A declaration issued at the end of the Amsterdam 2000 international meeting of evangelists called for renewed dedication to worldwide evangelism and continued proclamation in a pluralistic world that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
The recently concluded eight-day assembly sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was a gathering place for evangelists, pastors, church leaders and lay people to embrace the mission and message of the conference.
Among the numerous speakers who testified about Jesus’ amazing power in transforming their lives were a pop star, a former White House official who went to prison and a tribesman who murdered missionaries.
British singer Cliff Richard and Mincaye, a member of the Waodani tribe in Ecuador, joined Prison Fellowship’s founder Chuck Colson in urging the audience to preach the gospel. Their testimonies, and Richard’s performance of a song, brought the enthusiastic crowd to its feet during the session.
The last day of the conference concluded with the presentation of the 5,000-word declaration titled “The Amsterdam Declaration: A Charter for Evangelism in the 21st Century.” The declaration included a pledge to treat people of other faiths with respect while affirming Christian beliefs. “As we enter into dialogue with adherents of other religions, we must be courteous and kind. But such dialogue must not be a substitute for proclamation,” it stated.
Timothy George, a Southern Baptist church historian and dean of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, served as chairman of the writing team for the declaration.
The declaration also called for “new initiatives to reach and disciple youth and children worldwide as well as the encouragement of women and young leaders and congregations in evangelistic work.”
The 5,000-word document described itself as “a joint report of the three task groups of mission strategists, church leaders, and theologians gathered at Amsterdam 2000. It [declaration] has been reviewed by hundreds of Christian leaders and evangelists from around the world. It is commended to God’s people everywhere as an expression of evangelical commitment and as a resource for study, reflection, prayer and evangelistic outreach.”
Other themes that were addressed in the proclamation included evangelism, unreached people groups, human needs ministry, contemporary evangelistic concerns and Christian unity.
Larry Michael, pastor of First Baptist Church, Clanton, was one of several Alabamians who attended the conference. He shared accommodations with 7,000 attendees in a dormitory setting where 3,500 sets of bunk beds, 289 toilets and 432 portable showers were installed.
“We traveled 30 miles on crowded trains from Utrecht to Amsterdam, departing early each morning and returning late each evening. Mass meals for 5,000 people were served at one time at the conference center,” he said.
One of Michael’s fondest moments was experiencing the singing of familiar songs such as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” sung in different languages.
“I was spiritually touched when we were asked to gather in twos and threes to pray. I had an African brother on one side with an Indian brother on the other. They both prayed for my ministry in Clanton. I then prayed for God to touch many people through their ministries and evangelistic witness in their respective countries.”
Michael participated in a special task group on strategy. “Our group focused on strategies that will be needed to reach people for Christ in the 21st century. It was a most humbling and exciting challenge to undertake. We realized that the needs of the world are so immense, and yet we all believed that Jesus is the only answer for the problems that are facing us,” he said.
“I returned to Clanton with a renewed purpose and determination to do everything I can to share the gospel in this corner of God’s vineyard,” Michael said. “I have a greater appreciation for what God is doing worldwide through the many choice servants whom I met. I also have a greater respect for the problems that evangelists face in sharing the gospel in other cultures. We are fortunate in our nation to have the freedom to share His word without hindrance.”
The evangelical gathering in The Netherlands was attended by more than 10,000 delegates from more than 200 nations and territories from around the globe. According to conference organizers, nearly 3,000 participants came from North America. The breakdown of attendees from other regions included: 2,100 from Africa; 1,380 from Asia; 1,282 from Latin America; 800 from Europe; 726 from the Commonwealth of Independent States; 250 from the Middle East; 200 from the Caribbean; and 306 from Oceania. All of the conference sessions were interpreted into 28 different languages, which were heard through low-frequency AM stations on individual headsets. (TAB compiled)
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