At least one-fifth of the Netherlands’ 6,900 church buildings have been converted for secular use - as vacation rentals, apartment complexes, ice skating rinks, even gyms - with hundreds more to follow in the coming years simply because they’re sitting empty. Similar to how these churches have been gutted, stripped of their original godly duties and some would even say freed from the “confines of archaic religious purposes,” an overwhelming majority of Dutch people have stripped their hearts of any trace of God, celebrating not freedom of religion but freedom from religion. In fact, 75.5% of the population say that religion is not important for their daily lives. “Liberated” from their need of God, the remaining way to make sense of the world is to prioritize the Self and allow life to revolve around one’s own preferences and desires - a worldview called Secularism. It may not have its own temples or churches, but it’s a belief system, nevertheless, that provides a framework for living (making decisions, choosing good over bad, relating to others).

This is our context in the Netherlands, where only 4% of people would say they have a personal relationship with Jesus, and the vast majority go through life never personally knowing a follower of Jesus who could share the gospel with them. The majority of Dutch people believe they are capable of controlling and perfecting their own lives. They do not recognize a need for help from God, which only serves to further augment an already highly individualistic and independent worldview. A natural consequence of extreme self-reliance is inevitably disillusionment as individuals crumble under the weight of trying to self-define, self-establish, self-control and self-improve. Loneliness, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and especially “burnout” (overspannenheid) become everyday pandemics as people come to the end of their own strength. We know, however, that the Living God is on the throne in heaven, and He is able to shoulder the weight of all our needs. He desires for the Dutch to know they weren’t created to walk through life alone but rather in fellowship with Him and His body of believers, the Church!

A country’s future is primarily forged at its universities and training institutes, as the next generation of politicians, care-givers and workers are shaped and launched into the workforce. Currently, there are only two established Students for Christ ministries (similar to Chi Alpha in the USA) focused on reaching this crucial age group, and another group is currently being pioneered. The task remaining is daunting as some 300,000 students study in 13 major universities across the nation, grappling with a melting pot of philosophies and worldviews - with little to no interaction with authentic Christ-followers. These students are future lawmakers, business men and women, lawyers, teachers, husbands, wives and parents. They will soon move into areas of influence where their voices can shape families and nations. What if they went into those areas knowing, loving and following Jesus? What could happen to a family if parents were devoted to raising their kids with the knowledge of who Jesus is? What could happen to a country if the future lawmakers were dedicated to seeing God’s Kingdom built here and now? These university years are a critical time to reach this next generation with the gospel as they’re wrestling to determine what they think about the world and what place they want to take in it. We’re asking God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit on these university campuses that would draw students to be reconciled with Christ during these key, formative years and that would instill in them a vision to serve as His ambassadors who are called to go and make disciples!

Due largely to the influence of Secularism and “post-Christian” culture, the majority of Dutch people are slowly drifting away, unreached and unengaged, completely disinterested in church. We are praying that these newly planted churches across the Netherlands would capture the attention of the Dutch and awaken them to their deep need for God. Among the existing churches in the nation, we are praying for revitalization and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pastors can be discouraged by restrictive Covid regulations and the logistical hurdles they pose to gathering together. They must also fight against the growing desire in people to isolate and untether themselves from community - natural results of living through a pandemic that forces physical distance between people. We are praying that VPE churches across the Netherlands would flourish in unity on the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it!