms.
We hear a lot of claims these days about "making things great". But what is true greatness? How do we recognize greatness? How will we know when those who promise to "restore greatness" have delivered the goods? What should we be looking for? Jesus shows us the way.
75 years ago to the day a new agenda was set for Europe influenced by the former Pope Leo (XIII). As Europe reflects on the accord established in 1950 a new Pope Leo (XIV) emerges at a time of fresh geopolitical turmoil, with some in the developed world returning to utilitarian self-interest. There is hope that the new pope will be a biblically-informed global influence for humanitarian restraint.
The political positioning of new regimes is matching an ideology that has been forming for some time—Dark Enlightenment. We are watching a new world order emerge that will cause great suffering. As the performance of Bach's St Matthew's Passion unfolded, it resonated deeply with the times we find ourselves in.
The world is hurtling toward being ruled once more by mega empires as autocracies reach a global tipping point and take full control. This outcome was not unexpected even though for many it is lamentable. From his European perspective, regular columnist Jeff Fountain provides insights and hope.
Some 4,000 attended the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship gathering in London just days following the 2025 Munich Security Council Conference. A resurgent form of conservative Anglo-American Christendom featured center-stage. Netherlands-based New Zealander Jeff Fountain shares concerns about the dangerous geo-political shifts and the religious dimension supporting it for what it means for our near future.
While the cessation of conflict in the Holy Land may be cause for rejoicing, true peace requires much more work. This reflection using post-World War II peace as a case study shows how important it is for followers of Jesus to be involved in peace processes.
