The Spark Award 2024 Highlights Faith Innovation in Europe
The European Faith Crisis
Faith and Europe have ended their friendship a while ago. They have been drifting apart for decades and recent revelations of scandals have cemented the split. Across the continent, traditional religious structures stand mostly empty and the messages from pulpits are as uninspiring as the Wi-Fi signal on trains across Europe.
Sure, there are some Australia-inspired churches that put an effort into styling and keeping messages positive and post-worthy. Almost any historic group tries their hand at church planting. New groups often have a fresh energy and try their best to reach out to people. Some take off and grow into new congregations - however they sadly often draw mainly from disenfranchised people elsewhere. It is the “Circulation of the Saints” that was researched already in 1996. Popular GQ-Magazine found the same thing in their portrait of Hillsong NYC, “the coolest congregation this side of glory”. GQ talked to people and found:
every single person I met at Hillsong was a churchgoer somewhere else before he or she began going to church at Hillsong
And it is not surprising that even the rising stars are not adding much to the Christian mission in the West. The whole setup tends to focus on one thing: Sunday mornings services. The view on Instagram and Youtube Shorts shows you what they sell: a better religious experience. They are hip, they are positive, they are professional. That is certainly a benefit, but who looks for a better religious experience? Usually disenfranchised people with religious interest.
How about those how have not given much thought to religion? How about the majority of people in Europe who think that religion is a remnant from the middle ages soon to disappear from our lives altogether? Focusing on providing a better Sunday service it like digging a hole more effectively at the wrong place.
In response to this situation of deeper, more culturally relevant engagement, we have set up the Spark Award which aims to showcase innovation in the European faith scene. This new initiative seeks to recognize and promote fresh approaches to spiritual engagement that resonate with contemporary society. The Spark Award isn't merely an accolade; it's a catalyst for change in how faith is expressed and shared in the 21st century.
The significance of this award extends beyond religious circles. It highlights projects that bridge the gap between traditional spirituality and modern life, demonstrating that faith can remain relevant in our fast-paced, digitally-driven world. By showcasing these innovative approaches, the Spark Award aims to inspire a new wave of spiritual exploration and community building across Europe.
We have been scanning Europe for the last decade and met a lot of people who try new things. They share our sentiment that we need innovation - new forms to live out faith in our beloved countries and continent. And they do something about it. They start, often bootstrapped with a lot of personal involvement and big heart to uncover if there are new ways to let the light of God shine in 2024 and beyond.
What Kind of Problem Do We Need to Solve?
Many church leaders mistakenly view Christianity's decline in Europe as a marketing problem. They believe that with better branding, slicker services, or more engaging social media, people will flock back to the pews. But this misses the mark entirely. Europe doesn't need a repackaged version of the same old thing; it needs genuine creativity in how faith is lived and shared.
Innovation, however, is a beast of its own. It's expensive, time-consuming, and often fails. It requires multiple iterations, constant learning, and a willingness to abandon what doesn't work. This is why most churches, bound by tradition and limited resources, struggle to innovate effectively.
Enter a rare breed of faith entrepreneurs. These are individuals who blend a deep commitment to historical Christianity with the flexibility to reimagine its expression in modern society. They're willing to experiment with fresh organizational forms, unconventional outreach methods, and new ways of building community. Often self-motivated and working on a shoestring budget, these pioneers are the ones truly pushing the boundaries of faith engagement in post-Christian Europe.
The Spark Award is based on our decade-long search for the shape of things to come. We have met many innovators and mavericks who set up to find forms that work for our cultural climate. With this award, we want to recognize and support these innovators. It's not just celebrating cool ideas; it's fostering an ecosystem for the kind of radical creativity Christianity in Europe desperately needs. By highlighting these efforts, the award aims to inspire more leaders to take the risky but necessary leap into uncharted territory. If it goes well we might find better spots to dig our holes - potentially reshaping the future of faith in Europe.
The Vision Behind the Spark Award
The Spark Award, at its core, seeks to show a path forward for Christian engagement in post-Christian Europe. While the nomination and evaluation process involves various stakeholders across the continent, the heart of the award lies in its discerning criteria.
Central to the Spark Award's evaluation are two pivotal criteria: impact beyond church organization and innovative cultural engagement. The former looks for initiatives that transcend traditional church boundaries, manifesting the kingdom of God in spheres often untouched by conventional ministry. Does a project have a vision for positive change of the locale?
The latter seeks projects that demonstrate a profound understanding of contemporary European culture, engaging with it in ways that are both authentic to the Christian message and resonant with modern sensibilities. Further, the jury looks at the project's potential for scalability, its capacity to inspire broader change, and its reception in secular contexts. The award looks for initiatives that not only succeed in their immediate context but also offer transferable insights for the wider European church.
Importantly, the Spark Award's criteria are not merely a checklist but a holistic lens through which to view missional innovation. They seek projects that embody a sophisticated interplay between timeless Christian truths and the ever-evolving European zeitgeist. This approach reflects a recognition that the future of European Christianity lies not in retrenchment or mere adaptation, but in creative, Spirit-led engagement with the complexities of our post-Christian landscape.
The award's jury, composed of thought leaders from diverse fields including theology, missiology, and business, brings a multifaceted perspective to the evaluation process. Their collective expertise enables them to discern not just the immediate impact of projects, but also their potential to shape the future landscape of faith in Europe.
Pioneers of Faith: Projects Shaping Europe’s Spiritual Landscape
Our research identified four projects that we submitted to the journey. They are redefining faith engagement in post-Christian contexts across Europe. While diverse in their specific approaches, these initiatives collectively demonstrate significant impact and a fresh perspective on mission (we have shared the four finalists here).
The impact of these projects extends far beyond traditional metrics of church attendants or growth. They have fostered genuine community transformation, addressing issues such as social isolation, unemployment, and cultural disintegration. Thousands of individuals have found spiritual guidance, as well as practical support, skill development, and a renewed sense of belonging. These initiatives have turned marginalized neighborhoods into vibrant communities, where residents from diverse backgrounds find common ground and mutual support.
Equally significant is how these projects are reshaping missional thinking. They embody a holistic understanding of the Gospel, where proclamation and demonstration are inseparable. Their approach to mission is deeply incarnational, with team members often choosing to live among those they serve. This presence-based ministry allows for authentic relationships and a nuanced understanding of community needs.
These initiatives view mission not as bringing God to godless places, but as joining God in His ongoing work in the community. They emphasize listening - to God, to culture, and to people - as a crucial first step in engagement. This listening posture has led to innovative, contextually appropriate expressions of faith that resonate with post-Christian Europeans.
Furthermore, these projects blur the lines between sacred and secular, seeing all aspects of community life as potential spaces for God's kingdom to flourish. Whether through social enterprises, cultural events, or educational programs, they demonstrate that mission encompasses the whole of life, not just explicitly religious activities.
In essence, these case studies reveal a missional approach that is patient, holistic, and deeply rooted in local realities. Nothing goes fast in Europe. But they offer a compelling vision for how the church can remain relevant and impactful in an increasingly secular European context.
Coming in November: The Spark Award Ceremony
The inaugural Spark Award ceremony, scheduled for November, will showcase innovative approaches to faith engagement in post-Christian Europe. This event will highlight the winning project, offering insights into effective missional work in secular contexts.
The ceremony presents an opportunity for church leaders, community activists, and those interested in social change to gain new perspectives on faith-based initiatives. You will have the chance to learn from the winning project's strategies and potentially adapt elements to their own contexts.
We encourage you to follow updates about the November ceremony. It promises to be an informative event for those seeking to understand and contribute to the evolving landscape of European Christianity.