A campaign in Modesto, California, in 1949 was an early turning point for the fledgling Team of Graham, Barrows, Shea and Wilson.  Billy instructed all of us, “Boys, let’s go to our rooms and write down all of the criticisms of mass evangelism.  Don’t hold anything back.  Then let’s meet for evaluation and prayer this afternoon.  All of us agreed that our number-one pet peeve was the handling of finances.  We also listed sensationalism, over-emotionalism, becoming controversial, and the image of being anti-intellectual and anti-church.  And there was the matter of virtually no follow-up.  That very day we determined not to be guilty of those charges, and the Team set out to make necessary changes and adjustments .. We had determined at our Modesto prayer meeting to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22).  Through careful planning and perspiration, under the leadership of the Spirit, we set out to live down the stereotypes of mass evangelism.
Excerpt from Count it All Joy by Grady Wilson (one of the closest associates of Billy Graham) (pp. 46, 50)

I say we do this again in OUR generation!

This is a vivid picture of the vision behind Emerging Evangelists.  Compiling every complaint against evangelism and the evangelist in OUR day and committing to “live down the stereotypes” and emerge into a more ancient, Biblical model in these increasingly urgent, last days.

This is also the focus of the Lausanne Movement and their third historic world congress this fall in Cape Town.  Thousands of leaders from across the earth will consider what stands in the way of world evangelization in our generation.  What do you feel are some of the misconceptions and criticisms of evangelists and evangelism TODAY?

*Article written on behalf of the Lausanne Movement Conversation leading up to Cape Town 2010 this fall.  Connect with us on the conversation site here.  Set up your own profile and participate in the conversation with like-minded believers from across the earth here.  More about how you can be involved here.