The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. In honor of the organization’s faithful service and evangelism efforts, we’re looking at the various aspects of the ministry that proclaim the Gospel.

Billy Graham’s ministry is often associated with large crowds at evangelistic meetings, or what he called “Crusades.” Many Library visitors recount memories to us of attending these events or watching the nationally televised versions of the Crusades.

While Billy Graham is best known for preaching the Gospel, he was also passionate about equipping other Christians to share their faith in their own communities. This is evident in his organization of several large-scale events for the global Christian community, the first of which was the World Congress on Evangelism.

In 1966, at Billy Graham’s direction, BGEA began to prepare for the World Congress that would take place in Berlin, Germany. The World Congress on Evangelism sought to connect evangelicals and evangelists from around the world for the purpose of encouraging the spread of the Gospel.

The planning process was not without struggle or issue, as many details had to be considered. One challenge, for example, was simply determining who should be invited as participants to the Congress.

The theme of the 1966 Congress was “One Race, One Gospel, One Task,” which meant the goal was “nothing short of the evangelization of the human race in this generation.” With over 1,200 delegates from 100 countries present, attendees heard from international Christian leaders, including Billy Graham.

In his address to the delegates, Billy Graham said, “The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided.”

The World Congress equipped many in attendance to engage in new evangelism efforts in their respective countries and communities. It also created a picture of what the global church is to look like—people from all nations, tribes, and tongues in pursuit of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Billy Graham’s commitment to equipping Christians around the world did not stop with the Berlin event. In Amsterdam in 1983, 1986, and 2000, the BGEA organized the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, where God continued to move powerfully among evangelists and leaders of the faith. And in 1974, Billy Graham convened the first Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization. These conferences encouraged and equipped those who shared the Gospel in remote areas of the globe.

These conferences always consisted of prayer, worship, and times of speaking or workshops. In his autobiography, Billy Graham said, “The prayer times moved us especially. Some delegates just bowed their heads, or leaned forward, or stood with arms outstretched; others knelt by their seats or bent low on the floor. Given all the languages being spoken in the prayers, it was thrilling to realize that God could understand them all.”

Later this month, the next European Congress on Evangelism will take place in Berlin, Germany, reminiscent of the first Congress over 50 years ago. The upcoming Congress will feature speakers such as Franklin Graham, Will Graham, Cissie Graham Lynch, Albert Mohler, Greg Laurie, Skip Heitzig, and many more. Sessions will focus on topics of theology, calling, preparation, prayer, and unity in sharing the Gospel.

Church leaders from 56 countries and territories in Europe will come to Berlin for the European Congress on Evangelism. This conference is expected to be the most representative gathering of Christian leaders in Europe since BGEA’s last conference in Amsterdam in 2000. Will you pray along with us that God will use this event to impact generations to come?