Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church and Spring Meeting chairperson, introduced the Christ for Europe Report by saying, “Europe is becoming more and more secular…However, there are thousands of people–millions–who long to hear the Word of God.”
Wilson mentioned two major evangelistic campaigns in Europe this year–in May and September–“or any date that a site chooses to be involved.” Elder Wilson will be a speaker at a May event in Prague, the Czech Republic. All the events involve hundreds of ordained ministers, volunteers, speakers, sites, and collaborations.
Christ for Europe Statistics
Since its introduction, Christ for Europe has experienced an influx of volunteers. Duane McKey, president of Adventist World Radio (AWR) and director of Total Member Involvement (TMI), reports 30 unions, 38 countries, and 1,514 sites are involved. Of those sites, 747 are within the Euro-Asia Division (ESD), and 419 are within the Ukranian Union Conference (UUC). To support the evangelistic efforts, 150 international evangelists have signed on to “preach, teach, and baptize.” Their efforts will be combined with hundreds of laypersons, local volunteers, and members at various sites.
McKey thanked Ramon Canals for support from the Ministerial department and invited Executive Committee members to join in this effort. However, 150 evangelists is not enough, says McKey. “We could use another ten international evangelists.” Anyone willing to serve may register at AWR.org/CFE23.
As reported previously, “Christ for Europe is the most extensive evangelistic outreach conducted in Europe in the history of the Adventist Church.” The continent of Europe includes three of our 13 Adventist world divisions and the attached field of Ukraine. In total, the European population is 446.8 million, and these numbers vary as crises, disasters, and political turmoil push individuals from their home countries into other countries within Europe. Combining these struggles with the post-Christian culture and the need is great for the Word of God in Europe.
Soul-Winning in Europe
McKey shared with Executive Committee members and worldwide viewers the heart of Christ for Europe is God’s Word. He opened the report with Christ’s words from Matthew 4:19, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He reiterated, “Follow [Jesus], and [He] will make you soul-winners…[He] I will make you evangelists.”
“To the disciples, Jesus’ “first and last words were a call to the church to be soul-winning, and that is what Christ for Europe is all about.”
Join the Christ for Europe Effort
All volunteers are equipped and trained onsite before evangelistic meetings begin, and McKey shares that 12 trainers from AWR and TMI have been onsite since December.
Who should go? Anyone willing and able should volunteer for the Christ for Europe initiative. Seminary and university students are welcome, as well as ministerial families, church members, teachers, and more. Anyone with a valid passport is invited and encouraged to join what will likely become the largest evangelistic effort in the history of the Adventist Church in Europe.
“If you can’t go, pray,” McKey finished.
To learn more about the Christ for Europe initiative or volunteer, visit AWR.org/CFE23.
Read more about Christ for Europe from ANN here: Adventist.News.
Watch McKey’s presentation and more at Spring Meeting 2023 on Youtube.