Amsterdam ’86, as the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists was called, saw evangelists from every conceivable background. According to a Decision magazine article, “Never before have so many men and women exercising the biblical gift of evangelism gathered in one place at one time to exchange ideas, to learn, to stretch spiritually in order to fulfill more purposely the … work of an evangelist.”

This month’s featured item from the archive collection is a banner which was one of many presented in the opening ceremony of the conference.

During the conference, Billy Graham addressed attendees several times. Here’s what he shared on the message of the evangelist:

The Message of the Evangelist

There are millions for whom the Gospel has not been made clear. We have failed in our communication, and people have only a hazy idea of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.

What is our message? First, biblical evangelism is committed to the full and final authority of Scripture alone. Our authority is not based upon our experiences, or upon our traditions, or upon the latest ideas of philosophers or politicians. Our authority and our message are solely based on what God has revealed to us in His Word, the Bible. In boldness we can proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Second, biblical evangelism preaches Christ alone as the Savior of men. Paul told the Corinthians, “For Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Jesus alone is the way to God. Apart from Him we are spiritually dead and lost. Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection became the Gospel. Jesus Christ is the Gospel!

The Gospel is not just a new set or morals or a guide for happy living. It is the solemn message that by sin we are alienated from God, and only Christ by His death and resurrection can save us. Any message other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not evangelism. If you preach any other message, you are not an evangelist. …

That is the message. Worthy is the Lamb.