In Touch – October 2026 | European Nazarene College

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A Minute from the rector

Pace a tutti! Peace to everyone!

Our EuNC community began the new academic year with a Convocation service hosted by the Italy Learning Centre. Our theme for 2026–2027 is Grow in Witness (Acts 1:8).

Last year, we were invited to Grow in Truth. These belong together: the truth of Christ forms us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live and share that truth faithfully.

Rev. Alessandro Urso, a recent EuNC graduate, reminded us: “The Holy Spirit does not seek to replace our study; he seeks to consecrate it.” May every course, conversation, and act of service deepen not only our knowledge, but also our dependence on Christ—forming us as Christlike disciples, ready to serve with wisdom, humility, and love wherever God sends us.

May God bless every student, faculty member, and all who invest in theological education across EuNC.

Mária Gusztinné Tulipán
Rector, European Nazarene College

European Nazarene College officially opened the 2026-2027 Academic Year with a powerful Convocation Ceremony, hosted by the EuNC Italy Learning Centre. The event on 24 September was a wonderful testimony to the work of God within students, alumni and the Kingdom of God. Under the theme “Grow in Witness” EuNC Alumnus Alessandro Urso laid out how theological education and being witnesses for Christ impact each other. He highlighted how “teaching should not merely produce people who know the Bible better, but people who love the God of the Bible more.” The focus of the sermon was on Acts 1:8, the guiding verse for the academic year. Urso reminded the EuNC community that “theological education is not simply a place to accumulate knowledge, information, qualifications, or skills. It is a place where God forms people who are ready to go, ready to be sent.” Two testimonials by a student and another graduate emphasized his message. Worship was led by the Moncalieri Church of the Nazarene Worship Team.

If you missed the Convocation, you can watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

Convocation not only marks the start of a new academic year, it also reminds us of the new learners who are joining the EuNC family. For the 2025–2026 academic year, we are grateful to report encouraging growth:

84 new students were admitted, 58 into the various EuNC programmes, and 26 as occasional course applicants.
16 new participants in Continuous Learning (CL).

This brings the total to 100 new learners engaged with EuNC during the year. In addition, EuNC served 395 registered students in accredited studies and 127 participants in CL, with 163 accredited classes and 3 CL events offered across our 14 Learning Centres.

As Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán noted: "These numbers represent more than statistics: they are lives being equipped for Christlike leadership in local churches and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the prayers, faithful work, and generous support that make this growth possible."

"My hope is transformation, not just information."
Malachie Niyongabire
EuNC Digital Campus (Slovenia)

Malachie Niyongabire is a new student in the Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology programme at the EuNC Digital Campus. Born and raised in Burundi, he now lives in Slovenia, where he attends the Nazarene Church in Ljubljana and serves in worship ministry through singing and guitar. It is here where he senses a call from God to go deeper.

“I have always served through music, but I felt God calling me to grow in knowledge and understanding of His Word and His Church.” As his pastor shares about the opportunity to study at European Nazarene College, his interest is sparked. Malachie loves connecting with people from different cultures and as a college that equips leaders for ministry across Eurasia, he identifies with its mission. “EuNC offers a Christ-centered, multicultural and accessible way to do that, which is perfect for my situation as someone living abroad and serving in ministry.”

At the beginning of 2026 he applies to study in the Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology programme at the EuNC Digital Campus. His motivation is strongly shaped by the desire to be better equipped for ministry. “My hope is for transformation, not just information. I expect to gain a stronger theological foundation, spiritual maturity, and practical tools for ministry.” While he hopes to develop a deeper understanding of the Bible and Christian leadership, he especially seeks for his character to be shaped into a Christlike manner and receive guidance on God’s calling on his life.

On this background, he’s looking forward to courses related to Spiritual Formation and Worship. He longs to see a connection between his studies, his relationship with God and his ministry. As someone who is passionate about building community, he is especially excited about the opportunities to mentor others, particularly those who have a migrant background like him. “I grew up playing music, but I want to grow in leading people into the presence of God with understanding.”

As he balances work, church ministry, and studies, his prayer focus is for discipline and time management. His invitation to the EuNC community: “Please also pray for spiritual growth and for God to continue to open doors for me to serve Him, both in music and beyond.”

Congratulations to Dr. Giovanni Cereda, faculty member of European Nazarene College, on the publication of his latest book John Wesley: La sua vita, la sua missione (2026).

Earlier this year, Rev. Dr. Olga Druzhinina and European Nazarene College published "Introduction to Christian Theology" and “Spirit and Church”. They are accessible, thoughtful, and spiritually grounded resources for students, pastors, and lay leaders around the world, written from a Wesleyan-Holiness perspective and rooted in Scripture.

Various Nazarene churches in our region celebrated Education Sunday this summer. The EuNC Germany Learning Centre participated by presenting the programmes offered, sharing encouraging testimonies, and offering sermons focusing on education and vocation. Prayer and offerings for the ministry at EuNC were part of Education Sunday as well. In addition, German subtitles were added to the EuNC Promo Video, which summarises the main idea of Education Sunday. We are grateful for the support from our Districts and churches for our Learning Centres!

The promo video can be found with German, Italian, and Portuguese subtitles on our YouTube page. A version with a voiceover in Hungarian was created as well. In addition, our EuNC Netherlands Learning Centre created their own promotion video.

Thank you very much for your support! If you missed the service, you can find a video on YouTube with German subtitles that summarises the key points well: