On August 24–26, ministry leaders, pastors, and evangelists from over 50 countries and territories will gather in Sydney, Australia, for the Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism.
From New Zealand to China, these Christian leaders will be equipped, inspired, and refreshed in their calling to share the Gospel.
“This is a defining moment for the church across Asia and the Pacific,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and the convener of the congress. “We want to light a holy fire in the hearts of another generation of Christians who will boldly continue carrying the Gospel torch of hope to every remote jungle island, crowded city, and isolated mountain village.
“It is an honour for us to come alongside and encourage believers in this part of the world who are fulfilling the Great Commission and taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the Earth.”
That’s been an important part of BGEA’s ministry since its founding 75 years ago. In 1966, the organisation hosted the World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, Germany. Just this past May, Berlin again served as a meeting place for over 1,000 European ministry leaders who were reenergised to boldly proclaim the Good News despite opposition or indifference.
Danny Pasquale, a pastor from Italy who attended the European Congress on Evangelism this spring, shared that he has put a greater emphasis on prayer and offering a Gospel invitation since returning home from the event.
When his church hosted its annual sports camp, Pasquale made a point to not just share the message of God’s love with campers, but to also offer an opportunity for them to respond and make a decision for Christ. Forty campers surrendered their lives to Jesus.
“Being at the congress helped me to put into more sharp focus the importance of the invitation and to give campers a concrete way to respond,” he said. “We also focused more on prayer, praying that the Gospel would truly impact the campers’ lives.”
Just as Europe can be difficult ground for evangelism—with a rise in secularism and a reluctance from many believers to share their faith—the Asian-Pacific region also presents challenges.
This large part of the world is home to roughly 4 billion people, around 60% of Earth’s population.
In a region where less than 10% of people identify as Christian, it can be easy to feel alone and discouraged.
Kanishka Raffel, Anglican archbishop of Sydney, participated in the European Congress on Evangelism this spring.
“Berlin left us burning with a shared vision: to see the Gospel proclaimed with boldness and clarity,” he said. “Now, evangelists from Asia, Oceania, and Australasia will gather ‘down-under’ around our one task and one calling—to make Christ known. … Let us not waste the moment.”
The congress aims to strengthen Christian leaders in their ministry, equip them with practical tools, and foster meaningful connections with others who share a burden for obeying the Great Commission.
While the gathering is still two years away, excitement is already growing among believers across Asia and the Pacific.
“We recognise the urgent need to enlist, equip, and empower believers to share the Gospel in a region that is home to the majority of the world’s population and the greatest number of people who are yet to know Christ,” said Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance.
“Let us rise to the challenge together, mobilising and empowering a new generation of Christ-like harvest workers who are Gospel proclaimers and disciple-makers to transform the Asian-Pacific region for Christ.”
Please pray that the impact will ripple throughout the region as ministry leaders are spurred on in their calling to proclaim the Good News.