Editorial for the EEA Newsletter
Hope under Pressure
Europe feels tense. Russia is testing NATO and the fear of war on our continent is no longer an abstract scenario but a daily news item. At the same time, internal polarisation is increasing. Right-wing extremism and violence are becoming bolder—as seen in the riots in The Hague on Saturday, 22 September. The combination of external threats and internal divisions weighs heavily on the hearts of many Europeans. For many, the word “hope” seems fragile, even naïve.
But for us as followers of Christ, hope is not a mood or a feeling. It is not dependent on geopolitics, nor on public opinion, nor on the rise or fall of human powers. Christian hope is anchored in the living Lord Jesus Christ, who has already overcome death and darkness.
This hope does not deny reality, but it does resist despair. It strengthens us to remain faithful in prayer, bold in witness, and steadfast in love—even when pressure is mounting. As Evangelicals in Europe, we are called to embody this hope: in our families, our churches, our neighbourhoods, and in the public square. Our societies desperately need communities that live differently—not driven by fear or anger, but by hope that endures.
One of the most pressing issues where hope is under pressure is migration. This subject divides our societies more than almost any other. Political rhetoric often simplifies the matter, fuelling fear and resentment, while public opinion is deeply polarised. For Christians, the challenge is how to remain people of hope in a continent where migration is not only a policy debate but also a source of mistrust, suspicion, and even hatred. How can we resist the currents of polarisation and instead demonstrate that in Christ there is another way—the way of truth and love together?
A very concrete place where this challenge becomes visible is in our response to refugees. Refugees are not just one group among many migrants; they are people who have fled war, persecution, and violence. They did not choose to leave their homes; they were forced to run for their lives. Toward them, Christian hope can become visible in powerful ways: through hospitality, protection, and dignity. When we open our hearts and our communities to refugees, we bear witness that God’s hope is stronger than fear, exclusion, or hostility. We embody the truth that in Christ, no one is forgotten or abandoned.
The stronger the pressure, the brighter hope shines. Not because of us, but because of the Spirit who dwells in us. Let us therefore stand together across our nations and traditions, encouraging one another to keep our eyes on Christ, the Lord of history, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
With the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:13 (NIV) we pray: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Rev. Jan Wessels – General Secretary of the EEA
