Billy Graham had a specific calling from God: take the Good News around the world. In a ministry that spanned over seven decades, he preached in more than 185 countries and territories with the help of local churches and interpreters. 

The evangelist also believed in training the next generation of Christian leaders for this critical work. This is why the Billy Graham Library hosts one-day Evangelism Intensives, to prepare others for proclaiming the Name of Jesus.

On Friday, hundreds gathered in the Library’s Billy Kim Hall to hear from Erwin Lutzer and Frank Turek about how to share the Gospel with people from various backgrounds.

Lutzer, pastor emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, Illinois, also preaches on two radio programs, broadcast in eight languages. Turek is an apologist and the founder of Cross-Examined, which addresses burning questions about Christianity.

Lutzer began the day by discussing some common challenges. For those who don’t hold a worldview based in the reality of God’s truth, they can see this life-saving message as offensive, rude, or even harmful. 

Different cultures also value different things, so the message isn’t always received the same way, he said. You aren’t changing the Gospel message, he explained, but tailoring it to fit the cultural audience at hand. This is the definition of contextual evangelism. 

“Same message, same Gospel,” he told the audience.

Friday was Sasha’s first time visiting the Billy Graham Library.

“I feel like I’ve been waiting for the right time to be equipped [to share the Gospel],” she shared. “But you’ll never be fully equipped.” We all need to have faith that God can use us right where we are, she added.

As a homeschooling mom in America’s changing religious climate, Sasha wants to use what she learned Friday to teach her kids how to share their faith using the truth of the Bible.

“We need to make sure we are standing boldly on the Word of God,” she said. “That’s really what we’re called to do.”

Following lunch, Turek posed four common questions and addressed each one logically and factually. 

Does truth exist? Does God exist? Are miracles possible? What about the resurrection—is it true?

Turek explained the law of noncontradiction—how two opposing ideals can’t be true at once. God can’t exist and not exist at the same time. One of those things has to be right and one has to be wrong. 

He also applied this logic to the popular belief that “there is no truth.” When people say this, they believe that the statement itself is true, therefore negating the point. 

“There is no such thing as your truth. There is no such thing as my truth,” Turek stated plainly. 

Friday’s sold-out event drew people of all ages, and Billy Kim Hall was full of lively discussion during multiple breakout sessions where groups shared how they could use these lessons in real life.

Sasha sat with her friend, Patricia, throughout the afternoon.

“You can’t be afraid to share the Gospel,” Patricia said. “It may be hard, but it’s just planting the seed. … And God tells us to share.”

Please pray that those who attended the Evangelism Intensive will apply what they learned as they interact with people around them—even those of a different culture. 

Find out what other events are coming up at the Billy Graham Library.