In Touch – November 2026 | European Nazarene College

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A Minute from the Rector

With Gratitude for Those Who Serve

In October, we celebrated Clergy Appreciation Month, giving thanks for those who faithfully serve and shepherd our congregations. That gratitude continues as District Assemblies gather across our region to share stories of God’s faithfulness, celebrate lives being changed, and prayerfully consider the work ahead.

Among the Assembly celebrations are significant moments for members of our EuNC family: alumni being ordained or receiving their first district minister’s licence. Behind each milestone is a journey of grace. There are congregations that recognised and encouraged a calling, teachers who opened the Scriptures, mentors who listened and asked thoughtful questions, and families who supported long hours of study and service. As we celebrate those taking these steps, we also give thanks for those who have walked beside them.

And the journey continues. Ministry keeps calling us to listen, learn, and allow the Holy Spirit to shape our lives. Theological education serves this continuing formation, helping us grow in our understanding of Scripture and in our love for God and our neighbours.

Our theme, Grow in Witness, brings this learning and serving together. Jesus’ words, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8), are accompanied by the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power. We depend on that promise as we prepare for ministry and throughout our years of service. In classrooms and congregations, around kitchen tables and in everyday encounters, the Spirit forms us to make Christ known.

The stories in this edition offer glimpses of that shared life: learning communities gathering in fellowship, resources that help us read Scripture, and opportunities to explore how different generations can be the Church together.

To the pastors who encourage our students and make room for them to practise ministry: thank you. To our Learning Centre Coordinators, teachers, mentors, and all who support this work through prayer, time, and generosity: thank you. Your faithfulness matters, even when its fruit takes time to become visible. The encouragement you offer today may help sustain someone’s ministry for years to come.

Please join us in praying for our District Assemblies and especially for those entering a new stage of ministry. May they remain rooted in Christ, attentive to the Spirit, and sustained by a community of faith. As we Grow in Witness, may our words and lives help others encounter the love of Jesus.

Mária Gusztinné Tulipán
Rector, European Nazarene College

The EuNC Arabic Learning Centre celebrated the start of the 2026-2027 Academic Year with various “watch parties”. Students and faculty in Lebanon came together on 24 September to participate in the broadcasted Convocation Ceremony together. The gathering in Beirut happened for the fourth year in a row and has become a beloved tradition. For the first time ever, the learning community in Jordan came together on 28 September to watch the recorded Convocation. 15 participants each in Beirut, Lebanon, and Amman, Jordan, came together and celebrated the start of the new academic year. Both gatherings included a time of fellowship over catered pizza – a tribute to the EuNC Italy Learning Centre as the host for the Convocation. EuNC Arabic Learning Centre Coordinator Rev. Samia Salameh comments on the two events: “I love the fact that each year, one of the Learning Centres hosts the convocation. These gatherings remind us that we are part of a larger community, and seeing the faces of these smaller communities is always meaningful. I believe that, through these gatherings, we celebrate the fact that we are one in Christ, across borders. We all support, and lift one another up (even if that means having pizza for the sake of the Italian hosts).

Congratulations to Petra Elsäßer, EuNC Germany Learning Centre student, and Dr. Wolfgang Köhler, EuNC Germany Learning Centre Coordinator, on their publications in the 2027 edition of “Die Bibel für heute” (The Bible for Today). The daily devotional is known for its detailed explanation of biblical texts, explaining context and background for readers. Petra Elsäßer‘s contribution covers the days of 19 to 30 April 2027, highlighting texts from 1 Samuel. Dr. Köhler was able to reflect on the book of Jesaja. He comments: “It was a joy for me to work on this project as it allowed to make insights from my own research focus accessible for a broader audience.” His articles are featured during the week of 24 to 30 November 2027. Both contributors are planned in for the 2028 edition. The book can be purchased through the Brunnen Verlag and the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Wolfgang Köhler, faculty member and EuNC Germany Learning Centre Coordinator, on the publication of his research article in the European Journal of Theology.

EuNC does not just offer studies for its programmes students, but also opens up courses for anyone interested in growing in faith and ministry. On 28 November 2026, the EuNC Netherlands Learning Centre will host the course “Developing Intergenerational Congregations”. It will focus on “Being Church Together Across All Generations”. On 16 January 2027, the EuNC Germany Learning Centre will offer a seminar on “The Common Thread of the New Testament”. The course is meant to provide an overview of the New Testament while encouraging participants to study it themselves.

Developing Intergenerational Congregations
(EuNC Netherlands Learning Centre)

We see that the younger generation is finding it increasingly difficult to connect with existing church communities. During this course, we will explore together how different generations can be the church together today.
The study day is open to anyone interested in this topic.

Study day: 28 November, 10:00–15:00, in Vlaardingen
Cost: €20

Participants are encouraged to read the course textbook:
Samen jong. Kernwaarden van een kerk met alle generaties (Young Together: Core Values of a Church for All Generations), KokBoekencentrum, 2022.

Lecturers: Hadassa Stehouwer, District Youth Worker, and Wilma Holleman, EuNC Netherlands Learning Centre Coordinator
Registration and information: wholleman@eunc.edu

The Common Thread of the New Testament
(EuNC Germany Learning Centre)

The New Testament consists of 27 books. Behind them are different people who wrote in different places and at different times. But what links them together? Do you sometimes find, when reading the Bible, that you miss the wood for the trees? If so, this seminar will help you to discover the common thread that runs through the New Testament. If you’re not yet very familiar with the Bible, you’ll gain an overview of the New Testament. This will help spark your interest in learning more and encourage you to read the Bible for yourself afterwards. For experienced Bible readers, there’s an opportunity to deepen your understanding, put things into context and distil the essential points. Finally, we’ll practise together how to summarise the message of the New Testament concisely and share it with others.

The seminar leaders, Wolfgang Köhler and Simon Grunwald, are pastors at the Church of the Nazarene and course leaders for the ‘Introduction to the New Testament’ course at the EuNC Germany Learning Centre.

The seminar lasts three hours and will take place on 16 January 2027 from 3 pm to 6 pm via video conference.

Participation in a Church Academy seminar costs €35. For participants on the ‘Introduction to the New Testament’ course, attendance at the seminar is included.

Please register by 9 January 2027 at the latest.

EuNC Academic Dean Rev. Dr Matteo Ricciardi attended the fourth European Wesleyan Gathering at the Life Center in Crikvenica, Croatia, from 19 to 23 October 2026, together with missionary and EuNC faculty member Jeremy Height who serves in Croatia. The gathering brought together representatives of the Free Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, Wesleyan Church, Church of the Nazarene, and World Methodist Evangelism, as well as European Nazarene College and Nazarene Theological College in Manchester. Participants came from a wide range of European contexts, from Estonia and Finland to Spain and Albania, together with guests serving in the United States.

The programme combined prayer, worship, teaching and presentations from participating churches and ministries. Sessions addressed Europe as a mission field, Christianity and artificial intelligence, partnership development and current developments within the wider Wesleyan family. Country reports offered insight into ministry among Roma communities in Slovakia, efforts towards greater financial sustainability in Bulgaria, church growth in Albania without dedicated church buildings, and the challenges of shared ecclesial life across linguistic and cultural differences. The EuNC Academic Dean also contributed by presenting EuNC’s programmes and participating in discussions on ministry and partnership development.

A distinctive strength of the gathering was the opportunity to deepen relationships across denominational and national boundaries. Participants prayed for one another’s ministries, exchanged experiences, and reflected together on the cultural, missional, and organisational challenges facing churches across Europe. The conversations encouraged further cooperation in theological education, leadership development and ministry partnerships, strengthening connections within the wider Wesleyan family.