Pastors and ministry leaders from across the United Kingdom recently took part in a free Evangelism Summit hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The fourth and final summit event will take place in London, England, on November 15, ahead of next year's God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham in the U.K.
Meant to inspire and challenge weary leaders to fervently share the Gospel, the first three events were held in Glasgow, Scotland; Liverpool, England; and Cardiff, Wales.
Hundreds have attended each city's summit, where speakers from around the world shared strong, uplifting messages aimed to encourage and challenge pastors in nations where Christianity is commonly attacked and stand strong in their mission to share the Gospel of Christ. In each location, worship is an important part of the day.
Attendee Paul Brown, a prison ministry worker, attended the Liverpool event. Brown has an incredible testimony about the 1989 tragedy at Liverpool's Hillsborough Stadium, where 96 people died after being crushed at a football match. His story of hitting rock bottom helps him connect and share his faith with even the toughest prisoners.
With church attendance in the U.K. as "rare as hen’s teeth,” pastors and believers need to be creative reaching unbelievers, explained Dr. Stephen McQuoid, event speaker and director of a Christian mission based in Scotland. Acknowledging that it's impossible for pastors to do everything themselves, he encouraged them to mentor church members and model how to share their faith anywhere they go—in a coffee shop, for example. “Show them how to ‘talk Jesus’ in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
David Bruce, Billy Graham’s longtime executive assistant, emceed the evangelism summits. "Wales is known as 'the land of music,'" he said, telling the Cardiff audience, “I always heard the Welsh people could sing, and you guys have proven that today.”
In city after city, those attending were hungry for communion with God. Psalm 95:6 states: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!"
This group of men from Victory Outreach—a global discipleship program for recovering drug addicts—volunteered at the Liverpool summit and joyfully served everyone in their path. Encountering the love and forgiveness in Christ has transformed many of their lives. Pray that the same transforming power will touch others' hearts across the U.K.
Meals were included at no charge. Lunchtime gave attendees the opportunity to meet new friends and share the joys and struggles that come with leading God's people.
Attendees in Liverpool enjoy time outside during a break.
The Wales event was held at The Celtic Manor in Cardiff, where more than 400 pastors and ministry leaders gathered. They were spiritually fed after a long stretch of ministry through the pandemic and years of persecution for defending what God's Word says about hot topic subjects such as traditional marriage and abortion.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." —Galatians 6:9
Will you pray for pastors and ministry leaders attending in each city, that God will strengthen and encourage them in their calling?
