Urban Leadership Foundation
A hub for leadership training in cities and among the world's 1.4 billion slum-dwellers
FOR EUROPE
an initiative of
the European Round Table
co-sponsored by: the European Evangelical Alliance
and the Lausanne Europe Committee
interfacing globally with: the AD2000 & Beyond movement, Lausanne International and the World Evangelical Fellowship
What is
.
HOPE FOR EUROPE?
HOPE FOR EUROPE is a pan-European evangelical initiative aiming to help Christians proclaim and demonstrate both the contemporary and eternal hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
by developing specialist networks across Europe committed to praying and working together, and
by encouraging local and national evangelistic initiatives,
contributing to:
the spiritual, social and cultural transformation of the peoples of Europe, and the mobilisation of Europeans for world evangelisation.
WHY HOPE FOR EUROPE?
Millions of our fellow Europeans face an uncertain and sombre future, despite the overthrow of dictators and the passing of the Cold War. Christians have a word of hope for modern Europeans that no-one else can speak.
The credibility of this message of hope however has been impaired through disunity, unbiblical pessimism and withdrawal from being salt and light in society. We have thus often implied to our fellow Europeans that there is little hope for Europe's future.
Yet it is our responsibility as Christians to pray and work for God's kingdom to come, for his will to be done among the European peoples, as it is in heaven. We accept that the people of God are his primary agent of transformation (Eph.3:10), and are thus called to be the people of hope.
How did HOPE FOR EUROPE emerge?
Several gatherings of evangelicals in recent years addressed the challenge of the re-evangelisation of Europe, including the first Lausanne-Europe conference at Stuttgart (1989), the Budapest Summit (1991), and the Bad Boll Consultation on E vangelisation (1992).
Meanwhile, other new movements and alignments had entered the European arena, both east and west. A
perceived need for co-ordination to prevent a 'confused, crowded and competitive' European landscape led to the first European Round Table in late 1992, where some 20 representatives of pan-European evangelistic networks met to build relationships, trust and understanding.
At the second European Round Table, December 1993, the Hope for Europe proposal for a framework of co- operative evangelical action emerged.
What are the elements of HOPE FOR EUROPE?
1. Hope for Europe, grounded on the Lausanne Covenant, is motivated by a biblical theology of hope. As the people of hope, we are to serve God in the outworking of his purposes. We are called to disciple the peoples of Europe, teaching them to obey and glorify God (Mt 28: 19). Our perspective is thus hopeful and optimistic as to God's future actions in Europe, rather than despairing and pessimistic.
2. Hope for Europe affirms and encourages the development of pan-European specialty networks to facilitate transnational partnerships and information sharing.
These networks are coordinated by convenors from both east and west Europe, and include the following:
. theology
. prayer
. women
. education
. communications
. church planting .research
. cities
. saturation evangelism
.Leadership development
. young Europeans
. reaching unreached peoples
. disability ministries
. mobilising new missionaries
. culture, values and politics
. professionals & businessmen
3. Hope for Europe aims to encourage nation-wide initiatives and consultations in each European country, promoting existing and new initiatives by denominations, organisations, local Lausanne committees, national Evangelical Alliances, etc., etc., in focused, co-operative efforts.
4. Hope for Europe also aims to encourage regional / neighbourhood / city-wide initiatives towards the goal of saturating every region, neighbourhood and people group with the hope of the gospel.
5. Hope for Europe interfaces with corresponding global networks including the World Evangelical Fellowship, Lausanne International, and the AD2000 & Beyond Movement.
Hope for Europe is co-sponsored by the European Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Europe Committee, and is coordinated by the office of the general secretary of the EEA, Stuart McAllister, based in Vienna.
6. Hope for Europe is committed to partnership, to the promotion of a spirit of unity with diversity, respect and co-operation, relationship and trust, the resolution of tensions in a biblical way, and the promotion of each other's ministries and activities.
What should be the outcomes of HOPE FOR EUROPE?
How could Europe look, say, in the year 2020, if these aspirations for Hope For Europe were to be realised?
Evangelicals across the continent would share a renewed consciousness of the implications of Christian hope for the future of European society.
Creative expressions of prayer would continue to be released from every corner of Europe.
United prayer would lay foundations for bold, powerful and colourful co-operative evangelistic initiatives in key cities and neighbourhoods across the contentment.
In every European country, the number of fellowships in each nation will be approaching the goal of one for every 1000 inhabitants.
Research networking will have placed relevant information in the hands of pastors, youth workers, mlSSlOn leaders, and denominational strategists throughout Europe.
Christian communicators w.ill have made early application of the 'electronic highway' to partner in the task of effective delivery of the gospel message to a media- oriented European public.
A multinational force of young women and men will be salting European society in all manner of professions, with a conscious biblical worldview, grasping opportunities to present biblical approaches
to ethical, economic, educational, political and social Issues.
A renewed church of Jesus Christ in Europe will have a renewed sense of responsibility and mission to help the church world-wide in the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
The Church of Jesus Christ, in short, will be more effectively helping to shape the spiritual, social and cultural life of the peoples of Europe.
Christians in every walk of life will be demonstrating the hope of the gospel in word and deed, through their lifestyle and verbal witness, being salt and light among neighbours, friends, colleagues and relatives, and influencing the values and infrastructures of society.
Followers of Jesus Christ will again be known in Europe as the people of hope.
For further information, contact:
HOPE FOR EUROPE
Post/ach 23, 1937 Vienna, Austria.
Tel. (43) 17149151
Fax (43) 1713 83 82
CompuServe 100341,550
© Viv Grigg
and the Encarnação Alliance Training Commission
For problems or questions regarding this web contact
web@urbanleaders.org
Last updated: 05/15/09.