Abraham Kuyper’s letter in 1898: “When government intrudes upon the pulpit or dictates family life, it overreaches. When religious groups or ideological movements seize the state to impose their own views, they too violate the balance of spheres”.

The Amsterdam Réveil never became a mass movement. Yet by insisting that faith must be personal, passionate, and socially relevant, the Réveil planted seeds that would later bear fruit in Dutch political, social and church life.

There is a back story to Amsterdam’s story, which begins with the city’s unique and famous flag: three white crosses on a black stripe through a red background. 

A Jesus March, a boat parade, and a programme of worship and testimony, made Amsterdammers and visitors aware of the vitality and diversity of the church in the city.

If you compare the life of Jesus with today's norms, you might think he was a failure. But He had a greater impact on the world than all the “winners” in history.

In Berlin, theologian Al Mohler talked about why Christians must engage culture biblically, be aware of media influence, and keep evangelism at the center of the church’s mission.

Soldiers and family members of fallen heroes, chaplains, public figures, representatives of churches and religious organisations, were joined at the national breakfast by some 350 invited foreign guests. 

Ukrainians celebrated their 34th anniversary of breaking from the Soviet Union with deep gratitude to God, and for their loved ones who have given their lives to keep their country free.

Trump and Putin show a clear instinct to return to a world in which strong rulers dominate the political stage.

What enables Ukrainians—bombed, displaced, bereaved—to continue believing, rebuilding, resisting, and praying? How does hope survive such devastation?

From the independence in 1991 to the ongoing war sparked by Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s efforts to recover and assert its true history have become acts of resistance, healing, and hope.

Dr Amy Orr-Ewing reflects on the changes in Europe's questions about God in recent years, as well as the current approach to faith among many young people in countries like the UK.

Between 1933 and 1938, hundreds of Ukraine’s brightest minds were executed, imprisoned, or forced into silence. The regime targeted the very idea of Ukrainian identity.

Stalin, determined to eliminate Ukrainian nationalism and any threat of separatism, resolved to break the will of the Ukrainian people, not with guns, but with hunger.

In war, the first casualty is truth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the long and brutal campaign waged by Moscow — not only against Ukraine’s sovereignty but against its very identity.

Argentinian president criticised left-wing ideology and claimed to defend Christian values. "His statements were completely contrary to the gospel”, critics say.

The location of Cana continues to be debated among scholars. Excavations at Khirbet Qana may now provide convincing evidence.

This is her second Grand Slam after the US Open in 2023. The US player is known for being outspoken about her Christian faith.

Divorced from its Christian roots, Schuman warned, democracy would degenerate into anarchy or tyranny, a process we see unfolding before our very eyes right now. 

Headlines the world over last Friday announced the new pope, Leo XIV. Headlines 75 years ago on May 10, 1950, announced a new audacious plan for peace: ‘France takes the nations by surprise’, ‘Schuman bomb’.

Christian nationalism shows more concern with preserving one’s own ‘tribe’ and national identity than with sharing the Gospel with other ethnicities.

Just as Jesus is betrayed by a close follower and handed over to unjust powers, Ukraine has faced aggression from a neighbouring nation with deep historical ties.

This may be the end of an era, as it was for Augustine when Rome fell; or for the wartime generation enduring the terror of German nationalism. But this is not yet the end. 

Snippets of ‘a better story’ could be heard last week at the ARC conference. But what we need is not a white, Anglo-American, conservative, capitalist, Christian nationalist story attempting to turn the clock back to ‘Christendom’.

Schuman warned that democracy cut off from the Christian values of peace, solidarity, freedom of conscience and rule of law would degenerate into tyranny. Autocratic rulers espousing Christian language are cloaking this degeneration.