African theology: a valuable resource for intercultural study

When you speak or teach in an intercultural context, it is essential to draw on different perspectives on the Bible. This not only enriches your message, but also strengthens the mutual connectedness in faith.

A good starting point is always the conversation within your own community — listen, ask follow-up questions, and discover new insights together.

If you also want a deeper analysis of differences and points of connection in theology, there is a wonderful resource available:

African Theology Worldwide

This website, in which Benno van den Toren from the Netherlands is among those involved, offers an extensive overview of articles, commentaries, and contributions from African theologians.


Visit the site and sign up for updates — an inspiring step toward a broader and deeper theological understanding.

Website: https://african.theologyworldwide.com/

Workshops inspiration day

Be inspired!

During the Intercultural Inspiration Day, we will not only engage in conversations about dreams and ideals but also take concrete steps toward a colorful church. In a series of inspiring workshops, we will explore together how being an intercultural church can take shape in practice. Each of these workshops offers tools, stories, and methods that can support you in your own faith community.

From a site visit to an intercultural congregation to discussions about racism, refugees, and faith experiences from different backgrounds – the workshops provide space for meeting, deepening understanding, and practical application. Let yourself be inspired, ask your questions, and discover together with others how the church can be a place where everyone feels welcome.

Below is a description of the workshops:

1. Visit to ICF Veenendaal
Discover how a local intercultural community takes shape! During this site visit, you will get an inside look into the life and practice of ICF Veenendaal. You will meet pioneers and congregation members, hear their stories, and see how diversity and faith come together here. An inspiring experience that provides ideas and practical tools for your own context.

2. Proeven & Praten – Micha Nederland
Get to know Proeven & Praten: a creative method developed in collaboration with Micha Netherlands and Kerk in Actie. You will listen to experiences related to racism and diversity from different perspectives and engage in conversations through interactive exercises. The material is available online at https://proevenpraten.nl/de-kleur-van-je-hart. An inspiring way to share heart to heart with one another.

3. Muslims, MBB’ers, and the Church – Evangelie & Moslims
How do we build sustainable relationships with Muslims and MBB’ers (Muslim-background believers) within the church? This workshop addresses both the challenges and opportunities: why is it often difficult to retain them in an intercultural community? How do you handle tensions and differences in faith experiences? There will be plenty of time for discussion and sharing of experiences.

4. Breaking Cliques – Stichting Geloofsinburgering
In every church, there is a risk that groups become closed off. How can you break through that and truly promote being an intercultural congregation? Geloofsinburgering leads an interactive working session full of insights, practical examples, and joint exercises.

5. Sharing the Gospel in a Multicultural Context –Samen Kerk in Nederland (SKIN)
How do you share the good news of Jesus in a society full of cultures, languages, and sensitivities? This workshop, led by SKIN, explores how to share the core of the gospel in a way that touches and connects people from different backgrounds. Practical, personal, and profound.

6. Refugees and the Church – stichting Gave
Global migration also affects the church in the Netherlands. What does this mean for our communities? In this interactive session, Stichting Gave takes you through current developments and invites conversation. A chance to share experiences and explore new steps together in caring for refugees.

Bring someone along!

Practical Information:
📍 Location: De Grote Pekken 11 – Veenendaal 
📅 Date: Friday, October 10
🕙 Gates open at 9:30 AM, start at 10:00 AM
🥗 Networking lunch: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: Free

If you know others interested in participating, please bring them and register their attendance.

Sign up and help build!

For more information, email: office@icpnetwork.nl

Book launch including Seven Keys to being an intercultural church

On Friday, October 10, Hans Euser, director of ICP Netherlands, will launch his latest book during an inspiring gathering in Veenendaal. The book includes seven keys to intercultural church life. In it, he shares insights, practical experiences, and theological reflections on what it truly means to be an intercultural church. A must-read for pastors, church workers, pioneers, and anyone involved in faith communities or organizations where diversity is both a blessing and a challenge.

Seven keys – seven perspectives

In an intercultural church, everything comes together: different cultures, expressions of faith, languages, customs, and expectations. So how do you build a close-knit community in the midst of all that? How do you navigate tensions without losing sight of your calling? In this book, Hans Euser presents seven essential ‘keys’ to help churches grow and thrive in an intercultural context.

1. The Personal Key – How do you deal with inner barriers such as fear, pride, doubt, disappointment, and opposition?

2. The Theological Key – How do you shape theological unity in diversity, inspired by Paul’s letter to the Romans?

3. The Liturgical Key – How do you shape celebrations in an honest and creative way that everyone can participate in?

4. The Communication Key – How do you increase cultural sensitivity and ensure open, respectful communication?

5. The Organizational Key – How do you create structures where unity in diversity takes shape – with insights from sociology?

6. The Relational Key – How do you handle conflicts, and what is needed to emerge stronger together from intercultural tensions?

7. The Spiritual Key – How do you recognize the spiritual battle behind division, and how can the church stand strong in resistance?

During the book launch on October 10, these themes will be explored through a lecture, panel discussion, and workshop sessions. There will be opportunities for questions, reflection, and of course: the first copy of the book!

You’re warmly welcome!
📍 Location: Gebouw de Regenboog, De Grote Pekken 11, Veenendaal
🕙 Time 10:00am – 14:00pm, including lunch
📘 Book available for purchase during the launch

Register and help build together!

For more information, please mail office@icpnetwork.nl

Family camp

The family camp was organized last month by Crosspoint Kingdom Impact Eindhoven. It was a time of great blessing. Around 90 brothers and sisters from various backgrounds came together for a weekend to benefit from what the Lord had in store for them. Pastor Jean-Louis Gaillard and his wife Sonia from Paris came to encourage all the participants.

In his message, Jean-Louis referred to the example of the prophet Elijah, who was challenged by the Lord to live a life of faith. Through his obedience and trust in the Lord, Elijah was able to experience God’s providence while he was in a foreign land, and he became a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord to deliver the people of Israel and bring them back to God. In the same way, we are called to live a life of faith and obedience, just like Elijah, so that we too can be instruments the Lord can use as He wills.

It was a time of spiritual growth, but also a time to be together with brothers and sisters, to play games, and to enjoy good food.

We rejoice and are deeply grateful for the Gospel, which breaks down all barriers of culture, race, customs, and language, and brings unity to His Church.

A glimpse of the weekend

A table full of flavors. A church full of colors. A God of abundance.

What happens when people from all over the world come together around one name – Jesus?

Then something extraordinary emerges. Not a simple sum of cultures, but a new dish. A new aroma. A taste of heaven.

Ten years ago, we began dreaming of a multicultural community.
What we received was more than that: an intercultural journey.
Living together, believing together, changing together.
Jesus doesn’t call us to comfort, but to community — to holy unity.
And that requires something from us: letting go. Opening up. Practicing.
But what you receive in return is profound — God’s manifold wisdom, made visible in people.

“Friend of the stranger.” That’s how the Bible describes true hospitality.
Not helping from a distance, but connecting heart to heart.

And when we sit at the table together — eating, singing, sharing — it sometimes truly feels like what John saw:
“A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9)

Are you courageous enough to step out of your bubble?
The Kingdom of God is colorful. Let’s practice — at the table, in the church, on the street.

By: Theo Vreugdenhil

Do you find the content interesting? Read the full text here.

Would you like to read more inspiring stories like this? Click on the link below from Micha Nederland, where you can also purchase the book containing all these inspiring stories.

Website: https://cross-culture-nieuwegein.nl/

https://michanederland.nl/product/samengenietenvangenoeg

Goud van Noord joins ICF Noord

Goud op Zondag is a young, intercultural faith community in Rotterdam-North, founded by the diaconal foundation Goud van Noord. Under the leadership of neighborhood pastor Bram Robbertsen, this community has served and touched people in the Old North in a remarkable way over the past few years.

After a period of pioneering, it became clear that continuing independently is challenging. Therefore, Goud op Zondag and ICF-Noord – both under the wings of PKN Rotterdam-Centrum – have decided to join forces. This comes naturally, as the diaconal drop-in center of Goud van Noord is located 300 meters from where ICF-Noord was founded six years ago.

We are deeply grateful for everything that Bram and his team have built. At ICF-Noord, we are privileged to build upon their work and, together with the people of Goud, be the church in our neighborhood. The diaconal organization Goud van Noord remains fully active, and we look forward to deepening our involvement in the neighborhood together with them.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Join us in the Week of Prayer for Unity! During this inspiring week, millions of Christians worldwide come together to pray. Together we experience the power of connection with God and with each other.

In addition, we show that we care about our world by praying for the challenges and events in society, near and far.

The Week of Prayer for Unity focuses not only on unity among adult Christians, but also on the connection between generations. Therefore, they are giving children and teens the opportunity to fully participate in this week of prayer.

Join us and experience this unique week.

Research into intercultural pioneering movementOnderzoek interculturele pioniersbeweging

Hans Euser conducted research into the strength and vulnerability of intercultural pioneering places in the Netherlands on behalf of the PKN.

The research ‘Boundary-breaking pioneering’ not only provides insight into the development of the pioneering movement over the past ten years (2013-2023), but also delves deeper into the challenges that pioneers face in the multicultural society in which they operate. Be inspired, encouraged and sharpened!

Download the research here.

View more information about pioneering places here on the PKN website; what is it, how do you start and what support is available?