Hope for Europe – European Network of Communities (ENC)

The last few days in Poland were spent with the ENC. Bruce (founder of Kerygma Teams) and Deacon Johannes Fichtenbauer (Cardinal Schönborn’s coordinator for Ecumenical affairs in the diocese of Vienna) have formed this network for Europe. ENC is a free/voluntary association of semi-autonomous Catholic and Ecumenical Christian fellowships from across Europe. These groups embrace a number of common values and are committed to actively supporting one another wherever possible in fulfilling their God-given commission. The majority of the members are lay people who have roots in the Charismatic Renewal. Many members are Catholic but some are ecumenical and evangelical who share a passion for Christian Reconciliation, re-evangelization of Europe and beyond, formation for lay leadership and the mobilization of youth for the work of the Gospel. This is all part of a movement of new types of Christian fellowship communities. Countries such as Lithuania, Romania, Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Germany, U.K., and… were represented.

Most of the Communities hold three common foundations: they began after an outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Charismatic Renewal; they started because they sensed an urgency regarding the 2nd Coming of Jesus; and they heard a “call” from God to build community. The lay leaders were truly inspired in this weekend and I continually thought of my own community that I am a member of from Steubenville, Love of the Lamb Household. I met some wonderful new friends and was inspired by the hope that each community holds to being a light to the nations!