Do you sometimes wonder about the relevance of our Christian faith outside the church building? Or, how the story of Jesus relates to some of the biggest questions facing Europe, cities, culture, faith, justice, identity and politics?
This summer in Amsterdam might be exactly what you need. The Schuman Centre for European Studies is inviting students, young professionals, pastors, missionaries and creatives into three intensive one-week modules, the Engaging the World Summer School:
- Engaging the City (13–17 July)
- Engaging the Public Square (20–24 July)
- Engaging Europe (26–31 July)
Each of these spheres needs the salt and light of people of faith. Yet where does one get equipped with biblical insight in these fields? Europeans are searching for meaning again. Cities are full of loneliness, fragmentation, spiritual hunger, migration tensions, housing crises, political polarisation and deep questions about identity and hope.
Do you ever ask yourself how to follow Jesus faithfully in a secular society? how to engage culture without either withdrawing from it or trying to dominate it? how to communicate a gospel that is bigger than private spirituality? These are exactly the kinds of questions the summer school will address.
And what a setting! Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most fascinating laboratories of culture, freedom, diversity, creativity, secularism and spiritual searching. You won’t just sit in lectures talking theory. Worship, prayer and lectures are combined with a canal trip, city engagement, films and interaction with people actively engaged in these issues on the ground.
Seeking the city’s welfare
The first module, Engaging the City, explores the biblical vision of the city, how to join what God is already doing in the city, and how to ‘seek the welfare’ of the city beyond church activities. Seasoned practitioners, including Piet Brinksma, Gea Gort, Daniel de Bruijn and Tim Svoboda (video), will mentor participants in the spiritual dynamics shaping modern cities.
This matters because many still think mission only happens ‘over there’ somewhere far away. But increasingly the mission field is the global city itself. The nations have come to Europe. And many old-Europeans have lost the faith of their fathers. The questions people ask are changing. The old formulas often no longer connect.
Today’s generation is asking: ‘Is there hope for this fractured world?’ ‘Can faith make sense of technology, politics, mental health, climate anxiety, loneliness, and identity?’
That is why the second module, Engaging the Public Square, may be one of the most strategic weeks a young leader could invest in.
The course tackles questions we often avoid: What is the role of faith in pluralistic societies? What does it mean for the gospel to be ‘public truth’? How do we live faithfully in a deeply divided society?
For pastors, this is hugely relevant. Many church leaders feel caught between two bad options: either retreat into safe religious subcultures or become captive to political tribalism. But there is another way — a confident, humble, intelligent Christian presence in society.
For young professionals working in media, education, business, politics, arts, law, or technology, these conversations are no longer optional. The workplace itself has become a mission field filled with ethical and spiritual questions.
Seeking Europe’s soul
And for YWAMers? YWAM has always been strong in evangelism, discipleship, bible study, worship, and missions. But Europe today needs believers who can think deeply about cities, culture, economics, public life and Europe’s spiritual future.
Ed Heger, former Slovakian Prime Minister, will share from his own experience in public office, along with Mirjam Verwijs, chair of the ChristenUnie in Amsterdam, and my son Antonie who works at the interface of government, business and farmers for fair trade in chocolate, coffee and cotton. Tron Ansaldo, former YWAM Amsterdam leader and I will oversee this week.
Then comes the third module: Engaging Europe. We will start in Amsterdam exploring how our continent paradoxically was shaped both by the gospel – and its rejection. We identify ‘moments of grace’ in recent times. And we explore how Ukraine’s search for transformation on spiritual foundations could help Europe rediscover her soul.
Then we travel to Brussels to learn about the spiritual roots of European integration: forgiveness, reconciliation and together seeking the common good. We will learn about the European institutions through meeting some key figures, past and present, and visiting interactive exhibitions like the Parlamentarium, The House of European History, Experience Europe and the European Parliament itself.
This is more than just a summer course of lectures. It’s an immersion into the spiritual and cultural crossroads Europe is facing right now. It’s about learning how to follow Jesus intelligently, courageously, prayerfully and creatively in the modern world.
For some, one week may simply sharpen their thinking. For others, it may reshape their calling. You can join for one or two weeks, or stay for all three.
More information about the (very low) costs, accommodation and applications, see YWAM Amsterdam Engage Summer School.
See you in Amsterdam?
Till next week,
