Fear Not: Christian Education in Europe Faces Challenges—and Opportunities

Since 1992, ACSI has had the privilege of working alongside Christian schools in Europe. We’ve listened to school leaders wrestle with real tensions, prayed with teachers navigating cultural headwinds, and rejoiced together as God continues to build His kingdom through Christian education. It’s clear: Christian education in Europe is facing serious challenges. But that’s not the whole story.

In fact, something beautiful is happening.

Christian schools—despite tightening restrictions and increased scrutiny—are growing in unity, deepening their dependence on God, and finding creative ways to collaborate across borders. From small rural schools to large urban ones, from former Eastern Bloc nations to Western Europe’s post-Christian centers, Christian educators are pressing on with courage. And they’re not doing it alone.

A Shifting Landscape

Unlike the U.S., where Christian schools often operate with broad freedoms and constitutional protections, the situation in Europe is far more complex. Education policies vary significantly from country to country, and even within countries, schools can experience very different realities depending on their region, size, or whether they receive state funding.

Add to this the influence of the European Union. While the EU doesn’t directly dictate national education systems, its guidelines and priorities increasingly shape how education looks on the ground—emphasizing secular humanism, global citizenship, and social ideologies that don’t often align with a biblical worldview.

In some countries, Christian schools are fully state funded but tightly restricted in what they’re allowed to teach. In others, schools lose all access to public support simply because of their Christian foundations or commitment to Scripture. For example, Christian schools in France can’t receive Erasmus+ funding (which is meant for all EU schools) because of their faith-based identity. Meanwhile, in Sweden, Christian schools are fully funded by the state but are legally prohibited from teaching creation or referencing God in class.

The pressure is real. And yet, in the midst of these challenges, God is faithfully at work.

A Growing Network of Hope

One of the signs of that work is the growing collaboration among Christian schools across Europe. Through prayer, shared resources, and a sense of common purpose, leaders are reaching across language and cultural barriers to support one another in new ways.

A big part of this has been the role of ACSI Europe—the European office of the Association of Christian Schools International. From its base in Budapest, the team works with Christian schools from over 40 countries, providing training, strategic school improvement resources, spiritual encouragement, and leadership development.

In recent years, we’ve seen more and more schools coming together through ACSI Europe’s conferences and partnerships. One development is the Christian School Improvement Platform, a community where ACSI member schools can engage in self-assessment, define strategic goals, and contribute to strategic development in partnership with other schools as they implement a Christian vision of education. Since all schools in Europe must be accredited by their national Ministry of Education, the CSIP serves to connect them to ACSI global standards, helping them form and implement a clear and biblical vision for Christian education and collaborate in a growing and multilingual community of schools.

“Fear Not”: A Leadership Gathering in Hungary

This April, we gathered with over 100 school leaders at ACSI Europe’s International Educational Leadership Conference in Budapest. The theme was “Fear Not,” taken from Isaiah 41:10—words we all needed to hear.

Leaders came from Ukraine, Switzerland, Romania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Spain and 11 other countries. Some represented small, struggling schools under significant government pressure. Others led larger schools, navigating multicultural tensions or staffing challenges. But what stood out was the unity. These weren’t just professional colleagues—they were brothers and sisters, seeking God together for wisdom, strength, and vision.

The sessions addressed key issues with Dr. Larry Taylor as one of the keynote speakers. The topics included: Standing Firm in a Shifting World, Building a Culture of Faithful Resilience in Schools, Facing Today's Challenges with Wisdom, and Inspiring the Next Generation of Christian Leaders. Some of the richest moments came during individual conversations and corporate prayer times, small group discussions, and in celebrating testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

One Ukrainian school leader shared:

“As I sat through the seminars, I kept thinking how amazing God is, because the words shared by the speakers were not only an encouragement to me as a teacher, but also a nourishment for me as a Ukrainian.”

It reminded us all: God is present and is working out His bigger purposes, even in suffering and war. He is still building His Kingdom, one heart at a time.

What Can You Do?

If you’re reading this from the U.S., you may be wondering: what does this have to do with us?

First, thank God for the freedoms we enjoy here—and don’t take them for granted. Around the world, parents and teachers are fighting just to speak the name of Jesus in their schools. We should be grateful and vigilant.

Second, pray. The challenges in Europe are not just policy issues—they’re spiritual ones. Pray for strength, wisdom, and open doors for schools. Pray for boldness for teachers, for favor with government officials, and for families to choose truth, even when it costs.

Third, get involved. ACSI Europe is doing incredible work with limited resources. Your school can help- by supporting professional development for teachers, investing in leadership training, or even sending educators to partner wih schools abroad. Learn more at https://acsi.givecloud.co/product/Global/global-impact-fund. 

We believe that Christian education is not just about increased learning—it’s about discipleship. It’s about forming boys and girls to love God and serve others. And in Europe, that mission is alive and well, even in the face of adversity.

So let’s continue to pray, to partner, and to remember His promise—“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."