By Frank Parsons
ORLANDO, Florida--What do more than 1,000 ministers and wives from 14 nations, 45 states and 64 denominations have in common?
A love for Jesus Christ and the Spirit-led desire to have a better understanding of evangelism.
This is what my wife, Jane, and I found when we arrived at the Radisson Twin Towers in Orlando April 27-30 for the Billy Graham School of Evangelism.
We joined 18 WCG ministers and wives for four days of spiritual uplift and blessings. Dr. Graham says that "the school is designed to help the ministry lead their churches in evangelistic outreaches," and it does.
The school has four objectives: 1) to demonstrate both in prepared lectures and crusade meetings the inherent power of the gospel message in such a way that the student will be able to impart this message to others; 2) to present evangelism in such a way that the student will be able to develop lay evangelism in the local church; 3) to provide a biblically centered theological basis for evangelism; and 4) to present the why and how of evangelism so clearly that there will be a new commitment to its message and effectiveness. Paul Cedar, chairman of Mission America, was host. Dr. Cedar said that every Christian should read Mr. Tkach's book Transformed by Truth.
During the conference, on Wednesday, April 29, he met with our WCG
group. He is supportive of what the church is doing.
Larry Backlund, director of the school of evangelism, met with our group as well and told an inspiring story about his contact with the WCG.
Mr. Backlund has invited Mr. Tkach to visit the Minneapolis, Minneapolis, headquarters of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Garvin Greene, regional pastor, said that the Billy Graham staff is interested in helping everyone share the gospel of Jesus more effectively. "Every pastor and his wife should try to attend one of the sessions."
Martin Davey, Jacksonville, Florida, pastor, who was attending for the second time, said, "I was happy that my wife, Yvonne, could come this year, and have her own enthusiasm reinforced even more."
WCG attendees left excited about getting back to their congregations and putting into action the knowledge they gained.
WCG attendees included Dan and Clare Gough, Ed Burkhead, Carl and Annabel Dayhoff, Ken Smylie, Les Mieure, Peter Whitting, Mike and Maxine Mitchell, Garvin and Sandee Greene, Lloyd Garrett, Martin and Yvonne Davey and Frank and Jane Parsons.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998