Snapshots From Amsterdam 2000 From July 27th through August 7th, I had the privilege of attending Billy Graham's "Amsterdam 2000." Leaders from all over the world came to a historically unprecedented, spiritually strategic event that I believe will have an immense ministry impact as we enter this new millennium. How do you describe such an event? "Superlatives are understatements" about which I experienced, so all I can do is provide some "Amsterdam 2000" snapshots: Numerically, over 11,000 evangelists plus hundreds of support staff and leaders from 209 nations attended, making this the largest international (most nations represented) gathering in history, secular or religious. Technically and aesthetically, the work of the Graham team was beautiful. They utilized the latest in technology in their presentation and broadcast the event by satellite all over the world. Logistically, housing, feeding, transporting and organizing all those people was done with great skill, again a credit to Billy Graham's organization. The event was translated on paper in over 100 languages and verbally in over 40! Strategically, three task forces of 500 leaders each worked hard to think, discuss, pray and draft statements in the areas of theology, strategy and unity around the mission of evangelizing the world. Spiritually, the event was tremendous, with five scheduled worship/preaching/teaching sessions every day plus many informal opportunities to visit with people from all over the world. Everything was bathed with prayer. Three central themes emerged for me, with "snapshots" highlighting each one: The Visual Representation of the Body of Christ. Amsterdam 2000 began and ended with believers from all over the world in a joyful procession-a rich tapestry of languages, colors, clothing, national flags, yet all proclaiming "We are one in Jesus." I was thrilled over and over by the joy of meeting believers from many countries, learning about their families and ministries, and often praying for each other. I got to meet Romaldo Atahachi, our former national church president from Bolivia. This was in many ways a prelude to heaven! A Vision of Our Responsibility to the Whole World So many passionate evangelists-burdened by the lost in their own nations, yet believing God for the salvation of our entire world. * A brother from Ghana who told me each member of his family prays for the salvation for a different continent every day. His son Samuel is praying for the salvation of North America. That humbled me. * A leader from northern India named Isaac whose ministry has trained over 2,500 church planters in the past 15 years. He told me, "We're training martyrs." * The powerful, stirring testimony of two Auca Indian leaders from Ecuador, one of whom killed Jim Elliott, Nate Saint and three other missionaries in 1956. Since then, the entire tribe has come to Christ. When they asked who had been influenced by what God has done in their remote tribe, nearly everyone in the place stood, reminding me again that "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church." The Variety of Methods Flowing From One Central Message * Technology--We had a rich variety of video, music, drama, arts, satellite broadcast, language translations...the Gospel can be communicated in so many up-to-date ways! * Theology--We gathered around Biblical essentials-no matter how timely the method, our message is timeless-grounded in the Word, the cross, the blood of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit...and Jesus is Lord of all! * Truth must be communicated by a transformed, Spirit-empowered evangelist. As one speaker said, "Charisma without character is chaos." There were repeated calls to holiness. * "Team" ministry was emphasized-we came from many denominations and organizations, but we focused on being "Kingdom" teammates...blending us in a beautiful sense of unity. Time will tell the full impact of Amsterdam 2000 on worldwide ministry, but I came away transformed by the event...my vision stretched and my heart more passionate about reaching our world for Jesus. I also left praying for three men I got to share Christ with while in Amsterdam...asking the Lord to add them to His Kingdom. The greatest legacy of Amsterdam 2000 will be the countless souls added to the Family of God. That's what really matters in the end. We must be about the task of bringing Jesus to our world... "until He comes." --Tim Roehl `