God has not given up on Europe despite real and serious challenges - but is the church willing to repent, listen and follow him in 2026?
That is the rhetorical question posed by Rev. Jan C. Wessels, Co-General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), in an exclusive commentary sent to Christian Daily International titled, “A Prophetic Call to Faithfulness.”
Wessels spoke of the challenges for European Christians in 2026 in areas such as spiritual and physical war, religious freedom, the rise of nationalism, materialism, the secularization within some churches, and climate change. However, he balanced that against the opportunities and positives, noting a renewed focus on discipleship, fellowship and cohesion among evangelicals, with tremendous outreach opportunities towards migrants and Generation Z, which longs for authenticity, he said.
“Europe stands at a decisive moment in its history,” said Wessels. “The continent that once sent missionaries across the world now finds itself a mission field again — contested, fragmented, restless, yet deeply loved by God. The year 2026 confronts European Christians with urgent challenges that demand spiritual discernment and prophetic courage. But it also presents God-given opportunities that call for repentance, renewal, and faithful obedience.”
A War Over the Soul of Europe
There is a war raging in Europe—not only with weapons, but with ideas, narratives, and power, according to the EEA general secretary.
“It is a war against foundational Western values such as freedom of religion or belief, values that did not emerge accidentally but were forged in societies shaped by the biblical vision of human dignity and responsibility before God. Today these freedoms are increasingly eroded by autocratic impulses, cultural hostility toward faith, and the stigmatization of Christian convictions.”
Wessels referred to Scripture warning that when truth is suppressed, injustice follows. He said the church must not be naïve, adding that defending religious freedom is not about privilege, but about protecting space for the gospel, for conscience, and for the vulnerable. In particular, he referenced Romans 1: 18: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
A Divided House Cannot Stand
Equally alarming for Wessels is what he called the “deep disunity” that he observes within the wider church itself. He lamented that Christians who confess the same Lord, proclaim the same salvation in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, and pray to the same Father increasingly condemn one another over baptism, roles of men and women, and human sexuality.
“Jesus’ words cut sharply through our ecclesial debates,” said Wessels. He referenced Luke 11:17: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined.”
“Truth matters — but so does love. Orthodoxy without humility becomes a clanging cymbal (‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,’” added Wessels, referring to 1 Corinthians 13:1. “A divided church cannot credibly proclaim reconciliation to a fractured world.”
He supported this latter perspective with a quote from 2 Corinthians 5:18–20: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Nationhood Without the Kingdom
The rise of nationalism and tribalism poses another spiritual challenge, according to Wessels. He conceded that love for one’s country is not sinful — “but absolutizing national identity is.”
“Scripture reminds us that ‘our citizenship is in heaven’ (Philippians 3:20) and that God’s redemptive love extends not only to Europe or the West, but to the whole world—and indeed to the whole cosmos (John 3:16; Colossians 1:20),” said Wessels.
“When the church accepts and adopts fear of the ‘other,’ it betrays the gospel. When borders matter more than people, we have lost sight of the Kingdom of God.”
Comfort, Consumption, and Christlikeness
A quieter but equally corrosive threat is the spread of materialism and individualism, even among evangelical Christians, said the general secretary. He added that this stands in direct contradiction to the self-emptying way of Christ described in Philippians 2:1–11.
“Secularization is not merely something happening to the Church; it is often something happening within it — when comfort replaces costly discipleship,” said Wessels, referencing Matthew 6:24. “Jesus’ warning remains prophetic: ‘You cannot serve both God and Mammon.’”
Wessels also expressed concern about the effect of actions by Europeans upon those living in the Global South in regards to looking after the planet responsibly.
“Europe must also reckon with its role in the depletion of the earth. Creation is groaning, Scripture tells us (Romans 8:22), and the consequences are felt most acutely in the Global South — by those who contributed least to the damage. Ignoring this reality is not theological neutrality; it is moral failure. Humanity was entrusted with stewardship, not exploitation (Genesis 2:15).
“At the same time, the gap between rich and poor continues to widen under an unmerciful economic system that prizes profit over people. The prophets would not be silent about this — and neither should the church (Amos 5:11–15; James 5:1–5).”
Signs of Hope: God Is Still at Work
Despite these concerns, Wessels emphasised that his message was not a “message of despair.” He believed that God is still at work across the continent of Europe.
“God has not withdrawn His Spirit from Europe. Across the continent, there is a renewed focus on holistic discipleship — forming believers not only for church attendance, but for faithful presence in everyday life. The rediscovery of the ‘scattered church’ echoes Jesus’ sending words: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (John 20:21).’”
Wessels also noted a growing sense of fellowship and cooperation among evangelical believers.
“National alliances, networks, and parachurch organizations are increasingly working together across denominational lines — imperfectly, but intentionally — answering Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21).”
A Generation Searching for Good News
The general secretary lauded a “striking sign of hope” he observed among Generation Z, which is the generation of young people born between 1997 and 2012. He noted that across Europe, young people are longing for authenticity, community, and meaning.
“They are open to spiritual conversations, hungry for truth, and weary of shallow answers. Is this revival? Perhaps it is too early to say — but it is undeniably a moment of visitation. The question is whether the church will recognize it.”
Technology and Migration
Wessels saw an evangelistic opportunity for Christians with the burgeoning development of artificial intelligence. He said it is often framed as a threat but can become a tool for mission — ”helping translate Scripture, analyze data responsibly, and support discipleship—if it remains a servant rather than a master.”
“At the same time, many Christians are rediscovering that we are not called to dominate culture, but to influence it as salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16) — to embody the gospel in politics, education, media, business, and civil society with integrity and grace,” said Wessels.
Another prophetic opportunity for evangelism in Europe is migration and the presence of refugees on the continent.
“Refugees are often portrayed as a threat. Scripture tells a different story,” said Wessels. “From Abraham to Israel in exile, from the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to the early church scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1–4), God repeatedly advances His purposes through migration.
“Today, people from least-reached nations are living among us—often spiritually open, deeply searching, and receptive. In welcoming the stranger, the Church encounters Christ Himself (Matthew 25:35). Refugees do not threaten God’s mission; they reveal it. They remind Europe that the gospel was never meant to be contained within one culture or civilization.”
Migration is therefore not a problem to be solved, but a “kairos moment to be discerned,” added the general secretary.
“Through refugees and migrant believers, European churches are being renewed, humbled, and reconnected to the global body of Christ (Hebrews 13:2; Ephesians 2:19).”
God Has Not Given Up on Europe
Lastly, Wessels strongly stressed that God was at work in Europe and for Christians to be encouraged from that fact.
“The challenges facing European Christians in 2026 are real—and serious. But Scripture assures us that God is faithful to His purposes. The question is not whether God is still at work in Europe, but whether the Church is willing to repent, to listen, and to follow: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’” (Isaiah 43:19)
“God has not given up on Europe. May European Christians rediscover the courage to live as faithful witnesses — rooted in Christ, united in love, and sent into the world for the sake of the gospel,” he added.
