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Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam 2000 delegates told to hold lights high


Amsterdam 2000 concluded Sunday, Aug. 6 with 10,732 participants receiving their final instructions from Billy Graham, who encouraged them to hold their lights high as they travel back home to their various cities, towns and villages throughout the world.

“I am asking that you take from here the light that you found during these days,” said Graham on a videotape recording that was carried via satellite from Rochester, Minn., where he was undergoing treatment for hydrocephalus at the Mayo Clinic. “Hold that light high as you return to your home, and with the light of the thousands of other participants from around the world we can make a fire that will shine brightly, and will never be put out.”

Amsterdam 2000, held July 29 to Aug. 6 at the RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam, was sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It attracted evangelists from 209 countries and territories. About 75 per cent of the delegates were from developing countries. According to registration statistics, 73 per cent of conference participants have access to e-mail and the Internet in their home countries. Conference organizers are considering a program that would allow them to follow up with and provide resources to evangelists around the world.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association committed $40 million US for the conference, 70 per cent of which covered travel and housing expenses for the delegates.

Billy Graham, 81, challenged the assembly, “Let us light a fire of commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth, using every resource at our command and with every ounce of our strength.”

There was no visible torch nor was there an official ceremony to mark its passing. However, it is clear that the next generation of evangelists is reaching for the handle.

“There is still much work to be done,” said Billy Graham’s eldest son Franklin, who along with his sister Anne Graham Lotz, was a featured speaker at Amsterdam 2000. “I pray that my father will have several strong years of ministry still in front of him. Yes, there’s another generation coming, and he will be passing the torch to others, and so will you some day.”

Franklin Graham continued, “Who is the next Billy Graham? People ask me that all the time.” He paused, looking at the phalanx of faces from around the world. “Who’s the next Billy Graham? You are.”

Much of the media attention of the conference was devoted to the individual stories of the Amsterdam delegates. Hundreds of delegates had problems obtaining travel visas from their governments, many of which are not sympathetic to Christianity.

Ade Beckley travelled seven days from his home in war-torn Sierra Leone to attend the conference. “The journey has been worth it. It’s very difficult to be an evangelist in my country,” said Beckley, who was recently attacked and almost killed by rebel soldiers while preaching. “This conference has prepared me for the challenges that lie ahead as I preach the gospel to my people.”

An evangelist from Nagaland walked for two days, travelled by bus for four days, took a train for four days and then flew from Delhi to Amsterdam.

Physical needs of those who attended were also met by Samaritan’s Purse, the relief and development ministry founded by Franklin Graham. Prior to the conference, residents in The Netherlands and Germany donated clothing to The Netherland’s office of Samaritan’s Purse. These items were made available in a “Carry Without Cash” store in Amsterdam’s RAI centre. It is estimated that 5000 evangelists headed home with clothes for their families. Each evangelist was also provided with two shirts and a tie for work in their home countries.

Samaritan’s Purse interviewed 2000 participants regarding suggestions for relief in their countries. Potential work could include feeding and medical programs, building orphanages, hospitals and installing safe water or irrigation systems. Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission provided doctors and nurses to meet the varied emergency medical needs of visiting evangelists and participants. About 1600 people were treated during the conference.

Amsterdam 2000 was designed to prepare evangelists to use new and more effective ways to present the gospel to people in their respective countries. The conference featured 900 plenary speakers and workshop sessions conducted by some of the world’s top Christian leaders, including Chuck Colson, chair of Prison Fellowship; Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ; Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey; John Stott; and Luis Palau.

Communication was a major hurdle conference organizers had to overcome in the workshop sessions. About 25 different languages were represented at the conference. Conference technicians used an advanced system of infrared transmitters as well as AM and FM radio signals to broadcast translations of plenary speakers. Material presented at the 136 seminars was given to 17 translators beforehand.

At the end of his closing remarks, Graham told the story of two Christian martyrs in the 16th century who were burned at the stake. “As the fire was being lit, one of them said to the other, ‘Be of good cheer. We shall this day light a fire that, by God’s grace, shall never be put out,’” said Graham. “I say to you tonight, as you leave this conference, light a fire. Let the light of Jesus Christ – the Light of the world – shine throughout the whole earth until He comes again.”

 – Evangelical News Press Association

Amsterdam Declaration Two documents were introduced at Amsterdam 2000: The Amsterdam Declaration, a 5000-word document addressing a variety of issues; and the Amsterdam Covenant, a self-described “charter for evangelism in the 21st century”. The declaration was developed as a framework to surround the many action plans being made for the evangelization of the world. It affirms the goal of world evangelism across denominational lines, expectations of evangelists in leadership positions, the role of theologians within the church and the basic, traditional tenets of Christianity, including the Lordship of Christ. The declaration clarifies the role of evangelism in an increasingly secular world dominated by relativism and postmodern philosophy. The Amsterdam Covenant, signed by delegates at the end of the conference, was a one-page document with 14 points defining the conduct of an evangelist. The points include proclaiming the gospel, renouncing arrogance and maintaining financial accountability. Prior to the signing, each participant agreed to the following condition: “In making this commitment, we ask for the prayer and support of all Christ’s followers so that world evangelization may be advanced, the church built up, and God glorified in ever-increasing measure.”

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Last modified September 20, 2000.

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