Across Europe, church buildings still stand at the center of cities, and centuries of Christian history shape culture and tradition. However, for many young people, faith has become something they observe, rather than something they experience. It’s familiar, but distant. Recognized, but rarely personal.
In fact, according to OneHope’s Global Youth Culture research, over 40% of Gen Z across Europe say they never even think about Jesus.
And yet, something is shifting.
“We see in Gen Z and Gen Alpha an openness for spirituality and the Christian faith,” says Jo Haaijer, OneHope’s regional director in Europe. “Youth are very open to come to church when invited by a friend.”
That openness is reflected in our Global Youth Culture data: only 28% of children and youth in Europe say they would not be open to attending church if invited..
In a generation shaped by uncertainty—economic instability, global conflict, and questions about identity—many young people are quietly searching for meaning. “The world they now grow up in does not offer security,” Jo explains. “So it makes sense that a new seeking of the meaning of life is present.”
That tension between secularization and spiritual curiosity is exactly why collaboration matters.
A Network Designed for the Next Generation
In 2015, a movement began to connect leaders across Europe who shared a passion for children and youth ministry. Known as Reaching Europe’s Children, the network initially gathered practitioners every four years to exchange ideas and learn from one another.
But after the COVID pandemic, leaders sensed the network needed to become something more.
In 2023, a group including representatives connected to OneHope began reimagining the network not as a conference, but as a learning network. Their vision was to connect organizations, share research, and spark collaborative solutions across Europe’s 44 nations.
Today, the network brings together organizations such as Scripture Union, Awana, Biblica, World Vision, the Global Children’s Forum, OneHope, and others. Leaders meet regularly to pray, share insights, and ask a simple question: What is God doing in your context, and what can we learn from each other?
From Conversation to Action: Research in Albania
One of the first major collaborations to emerge from the network is a research project focused on vulnerable children in Albania.
While vulnerability among children was already recognized, the realities are stark. Poverty, generational brokenness, and a deeply rooted patriarchal culture contribute to environments where many children experience emotional neglect and physical abuse. Alcohol addiction and family instability often intensify these challenges.
The research found that 89% of church leaders identify economic hardship as a critical issue affecting their church’s children and youth, while 4 in 10 churches reported that more than 40% of their congregation’s children and youth come from vulnerable families.
As Jo explains, “Children simply do not have a voice and are very vulnerable to exploitation.”
A WHO report confirms this reality: “Child abuse is common in Albania and affects many children’s health and future.”
In response, OneHope partnered with World Without Orphans and local leaders to better understand both the needs and the readiness of churches to respond.
What they discovered was both challenging and hopeful.
“We learned that the churches are already doing a lot and are not working together. Same with the NGOs,” Jo shares.
Through roundtable conversations, leaders are starting to build relationships, share insights, and explore ways to collaborate. “A new network is rising around these results,” Jo says, “and it starts with relationship and learning about each other.”
That shift is already leading to concrete next steps on the ground.
A podcast series, developed with a Christian radio and TV network, is bringing these conversations into homes across Albania. The research has also surfaced critical gaps, especially in supporting families. As a result, partners are now exploring the adaptation of a parenting program called Family Counts, designed specifically to equip vulnerable families with practical and spiritual support.
The impact is beginning to extend beyond Albania. The research has been shared across Europe, with other countries expressing interest in adapting the model. Even government relationships are opening as church leaders have been invited into national discussions on child welfare.
And while large-scale change takes time, personal responses are already emerging. One couple, after hearing about the needs highlighted in the study, has begun the process of becoming a foster family. Another has stepped forward to support a Christian children’s home.
These early signs of movement point to something deeper: when research leads to listening, and listening leads to collaboration, real change can begin.
Why Partnerships Matter
In 2026, OneHope is projected to reach 3,420,000 children and youth across Western and Eastern Europe, a vision that simply cannot be accomplished by any one organization alone. And in order for this to be possible, collaboration across Europe is essential.
In regions like the Balkans, historical divisions have created deep mistrust between denominations. But when leaders come together around a shared passion—caring for children and reaching the next generation—real collaboration across those divides becomes possible.
Practical realities also demand collaboration. Many churches are small and operate without staff. “If you want to make an impact, you have to work together,” Jo explains. “Together we have more creative ideas on how to design programs and reach and disciple the next generation.”
A New Season for Europe
As partnerships deepen, Jo believes the Church in Europe is entering a new season: one shaped by collaboration, research, and shared vision.
It is a moment marked by both tension and opportunity where leaders are not just asking how to reach young people, but how to do so together. When leaders listen to children, to practitioners, and to the Spirit, they begin to see the real needs of the next generation.
Looking ahead, Jo sees a future marked by greater unity and tangible plans to reach and disciple more children and youth across Europe.
It’s a future that no single organization can build alone. But together, it’s already beginning.
Share this story to celebrate how collaboration and research are opening new doors for the Gospel!
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OneHope Team
- 04 May 2026
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