For pastors and church leaders, Monday September 18, 2023, Utrecht

Prof.dr. Van den Toren: how do you respond to uncomfortable questions of truth in conversations with migrants?

For many people in Europe, questions of truth are quite uncomfortable when it comes to religion. Isn’t faith primarily something of experience and very personal? Speaking during the day conference Migrants and the Church: opportunities and bottlenecks on September 18 in Utrecht
prof.dr. Benno van den Toren about the discomfort that Christians can feel when talking to migrants.

The multitude of religions makes it very difficult to believe that Jesus is unique. But others can question you about it. Is it possible to confidently share what the basis of your life is and at the same time be open to others?

Prof. Van den Toren: “In conversations with people from other religious traditions, we are perhaps primarily curious. But in the long run, very difficult questions can also arise. Not only about how we think we should live, but also about what we believe. Do we know the deepest reality through Jesus, do we discover it in the Koran or through a special experience of enlightenment?”

There are an estimated 1.2 million migrant Christians in the Netherlands. The annual day conference wants to pay attention to how churches and Christians can jointly shape faith between different cultures in a good way. The conference takes place in Utrecht and is intended for pastors, church leaders and interested parties. Other speakers are Jurjen ten Brinke and Eric Rufyiritana about the journey of discovery at their multicultural churches: how do you overcome obstacles and get congregation members on board with a new vision?

After lunch there are seminars. Full program is up gave.nl/dagconferentie.

Ministers of the Dutch Reformed Churches and Protestant Church can earn PE points by participating. Participants can bring an introduction.

The conference is organized by: Intercultural Church Plants, Gospel & Muslims Foundation, Gave Foundation, Faith Integration Foundation and Protestant Church.
Registration: Gave.nl/dagconferentie