Delegates gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, for the 28th annual European Parliament Prayer Breakfast (EPB), which focused on prayer, fellowship and strategic cooperation.
Taking place on 2nd and 3rd December, EPB will serve as the European Parliament’s annual non-political event, bringing together Christians involved in European politics and advocacy for networking and fellowship. It is typically held in late November or early December and includes a welcome dinner, prayer breakfast, and panel discussion.
World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) United Nations Office Director Janet Epp Buckingham told Christian Daily International that this year’s event was a meaningful moment of unity.
“It was a wonderful experience to worship and pray with 550 MEPs, Christian politicians and Christian leaders from many countries at the European Parliament Prayer Breakfast,” she said.
Buckingham noted that his humble surroundings strengthened his focus on faith.
“It was held in the cafeteria of the European Union, so it wasn’t a fancy place. The focus was really on prayer, and there was an opportunity to pray at the table as well as prayers led from the podium. We concluded with the Lord’s Prayer, each praying in their own language, which beautifully reflects the global reach of the Gospel.”
The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), the continent’s leading evangelical group, hailed the gathering on social media as a “powerful moment”.
The EEA invited leaders of national evangelical alliances from across Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and Poland.
“Together with our brothers and sisters in the National Evangelical Alliance across Europe and our EEA advocacy network, we prayed, connected, learned and strategized as one family in Christ,” the EEA said.
While the official EPB brought together leaders to pray for Europe, the EEA used the occasion to host its own special gathering with sessions focused on relationship building, mutual encouragement and advocacy training. Key discussions included how to respond wisely to Europe’s many challenges and how to deal with the rise of Christian nationalism in a Biblical manner.
“We are grateful for every story shared, every prayer answered, and every new bond formed,” the EEA said. “Let us unite in Europe and continue to build a courageous and compassionate evangelical voice!”
Founded in 1998, the European Prayer Breakfast (EPB) is based on the Christian principle of European unity. Europe’s Founding Fathers, such as Robert Schumann, placed faith at the center and aimed for a democratic model rooted in fundamental Christian values.
The annual EPB promotes a philosophy that prioritizes relationships over agendas, encouraging participants, including MEPs and EU staff, to connect around the core teachings of Jesus: love God and love your neighbor.
In line with a global network of similar gatherings, this event aims to foster an environment where leaders can come together and encourage action to alleviate human suffering, and to forge lasting friendships across differences.
