“Do your ministry and fill your ministry with evangelical work!” Franklin Graham begged his representatives as the European Congress on evangelical mission was officially concluded on Friday (May 30) after four days of biblical education, excited discussions and many prayers involving 1,000 evangelical leaders from 55 countries.
Representatives will be disciples of all nations to unite in the conference hall of the JW Marriott Hotel in Berlin, Germany, together with the Holy Communion, publicly declare their commitment to submit to the commander and boldly declare the gospel by the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in Matthew 28:19-20A, and to praise the gift of the Holy Spirit by nursing and giving the disciples of all nations.
During the Parliament’s closing time, Australia’s Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, spoke about the authority of the evangelical declaration.
“Brothers and sisters, Jesus sent us into the world on his mission,” said Raffel. “He doesn’t send us alone. He is in our midst. And he has the authority to give us the gifts to our mission. His blood has bought peace.
Raffel contemplated the question of whether he “liked” his mission with Jesus, and when he saw the Lord after his resurrection, he mentioned the joys of his disciples, showing him his hands and feet.
“We have been sent by someone who has built his life for us and lives again and forever,” reminded Raffel of a representative of the Berlin Parliament. “So, as we go, our hearts are filled with joy.
“Friends when you return to your home, community, ministries… please and please your heart. I am glad that you are sent by the King who lives, reigns, reigns, and returns. I am pleased to serve the King’s mission. I am pleased to announce peace with God through the forgiveness of your sins.
Another conclusion speech was given by Rev. Skip Heightsch, senior pastor at Calvary Albuquerque in New Mexico. He got a beer many years ago and suddenly became a Christian when he saw Billy Graham preach on TV.
Heizig said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” referring to Romans 1:16.
“The gospel is not a job, not an obligation, but a joy,” Heizig reminded his representative, exploring why “good news” is really good. He spoke about how good news was not seen in the beginning by someone who was in a state of unrepentance.
“The gospel repels the natural heart,” Heitzig said. “When the non-ganeral mind first hears sin, because they are exposing their lost state, that’s not good news. So they oppose it, attack us, and when they attack us, our impulses are silent and embarrassed and embarrassed, but at first it makes a bad sound, but the gospel penetrates the heart and then changes the heart.”
Heitzig also challenged representatives on their own approach and confidence in the gospel.
“Why are you ashamed of the good news?” he asked, adding later:
“God told us, ‘You have no right to maintain this on yourself. Take it into the world and let the people hear it,” he concluded.
In his closing remarks, Franklin Graham said the Berlin Conference was “an incredible week” and he thanked everyone involved in organizing its success.
“In my last thoughts, I say to you that I am 2 Timothy 4:5, that I will always be calm, endured, and that I will do the work of a preacher, and that I will fulfill your mission,” Graham said.
“To be calm – think about the thoughts of someone who is strong and calm. I think the word “concentrate” is a good word here. Focus on your ministry. Many people go back to other things.
Graham also said that “endured suffering” reminded me of the apostle Paul himself. He linked it to a more recent example of Finnish members of Parliament Pavi Lesanen, whom he paid tribute to for his courage.
Räsänen, Minister of Home Affairs, was criminally charged in 2019 with sharing Christian views on marriage and sexual ethics in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter). She was also charged in connection with a 2004 pamphlet of the church, who wrote about the biblical book of Genesis, which he described as “the man and woman he created.”
The former government minister faces a third trial after a ruling by the Supreme Court of Finland, following the demands of the state prosecutor, despite being acquitted twice from “hate speech” for expressing his biblical views on marriage.
Räsänen spoke about her experience in an on-stage interview on the eve (May 29) with Sissy Graham Lynch, daughter of Franklin Graham.
“Stay calm and endure the pain,” Graham meditated on the Bible. “Suffering will come and it will get worse. When we read the revelation, if you add up the people you have died, it appears to be half the world’s population.”
Graham said the world’s population today is 8 billion, which means not only death, but also 4 billion people who are at risk of going to hell if they don’t rely on Jesus.
“I don’t know (what exactly will happen) but as we get closer to the end it’s not pretty,” Graham said. “It will be tough friends, and unless we preach the gospel to reach as many people as possible, billions of people will die and go to hell.
“We all have different ministries,” Graham said as he encouraged representatives to expand the scope of their own work for the Lord. “We all have different ministries. We fulfill them. We preach the gospel. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid.”
Graham discussed the challenges faced by Billy Graham’s Missionary Society in 2020 when planned evangelism events in Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and Wales were cancelled just before the pandemic. It was widely believed that cancellations cited as breach of contract were related to Graham’s general support of the biblical view of marriage between men and women.
BGEA took legal action against the venue and won a court case over cancellation. Graham said the funds awarded through these verdicts would be placed in what he called the “war chest” and could not afford to protect himself in court to provide legal support to evangelicals facing opposition from LGBT advocacy groups.
“When we were losing our covenant in the UK, when we were coming from the LGBT+ community, they are against us, and we have the rainbow flag, which is considered the flag for the Antichrist.
“This is the group that comes behind us,” he warned veteran evangelists, referring to LGBT extremists who oppose biblical teachings on sexual relations. “So compromise and not strong. Fill in your ministry. We know there is suffering and challenges.
“I believe he will return soon. We need to do everything we can to reach this world we live in with the truth of God’s love.”
Franklin Graham said BGEA will “work in Europe for the next few years” and that the ministry will be stopped in Excel in London on June 21 as part of a “God’s Love Tour.” The free event is being held in collaboration with 1,425 churches across Graham, UK, and also announced upcoming evangelism events in Brussels, Belgium, as well as outreach to Naga people in remote mountainous regions of Northeast India.
“Pray for us, as we pray for you,” he concluded.
