What is the Evangelism Summit?
The Evangelism Summit is a gathering of Christians across Canada who want to fulfill God’s Great Commission.
Our responsibility is to ensure that our generation is given the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.
The Evangelism Summit will remind us of the unchanging principles on which all evangelism is based. The Apostle Paul’s conviction was that the power is in the Gospel itself. He wrote to the believers in Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
The free summit will take place in three cities across Canada from October 13 to 20, with each city featuring key speakers from across Canada and around the world to inspire and challenge us in evangelism.
How can this Evangelism Summit help me today in my evangelistic ministry?
Every pastor and the individual believer is commissioned by Jesus to tell others within their community and sphere of influence about the hope in Jesus.
Circumstances, the burden of ministry, opposition to the Gospel and the challenges of life, at times, deflate our evangelistic zeal, and make the command of Jesus “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … “ (Matthew 28: 19) less urgent.
We need each other. Attend the Evangelism Summit to see how and what you can do at this time in your own community-and come alongside other Christians doing the same.
Schedule
Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. with plenary sessions beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. and lasting until 5:30 p.m..
Calgary: October 13, Rockpointe Church, Bearspaw campus
Halifax: October 18, Halifax Convention Centre
Toronto: October 20, Church on the Queensway
Topics
The New Testament repeatedly reminds us that the motivating factor for every aspect of the work is that we do it “for the sake of the name” (3 John 1:7).
- We UNITE with the whole church for the sake of His Name
- We DEFEND the Gospel for the sake of His Name
- We BEAR the cost of the Gospel for the sake of His Name
- We MAKE disciples for the sake of His Name
- We LIVE holy lives for the sake of His Name
- We PROCLAIM the Cross for the sake of His Name
If you ask any person what they think of the church of Jesus Christ, there is likely to be one of two answers. Some will say, “The church is irrelevant, and it has almost no bearing on my life.” Others will comment, “Which church are you talking about? There are so many, and you spend your time arguing with each other.” It is clear that internal differences, however well intended, can easily become a barrier to the evangelization of the world. But can Christians unite, especially when our differences are often for good and legitimate reasons?
The Gospel has always been under attack. So it should come as no surprise to us if we, too, are rejected and the message despised. It was the promise of Jesus when He said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. … If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18, 20). This means that attacks upon both the Gospel itself, the church, and on us personally are no cause for becoming downcast and dejected.
Jesus taught His disciples that taking the Gospel to the world will often be misunderstood, costly, painful, divisive, lonely, and—in some cases—even illegal and life-threatening! As bearers of the Good News, frequently the question is not, “Are you willing to die for the sake of the Name?” but, “Are you willing to live for the sake of the Name?” Are you willing to live with endurance, bearing the pain of obedience because we are sent into a hostile world?
From a New Testament perspective, there is no doubt that discipleship is part of evangelism. In fact, the heart of the Great Commission that Jesus gave the apostles was to go and make disciples of all nations. Faith in Jesus and His saving work
It is sad that our culture views church leadership with suspicion, amusement, pity, or as people who are weak. In reality, we know nothing could be further from the truth. We are called to live a holy life. Some religions emphasize external ritual over lifestyle change, but Christians know that we are called to live in a way that honors Christ. Peter entreats us, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’ ” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Christlikeness is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit within us, for all of us are weak and are tempted. So how is the holiness of Christ seen? What are its characteristics?
As the church, our glorious task is not just to speak about the loveliness and humility of Jesus—wonderful though those characteristics are—or the helpfulness and goodness of the church, which Jesus said should be apparent to all. “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23) for without it, there is no Gospel and there is no salvation. The cross is the heart of the Gospel.
Resources
Promo video and social graphics
Calgary
Cost
Cost
There is no cost to attend the Summit. Session materials and lunch will be provided to all attendees.
*Please note that lunch is not guaranteed for those who register after Monday, October 10 at noon MT.
Speakers
*Subject to change
Will Graham
William Franklin Graham IV (Will) is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. A grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham, Will has shared the hope of Jesus with more than one million people across six continents since beginning his evangelistic ministry in 2006.
“I’m not trying to be the next Billy Graham; I’m just Will Graham,” says the ordained minister. “I have a burden in my heart to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If that’s to an arena full of people or one person on the street, I will do whatever God is calling me to do.”
In addition to his evangelistic outreaches, Will serves as vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. The Cove offers multiday seminars on a variety of Christian subjects and features nationally recognized speakers.
Will graduated from Liberty University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion, and in 2001 graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.
Will and his wife, Kendra, have two daughters, Christine Jane (C.J.) and Rachel Austin, and a son, William Franklin Graham V (Quinn).
Rev. Dr. Hugh Osgood
Dr. Hugh Osgood is a senior U.K. church leader, broadcaster, and author who is known for his commitment to interchurch engagement and local church renewal.
He is the founding president of Churches in Communities International, a rapidly growing accountability body for independent churches, networks, chaplaincies, and ministries.
Over the years he has played a key role in many major national and international church initiatives, including evangelistic campaigns, prayer conferences, and media-related projects. He is also the co-convenor of the U.K. Charismatic and Pentecostal Leaders Gathering and serves on the Council of the U.K. Evangelical Alliance.
He has recently held positions that include the moderator of the Free Churches Group and president of Churches Together in England. His academic work continues through his role as a visiting senior research fellow at Waverley Abbey College in southeast England.
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker, and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian faith.
She is the author of multiple books, including Where is God in All the Suffering? and bestselling Why Trust the Bible? Over the last 20 years, Amy has spoken about how the Christian faith answers the deepest questions of life on university campuses around the world.
She is a regular presenter on TV and radio and has addressed politicians in the Speakers Rooms and Chapel at the U.K. Parliament, on Capitol Hill, and to West Wing staff at the White House. She holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford and is passionate in exploring the intersection of questions of meaning and faith within the marketplace, in education, and in policy making.
Amy is also the co-founder of REBOOT, an innovative youth initiative aimed at helping teenagers think deeply about faith, which now runs in countries all over the world. Married to “Frog” and mother to three boys, Amy helps lead Latimer Minster, a community committed to conservation and creativity, based on a farm in Buckinghamshire.
Dr. Crawford Loritts
Crawford Loritts grew up in New Jersey, and as a teenager, he trusted Christ as his Savior. He graduated from Cairn University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible. He has traveled throughout the U.S. and much of the world, speaking in churches, evangelistic outreaches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries.
He has been a featured chaplain at Super Bowls, NCAA Final Four chapels, and the Pentagon with senior military officers. In addition to being a church planter, he also served for 27 years on the staff of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) and for 15 years as senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church, in Roswell, Georgia.
He and his wife, Karen, have been featured speakers at FamilyLife marriage conferences. Crawford is the author of nine books, including Your Marriage Today … and Tomorrow, co-authored with Karen. He is the host of two national radio programs, the weekend program Living a Legacy and the daily program Legacy Moments.
Crawford serves on several boards including Cru, FamilyLife, and Chick-fil-A. He has received five honorary doctorates. Crawford is president and founder of Beyond Our Generation and is committed to encouraging and helping to shape the next generation of Christian leaders.
Crawford and Karen have four adult children and 11 grandchildren.
Rev. David Arrol Macfarlane
David Macfarlane is a pastor, author, and evangelist who has led churches in Ontario and British Columbia.
David has addressed thousands of people at events, conferences, and in churches around the world and across Canada. He has appeared on numerous TV shows such as the 700 Club, 100 Huntley Street, and It’s a New Day, plus numerous radio programs.
“I want to give Christians hope, that the Gospel hasn’t lost it power,” David said. “People are looking for hope and we need to show them how relevant Christianity is.”
David has written for or been featured in numerous publications including Decision magazine, ChristianWeek, and Faith Today. David’s latest book Ignite Your Life: Living for Significance shares how to live looking outward and in the process, live richer and fuller Christ-centered lives.
A former director of national initiatives for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, he now teaches at N2N Christian University, where he trains pastors in developing countries.
David and his wife, Diana, live in Waterloo, Ontario, and have three married daughters and eight grandchildren.
Dr. Charles Price
Charles Price is pastor at large with The Peoples Church, in Toronto, where he was lead pastor from 2001 to 2016. The weekly congregation doubled to over 4,000 attending each Sunday during his time there.
Originally from England, he was involved for many years in the ministry of Capernwray Hall, a Bible school, conference grounds, and evangelistic center in the north of England.
While at The Peoples Church, he had an hour-long television program, Living Truth, broadcast coast to coast in Canada each week, as well as in more than 70 other countries in a variety of languages. He also had a daily 30–minute radio program broadcast in Canada and several other countries.
He has preached in over 100 countries on every continent and is the author of eight books, some of which have been translated into a variety of languages.
Charles is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for services to humanitarian need through his television program’s support of global mission projects in Latin America, Africa, and India.
He is married to Hilary, and they have two daughters, one son, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. Their family is scattered in several parts of the world.
Pastor Skip Heitzig
Skip Heitzig is a native of southern California. At 18, the Lord reached him with the Gospel through a Billy Graham Crusade on TV. The Gospel message penetrated his soul, and he knelt and prayed to receive Christ.
Skip studied under Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa until 1981, when he and his wife, Lenya, moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1982, he began a home Bible study which eventually grew into Calvary Church, a multisite congregation of over 15,000.
Skip also reaches out to thousands throughout the world through his multimedia ministry, Connect with Skip Heitzig. Skip also helps equip others for living according to God’s principles through his writings. Some of his books include The Bible from 30,000 Feet; Biography of God; Bloodline; You Can Understand the Book of Genesis; You Can Understand the Book of Revelation; The Daily God Book Through the Bible; and How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It.
Skip holds bachelor’s, master’s, Doctor of Divinity, and doctorate degrees in philosophy, Biblical, and theological studies from Trinity Southwest University. He currently serves on several boards, including Samaritan’s Purse and Harvest Christian Fellowship.
His son, Nathan, and daughter-in-law, Janaé, have made Skip and Lenya the proud grandparents of Seth Nathaniel and Kaydence Joy.
Dr. David Bruce
Dr. David Bruce was born in Winston-Salem, NorthCarolina, into the home of a Baptist pastor. During his years at Wake Forest University (where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree), David felt a call to Gospel ministry. He then enrolled in The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He has pastored churches in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and Kentucky.
David was the executive assistant to Dr. Billy Graham, having served in his Montreat office from 1995 until Mr. Graham’s death in 2018. He is currently executive vice president of the Billy Graham Library and the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. David also serves as the president and chairman of the board of Blue Ridge Broadcasting (WMIT), the radio broadcast ministry of BGEA. He is a member of the board of directors for the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, as well as the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, with which he and his wife, Kerri, have been associated for over 30 years.
David also serves as a member of the board of trustees of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and the board of trustees of Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina. David was recently named to the commission that is charged with the procurement of a statue of Billy Graham to be placed in the United States Capitol—a singular honor for Mr. Graham and his long–tenured ministry of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.
David and Kerri live in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Their daughter, Rachel, lives and works in Anderson, South Carolina.
Rev. Jason Ballard
Jason is a pastor at The Way Church in Vancouver.
He is a part of the team at Alpha and the Canadian Church Leaders Network, which help create resources to serve the church in Canada and around the world.
Jason is also one of the hosts of the Alpha Youth Film Series. He hosts the Canadian Church Leaders Podcast, which shares honest conversations to encourage pastors in Canada.
Jason and his wife Rachael have three kids—Hudson, Mary, and Millie.
Worship
Brooke Nicholls
Brooke is a worship leader and songwriter from Toronto where she serves as a worship leader at Sanctus Church.
When she’s not at her home church, she’s leading worship at churches and ministries across Canada and beyond.
Brooke was originally pursuing a life in pop music, but as she got closer to Jesus, she could hear His voice leading her into Christian music as a worship leader.
Brooke is married to her guitar player, Steve.