Elim attends Amsterdam2023 EVERYONE conference

The breathtaking vision to take the gospel to every person on the planet was the theme of June’s Amsterdam2023 EVERYONE conference, organised by Empowered21

At the Amsterdam2023 EVERYONE conference in July the vision for the next decade to be an era of unprecedented evangelism was officially launched.

The goal is for every person to hear the gospel by 2033 – the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and the birth of the church at Pentecost. Elim leaders and global keynote speakers were among the attendees. Here, we bring you their thoughts, along with top quotes and news from the event.
 

Chris Cartwright
Elim General Superintendent

 

Amsterdam2023 called Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders together from across the world with a single purpose – to take the gospel to everyone on earth in the next decade. 

So, movement and mission leaders laid down titles, badges, plans and agendas to come together for the sake of the bigger story – The Great Commission. For the thousands gathered in the conference centre this was an unforgettable moment of personal response to Jesus’ compassion for the lost and the urgency of his call to reach them as our number one priority. 

It was more than representing and committing Elim to another gospel initiative. I found myself drawn to make a personal commitment to the kingdom cause of local and global evangelism. 

This was more than just another conference. It was a trumpet call for the whole church to follow Jesus into fresh adventures in evangelism – a mission to reach everyone, everywhere.
 

Dave Campbell
Elim Regional Leader

 

Apparently there are 197 nations in the world with 195 belonging to the United Nations, so it was amazing to hear that more than 120 nations were represented at EVERYONE2023. This was a conference dedicated to bringing together the Spirit-filled church to agree an agenda that every person on the face of the earth will receive a clear presentation of the gospel by the year 2033. What a wonderful commitment!

Just about everyone who was anyone in our scarily small Pentecostal world was there and all united in one cause.

As someone who has had the privilege of speaking at large conferences I was caught up by a sudden realisation: often at the end of a time of ministry there is an expectation for impartation and blessing, but this gathering was different.

People were not there for themselves, but for others, for the lost! I was deeply moved to feel the love for the lost and the commitment to obey the Great Commandment. The harvest is plentiful, I volunteer for the labour.

Top quotes from key speakers

"Gen Z is developing as one of the most evangelistic, more open for faith conversations, exploring and sharing their faith like no other generation before." Pastor Markus Wenz, Gospel Forum Church, Stuttgart, on including younger generations in fulfilling the Great Commission.

“In a world that’s all about me, we need to remember who we are; we are here to live on mission, we have been given a divine assignment and we must not get distracted by everything else on the earth.” Christine Caine, author and speaker, on the need for leaders to receive a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit.

"Unity is God's secret weapon of mass acceleration." Mark Varughese, founder of the global Kingdomcity church, speaking about the need for unprecedented unity, unapologetic sacrifice and unashamed hunger.

“We worship the God who not only restores but gives us what we never had before. He is Lord of the new thing. As we make room for an unprecedented harvest we must embrace something new.” Dr Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, on the idea of God doing new work in people’s lives.

“If you want the blessing of God in your life, if you want the power of God through your life, and if you want the anointing of God on your life, you must care about what God cares about most – he is wanting his lost children found.” Rick Warren, pastor, author and speaker, encouraging the love of God towards those who don’t yet know him.  

Speakers Christine Caine, left, Rick Warren, centre and Nicky Grumbel, right

“Things aren’t going to get better, but in the middle of the drama and trauma, we will not be afraid, we will not hold back and we will preach the gospel to every person on earth.” Billy Wilson, Empowered21 global chair, on the next decade being the most substantial Great Commission effort in the history of Christianity.

“This is why we are calling this a new era in evangelism – we are going to see everyone on earth hear the good news of Jesus because we are going to be collaborative in evangelism, experiential in our faith, and united in mission.” Max Barroso, executive strategist for ministry and leadership initiatives at Oral Roberts University, on the importance of creating safe spaces for the Holy Spirit to move inter-generationally.

“If everyone is involved, every church and every nation, with vision, with the love of Jesus in our hearts, our relationships and the power of God, there’s no reason we shouldn’t see this whole world reached by 2033.” Nicky Gumbel, Alpha pioneer, on the need for resilience – fuelled by vision, love, relationships and empowerment – to fulfil the Great Commission.
 

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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