Europe: A Trip to the Future of the American Church

For two weeks I zig-zagged across Europe spending time in 6 countries and 8 cities. After running the Berlin Marathon with my daughter Amy, I was off to Rotterdam, Netherlands and then Lviv, Ukraine for 3 days. Up next was Edinburgh, Scotland; then 3 cities in England: Sheffield, Birmingham and London. I wrapped up this second “marathon” in Chisinau, Moldova and Bucharest, Romania. It was a quite a run! But what a privilege to get to see what God is doing in the European church.

My overall take away is that going to Europe is like a trip into the future for an American. Much of what they are experiencing is either post-Christian or pre-Christian and I would estimate that in the United States we are 8-10 years behind them. So, when I am in Europe, particularly Western Europe, I pay real close attention to what is working and what is not working in the church because I believe it gives me a glimpse of what will and will not work in the not-too-distant future of the American church!

So, what are my observations? Here are 4 observations about what is happening in Europe and what I believe is just ahead for us in the United States…

Young People Are Searching for God and Coming Back To Church!

Rachel Jordan-Wolf shared some exciting research with me that 9 % of young adults (18-24) in London are now practicing Christians! And the term “practicing Christian” is defined by regularly attends church, reads the Bible and prays. That is about a 50% increase in young adults who are practicing Christians in London since this survey was previously conducted! Seizing on this opportunity are organizations like TheSend.UK who are mobilizing thousands of these young people for mission across the UK! The study also highlights that young adults are more open to discussing their faith and engaging in conversations about Jesus compared to older age groups​. Most of these young people have never been to church; so, they haven’t experienced “church hurt” and are not deconstructing their past faith. These young people are just genuinely searching for answers to spiritual questions and are finding Jesus! So many young people are struggling with anxiety and depression, if we can show them a God who provides peace, they are interested! Many say, “As goes it in London, so goes England and Western Europe.” And if Western Europe is our future, we need to get prepared because there is going to be tidal wave of young people searching for God and solutions to their spiritual longings.

Learning for the Americn Church: Start investing now in both reaching and mobilizing middle schoolers. Many of these 11–13 year-olds have not gone to church; but have faced a lot of relational and mental challenges. They have no church baggage, but they have hearts that long for God. They are searching for God, and they want something spiritual. Let’s give it to them!

Those Church Planters You are Looking For – They are Immigrants!

The Scottish Church Planting Network reported over the last several years that 110 new churches have been started in Scotland. And guess how many of they reported were planted by immigrants? 103!! 94% of new churches were started by immigrant church planters! During my last trip to Spain, I heard from indigenous Spanish leaders that they were excited that the church in Spain is growing. And it is! But as I asked more questions, I discovered it was growing because of immigrants; many coming from South America that were planting new churches. Even here in the United States, the only denomination that is experiencing growth is the Assembly of God. And they will tell you, it is because of immigrant church plants; particularly Spanish speaking church planters. The London Project is being intentional about going to each of these growing minority groups and sitting down with them to listen and learn from Africans, Spanish, Asian and more. And then they bring them all together to learn from them and to help resources them.

Learning for American Church: The future of the church in the United States, like much of Europe is not white; it is people of color and immigrants. We need to build relationships; offer resources that they request, cheer them on, and not get in the way! If we are going to see 16% of the churches in the United States become reproducing and multiplying churches – they will be a big reason why!

Is the Future of the Church Macro OR Micro? Yes!

Chrissy, a young female church planter from Sheffield, England described for me the church she pastors as “12 house churches that gather to support one another on a weekly basis.” I heard another church planter describe his church “As a network of micro churches that once a month comes together to celebrate.” Many used an old refrain, “We are small enough to care, but large enough to dare!” We are seeing this same model emerge in the United States; an example is the the Church Project based out of Houston. These churches have come to the realization a macro expression of church is very hard to multiply and that a micro expression is often hard to sustain on its own. But when you combine them, you get a micro expression that will multiply and a macro expression that makes it more sustainable. And these Macro-micro churches are making greater use of the latent talent of lay people and are far more financially sustainable than the prevailing launch large model of church.

Learning for American Church: the Macro or launch large church is helpful, but is not a movemental form. Most of our churches in the United States will not and cannot make a shift to a micro expression, but many can transition to a Macro-micro model. This form of church will make better use of the latent talent in so many lay people by encouraging them to lead a micro church and this is form of church that is financially viable and scalable to get us to the 16% mission.

What Doesn’t Work for Outreach, Will Work!

In post-Christian and sometimes pre-Christian Europe I heard stories of outreach strategies that would never work in most of the United States. I heard stories of people setting up Bible tables and they had people coming up to them asking for Bibles. I heard stories of young people passing out tracts and engaging in life-changing conversations. I heard stories of people setting up worship teams in the Tube in London that attracted crowds who wanted to learn more. These strategies were working! I’m not suggesting that these approaches will work in most places in the United States right now, but I am saying that as move further and further into a post-Christian and soon pre-Christian era, all the stuff that we have said won’t work, just might work! I also heard that while doing these “old ways” of outreach they also expected the Holy Spirit to work. They would pray for people and expect a “word” from God. They would ask for miracles and expect God’s Spirit to move. These stories of real spiritual encounters are evidence that is hard for anyone to resist.

Learning for American Church: Experiment. Experiment. Experiment. Please don’t say, “We already tried that, and it doesn’t work” because this is a new generation and what didn’t work, just might work now. And don’t just depend on your new or old strategies. Ask expectantly for God’s Spirit to work!