Amsterdam2023 EveryONE Conference Concludes with Global Worship at Olympic Stadium

Participants prayed around the world and were commissioned to take the Gospel to the nations and to every person on Earth

AMSTERDAM, June 27, 2023 – The Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference concluded Saturday with a global worship, prayer and commissioning service for the thousands who gathered in The Netherlands this week before returning to their home countries. More than 5,000 individuals from over 125 nations attended the conference in person at the historic RAI conference center, with thousands more joining online from 150 countries around the world.

Saturday’s event got underway at 1 p.m., after 700 conference attendees participated in outreach throughout the city during the morning, inviting guests to join the evening portion of the event at Olympic stadium, which included a free concert with Australian band PlanetShakers and a presentation of the Gospel at 6 p.m. Over 300 people made decisions for Christ during this time.

The global worship and prayer tour began in The Netherlands, with an extended time of music by Iwan & Rebekah and the Church band choir, interspersed with prayers and encouragement by Dutch leaders like Ruben Flach, Jan Pool, Felix Govers and Arleen Westerhof.  During the international “sing in,” flags from all the countries of the world entered the arena, surrounding a large white cross, in a moving moment for the crowd. “We live in a time of confusion, crisis, division, fear, loneliness and depression,” Pool said. “So many people are looking for an answer, and we have the answer – it is Jesus.”

The next stop on the global journey was Europe, with worship led by UK group Chroma and prayers and encouragement shared by UK pastor Ben Fitzgerald, Norwegian church leader Anne Christiansen and German pastor Markus Wenz. “There has been a lot of darkness in Europe, but in the midst of the darkness, the bright light of Jesus is shining and thousands of people are coming to Jesus,” Christiansen said.

Latin America was the next continent visited, with Brazilian group Dunamis leading in worship. Brazilian-born missionary evangelist Rubens Cunha prayed for his nation and others in South and Central America. Argentinian pastor and evangelist Claudio Freidzen and his daughter and fellow pastor Daniella Freidzon-McCabe shared about his experience being transformed at the first Billy Graham Amsterdam conference in 1983 when he was a young pastor, and he believes others will be similarly transformed by their time in Amsterdam this week.

Nigerian Bishop E. A. Adeboye started the time of prayer and focus on Africa, followed by Goodwill Shana and a rousing time of worship with a group from House on the Rock church in Lagos, Nigeria.  Evangelist Daniel Kolenda wrapped up the time in Africa speaking of his predecessor Reinhard Bonnke and his historic work in Africa seeing 88 million decisions for Christ. Kolenda shared Bonnke’s vision near the end of his life that an entire generation of evangelists would follow him, reaching all the nations for Christ.

Pastor Gail Stathis from Greece brought her friend, a Muslim convert from Tunisia who distinctly understands the challenges of sharing Christ in that region, to lead a prayer for the Middle East and North Africa.

Asia was next, with church leaders from that continent leading in prayer, including Shekhar Kallianpur from India, Brother Yun from China and Niko Njotorahardjo from Indonesia. “We cannot fulfill the Great Commission in our own strength but it must be done through the power of the Holy Spirit,” Njotorahardjo said. Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson announced that the next EveryONE conference would be held in Indonesia next summer, focusing on reaching EveryONE Asia.

U.S. ministry leader Cindy Jacobs began the time of prayer for North America, followed by U.S. evangelist Nick Hall and Canadian leader David Wells. The Oral Roberts University worship band from Tulsa, Okla., lead a time of praise and worship. Australian pastors Russell Evans and Tim Hall concluded the global journey with prayers for Oceania, kicking off the concert by renowned Australian band PlanetShakers.

Following the evangelistic presentation by Nathan Morris, there was a time of prayer for healing led by Swiss evangelist Jean Luc Trachsel and Belgian ministry leader Martin Koornstra. Mattheus van der Steen, Dutch evangelist and Founder of Harvest Fields International, who served as Empowered21 event liaison for the Netherlands, also led in the time of prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to move in people’s lives.

The SEND’s Téo Hayashi, founder of the Dunamis Movement, alongside Dr. Wilson, commissioned those in attendance to answer God’s call of “whom shall I send, who will go for me,” with “here am I, send me,” as they committed to being one of the “ones” who will be needed to reach EveryONE in the next decade. Brian Alarid encouraged the attendees to pray for people by name as part of the effort to pray for every person on earth by name by 2033. A final time of worship was led by a combined group from Dunamis and ORU Worship.

Dr. Wilson’s closing encouragement included the thought that if just two people shared the Gospel with others and those two shared and those two shared, and so on, it would only take 33 days for every person on the earth to have an opportunity to experience an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ. “We can do this!” he exclaimed.

About Empowered21

Empowered21 (E21) is the world’s largest Spirit-empowered relational network.  E21 is comprised of a global council, international and regional leadership teams, and various work groups.  E21 organizes regional and global events to inspire the Spirit-empowered community. E21 mobilizes efforts to recognize and implement effective models to answer the cry for spiritual fathers and mothers, connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation and focusing on crucial issues facing the movement.  For more information about Empowered21 and Amsterdam 2023, visit https://empowered21.com and https://amsterdam2023.com, where the entire EveryONE conference is still available for online viewing. The closing global worship rally is archived at https://www.facebook.com/empowered21/videos/697173592236199.

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Media Contacts:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com, 214-912-8934  

‘NextGen’ the Focus for Day 3 at Amsterdam2023 EveryONE Conference

Younger generations vital in order to complete the Task

AMSTERDAM, June 24, 2023 – The Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference continued Friday with an emphasis on the importance of including younger generations in the task of fulfilling the Great Commission in the next ten years. In the morning session, Pastor Markus Wenz of Gospel Forum Church in Stuttgart, Germany, presented both scientific research and lived experience regarding reaching the hearts of teens and young adults. He included strategies for sharing the message for those who need to hear about Jesus for the first time and those who are passionate about introducing Christ to their peers.

“We see in today’s time that Generation Z is making a difference in evangelism. Gen Z is developing as one of the most evangelistic, more open for faith conversations, exploring and sharing their faith like no other generation before,” Wenz shared. “Gen Z has a desire for authenticity and justice, they are searching for purpose and meaning, they have an openness to explore. And we know there is just one way for true meaning, purpose and authenticity, and his names is Jesus.”

A NextGen panel led by Rob Hoskins shared specific statistics and characteristics about Gen Z.  The group noted that they have been called the most innovative, creative and entrepreneurial generation ever, as well as being the most numerous and ethnically diverse. They are socially conscious, individualistic, not impressed by brands, and crave authenticity and wisdom. The panel concluded that for these reasons, “this generation of young people has the potential and power to turn their generation and their world upside down.”

The final takeaways from the daily collaboration round tables were shared in the evening session. The Empowered21 (E21) team utilized AI-coalesced data to curate the robust conversations documented by participants, which were examined by a missiological team. The overriding theme from the discussions centered around the need to “create safe spaces for the Holy Spirit to move inter-generationally.”  This can be accomplished by:

·       Engaging relationally

·       Intentional mentorship and discipleship

·       Making room for the next generation 

“This is why we are calling this a new era in evangelism, in that we are going to see everyone on earth hear the good news of Jesus because we are going to be collaborative in evangelism, experiential in our faith, and united in mission,” said Max Barroso, Executive Strategist for Ministry and Leadership Initiatives at Oral Roberts University.

 The evening’s first speaker, Mark Varughese, founder of Kingdomcity – a growing vibrant church with multiple locations around the world – identified the three commitments required of all believers in order to reach every person on the planet: unprecedented unity, unapologetic sacrifice and unashamed hunger. “Unity is God’s secret weapon of mass acceleration,” he said.

Sara Castellanos Guerra, youth pastor alongside her husband Lau, of MCI Church in Bogota, Colombia, addressed the session next, outlining the need for cleanliness among those who will be used by God. “Everything we need to fulfill our mission, everything needed to sanctify us, God has provided,” she declared.

Russell Evans, senior pastor of Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia, completed the meetings at the RAI with a rousing message about bringing believers into the Kingdom as the way to defeat the enemy. “We are gathered here to sound an alarm to the darkness of hell that Jesus Christ is here to take back what has been stolen,” he exclaimed. “The way I inflict more damage on the kingdom of darkness is to bring more people into the kingdom of light!”

Empowered21 Global Chair, Dr. Billy Wilson presented a Lifetime Global Impact Award to Cindy Jacobs.  Jacobs is a longtime leader in the Spirit-empowered movement, who with her husband Mike, founded Generals International, a prayer-based organization dedicated to changing lives and transforming nations. She has spoken to hundreds of thousands in more than 100 nations of the world, including many heads of state.  Jacobs has been called, “the prophet to the presidents.” She has been recognized by Charisma Magazine as one of their “40 People Who Radically Changed Our World” and is listed in the Who's Who among American Women.

Amsterdam2023 concludes Saturday with more than 100 outreach teams dispersing to share the gospel throughout before gathering at Olympic Stadium for an afternoon time of worship. Conference attendees have also distributed 30,000 invitations to individuals throughout Amsterdam over the last two days, inviting them to a “Celebration of Hope” at the stadium on Saturday evening. The concluding service is available for livestream at www.amsterdam2023.com.

About Empowered21

Empowered21 (E21) is the world’s largest Spirit-empowered relational network.  E21 is comprised of a global council, international and regional leadership teams, and various work groups.  E21 organizes regional and global events to inspire the Spirit-empowered community. E21 mobilizes efforts to recognize and implement effective models to answer the cry for spiritual fathers and mothers, connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation and focusing on crucial issues facing the movement.  For more information about Empowered21 and Amsterdam 2023, visit https://empowered21.com and https://amsterdam2023.com. 

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Media Contacts:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com, 214-912-8934  

Amsterdam2023 EveryONE Conference Attendees Strategize for Great Commission Task

Collaborative Sessions Provide Encouragement, Provoke Ideas

AMSTERDAM, June 23, 2023 – As Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference participants hear from speakers and attend workshops this week, one of the key benefits will be their take-aways from collaborative, language- and region-based round table discussions regarding new ideas and strategies for reaching people in their areas who have not yet heard the gospel message. Thursday’s theme “New Strategies” provoked creativity in this area, with many of the speakers and workshop presenters addressing how new technologies and digital media make previously unreached people groups now more accessible than ever.

Morning session presenter Dr. Ed Stetzer, referencing his tenure as longtime director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, in acknowledgement of Mr. Graham’s historic role in leading global evangelism strategy meetings in 1983, 1986 and 2000, said “I can’t imagine the joy Billy Graham would have had to see us here today.”

Dr. Stetzer shared a presentation on four strategies for revitalizing evangelism in the midst of cultural convulsions, with a focus on the digital frontier. He led a panel of experts in this arena, highlighting the need to see digital ministry as integral rather than peripheral, to help the community of Christians be more deeply and relationally connected, to view evangelism as not just a point, but a point and a process, and to shift mindset from an organization-led mission to inspire, mobilize, and equip every single believer to see the digital space as an opportunity for them to reach the world.

Some of the highlights from the daily round table collaboration sessions include a focus on that very theme – collaborating in the task of evangelism; not just cooperation, but inter-church, inter-generational, mission-oriented collaboration with diverse strategies and cultural adaptability. “We are seeing come out of these discussions a new desire for and commitment to unity in mission,” said small group facilitator Max Barroso, Executive Strategist for Ministry and Leadership Initiatives at Oral Roberts University. “We’ve agreed that we need to move from unity for unity’s sake to unity for the mission’s sake.”

Evening speakers continued to expound upon the topics from the afternoon workshop sessions related to developing new strategies for varied spheres of influence and mission focus. Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel spoke about the need for resilience in order to fulfill the Great Commission. He said four things are required to sustain this resilience: vision, love, relationships and empowerment. “If everyone is involved, every church and every nation, with vision, with the love of Jesus in our hearts, our relationships and the power of God, there’s no reason we shouldn’t see this whole world reached by 2033,” he said.

Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of the House of the Rock Church in Lagos, Nigeria, addressed the many walls that prevent the spread of the gospel. “We build walls between races, nations, classes and denominations. But Jesus came to tear the walls down. The walls in your life, every wall that the enemy has built, are going to come tumbling down,” he exclaimed.

Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, addressed the idea of God doing a new thing in peoples’ lives. “We worship the God who not only restores but gives us what we never had before, He is Lord of the new thing,” he said. “As we make room for an unprecedented harvest we must embrace something new. Some of us are focused on attempting to get back to what we lost when we should be asking for what we never had in the first place. I’m not interested in renovating our past but in replacing it with something new!”

Empowered21 has also taken the opportunity this week to recognize the contributions of two key leaders in the spirit-empowered movement. On Wednesday evening, Dr. Dick Eastman was presented with the Lifetime Global Impact Award for his decades of dedication to prayer and evangelism. He is a prolific author and speaker on the topic and serves as the chief prayer officer of Every Home for Christ, a ministry that has planted over 4.7 billion gospel messages to homes worldwide since 1946, resulting in over 243 million responses. He also serves as president of America’s National Prayer Committee, a diverse group of evangelical leaders instrumental in planning America’s annual National Day of Prayer.

Thursday evening’s honoree was Dr. E.A. Adeboye, who also received a Lifetime Global Impact Award for his service to the Kingdom. He serves as General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God based in Lagos, Nigeria, with thousands of RCCG churches worldwide. He is known as “Daddy G.O.” to millions of spiritual children throughout the continent of Africa. He was launched into international prominence in December, 1998, when he hosted an open air meeting with an attendance of over 7 million people as reported by CNN and the BBC, which grew to 12 million the following year. In recognition of his contribution as a global icon and preacher of God’s Word, he was selected in 2008 as one of the world’s 50 most influential people by Newsweek magazine, USA.

Amsterdam2023 continues with another round of plenary sessions, workshops and collaborative small groups on Friday, concluding on Saturday with a morning of local outreach throughout the city before the concluding worship time at Olympic Stadium. Conference attendees will be sharing 30,000 invitations with individuals throughout Amsterdam during the course of the next two days, inviting them out to a “Celebration of Hope” at the stadium on Saturday evening. Previous sessions are available online for review and online registration is still available at www.amsterdam2023.com.

About Empowered21

Empowered 21 (E21) is the world’s largest Spirit-empowered relational network.  E21 is comprised of a global council, international and regional leadership teams, and various work groups.  E21 organizes regional and global events to inspire the Spirit-empowered community. E21 mobilizes efforts to recognize and implement effective models to answer the cry for spiritual fathers and mothers, connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation and focusing on crucial issues facing the movement.  For more information about Empowered 21 and Amsterdam 2023, visit https://empowered21.com and https://amsterdam2023.com. 

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Media Contacts:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com, 214-912-8934  

Rick Warren, Christine Caine Address Amsterdam2023 Conference

Both speak to opening day theme, ‘everyone’

AMSTERDAM, June 22, 2023 – The purpose of the Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference at the RAI this week in The Netherlands is to launch the next decade as an era of unprecedented evangelism with the vision that every person on earth will hear the gospel message by 2033 – the 2000 year anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost. Speakers such as Rick Warren, Christine Caine and Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson addressed those themes before the opening day audience of more than 6,000 individuals from nearly 130 countries around the world.

Dr. Wilson began the conference with an explanation of the task ahead, stating that there would be challenges, but encouraged attendees that one person at a time, the goal is achievable. “Things aren’t going to get better, but in middle of the drama and trauma, we will not be afraid, we will not hold back and we will preach the gospel to every person on earth,” he said, proclaiming his belief that the next decade will be the most substantial 10 years  of Great Commission effort in the history of Christianity as believers mobilize together to proclaim their faith.

Referencing the history of the Billy Graham-convened events at the RAI in 1983, 1986 and 2000, Dr. Wilson shared that groups such as The Lausanne Movement, which came out of those historic meetings, along with Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Assemblies of God and Pentecostal Holiness denominations, as well as organizations such as Alpha, the World Evangelical Alliance and Finishing the Task came together in New York last December to create the 2033 Commitment. It’s a pledge that every believer and Christian organization is encouraged to sign, committing their efforts toward worldwide evangelization by 2033.

“We dedicate our lives to obeying Christ’s command and call for the global Church to unite with us in making the next ten years the greatest decade of Great Commission effort in history,” the commitment reads, referencing promises to collaborate, pray, mobilize, invest and go in order to accomplish the task.  The text of the pledge can be read at www.2033.earth. 

Between the morning and evening plenaries, those in attendance participated in both workshops and collaborative sessions, gathering at round tables by region and language to discuss the challenges and strategize creatively for their areas. Workshop sessions were led by experts in the areas of evangelistic preaching, serving in restricted or urban contexts, the use of technology, and reaching younger audiences, among the more than 20 topics offered. With all that the conference has planned, it is the Empowered21 team’s prayer that when everyone leaves on Saturday, they have a strategy for the next 10 years of their life.

Pastor Rick Warren’s message in the evening session continued these themes, encouraging those in attendance to have the love of God for those who don’t yet know him. “If you want the blessing of God in your life, if you want the power of God through your life, and if you want the anointing of God on your life, you must care about what God cares about most, and what he cares about most is he wants his lost children found,” Warren said.

There are four types of people that God will use, Warren continued. “God is looking for people to use who make God’s dream their dream. He’s looking for people who are willing to risk failure. He’s looking for people who expect to be used and who never give up.” He explained these are the people who will be used by God to finish the task – meaning to reach every person on earth who has not yet heard the gospel in the next 10 years.

Christine Caine followed with a similarly-focused message, speaking to what it would take for people to be reached for the Kingdom of God. She used the example of a religious leader of Jesus’ day who looked at a sinful woman but didn’t really see her. “The world desperately wants to be seen,” she said, “while we’re busy judging and marginalizing and objectifying people – we are doing everything but seeing them.”

She shared that Christian leaders may be confusing sympathy with compassion, but that there is also a great deal of compassion fatigue after all the world has been through in recent years. She said that leaders especially need a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit to renew their hearts for compassion. And it will take a renewed commitment to do the work. “In a world that’s all about me, we need to remember who we are; we are here to live on mission, we have been given a divine assignment and we must not get distracted by everything else on the earth. Let’s get about the father’s business, let’s just get busy and we can get this thing done in our lifetime,” she concluded.

Amsterdam2023 continues with similar schedules on Thursday and Friday, concluding on Saturday with a time of local outreach throughout the city during the morning, and an extended, globally-focused worship time from afternoon until evening.

About Empowered21

Empowered 21 (E21) is the world’s largest Spirit-empowered relational network.  E21 is comprised of a global council, international and regional leadership teams, and various work groups.  E21 organizes regional and global events to inspire the Spirit-empowered community. E21 mobilizes efforts to recognize and implement effective models to answer the cry for spiritual fathers and mothers, connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation and focusing on crucial issues facing the movement.  For more information about Empowered 21 and Amsterdam 2023, visit https://empowered21.com and https://amsterdam2023.com. 

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Media Contacts:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com, 214-912-8934  

Empowered21 Global Leadership Council Meets before Amsterdam2023 Conference Announces accomplishments, new initiatives

AMSTERDAM, June 21, 2023 – As thousands of Christian leaders from around the world were arriving in Amsterdam Monday and Tuesday for the Amsterdam2023 global conference this week, the Empowered21 (E21) Global Council gathered to prepare for the event that will promote a new era of evangelism.  E21 work groups, Global Evangelist Alliance (GEA), Global Prayer Alliance and NextGen Network convened, developing strategies to accomplish the Great Commission, taking the good news of Jesus Christ to every person on earth.

The “Global Network of Spirit-Empowered Scholars” was launched on Monday, under the leadership of co-chairs Dr. Wonsuk Ma and Opoku Onyinah. This group’s focus will be on scholar consultation, resourcing and publishing books for the Spirit-Empowered movement and conducting academic research regarding its history and accomplishments. One of the group’s first resources produced will be a compendium of all the Amsterdam2023 plenaries and workshop sessions – more than 130 in total. Within 24 hours of the network’s launch, more than 160 global scholars had already registered to be a part.

The group will be hosted by Oral Roberts University’s Center for Spirit-Empowered Research, with Dr. Ma serving as director. In making this announcement, ORU President and Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson said that this network brings to fruition a vision of Dr. Vinson Synan of the

Society of Pentecostal Studies a need for a practical theology for the Spirit-Empowered movement. There will be an annual conference, which will serve as a place for scholars around the world to connect for consultation, fellowships and encouragement, and the network will build a deeper and wider knowledge base about the movement as well as better explain it to the world.

The Empowered21 Global Prayer Alliance shared an aspect of the EveryONE initiative, that believers worldwide commit to taking just 5 minutes each day to pray for 5 people by name who don’t yet know Christ. According to director Brian Alarid, through this effort, “Already over 500 million people have been prayed for by name.  The alliance is leading the cause for everyone to be prayed for by name by 2033.”

The Global Council also launched the Global Worship Alliance, which will be chaired by renowned Australian worship leader Darlene Zschech.  Dr. Wilson shared that it is her dream to bring worship leaders together from around the world, and through this effort, they hope to reclaim this industry as a ministry for the Kingdom, creating a model of excellence, integrity and family.

A report was given on the EveryONE Initiative Fund, which has been in “beta test” format for the past year.  It provided two million dollars in funding toward 56 evangelistic projects in 50 countries, which saw nearly 500,000 people respond to the gospel. Ministries around the world who are employing creative and innovative strategies to reach people in the areas of digital evangelism, church planting and mass evangelism can apply for funding assistance through this initiative, which will officially launch at Amsterdam2023.   

The Global Evangelist Alliance reported on its efforts to train every believer in evangelism as well as inspire new evangelists. The NextGen committee shared updates about its initiative mobilizing younger generations for evangelism, with emphasis in issues such as regional contextualization, digital saturation and uniting older and young generations together in sharing knowledge and strategy in the effort.

Amsterdam2023 officially gets underway Wednesday morning, June 21, with a plenary address by Dr. Wilson, guest speakers Rick Warren and Christine Caine in the evening session, and other speakers leading more than 130 workshops on topics related to evangelism throughout the course of the week. The conference concludes on Saturday with a time of local outreach throughout the city during the morning, and an extended, globally-focused worship time at the Olympic Stadium from afternoon until evening.

For more information or to register for in-person or virtual attendance, visit www.amsterdam2023.com.   

About Empowered21

Empowered21 is a global Spirit-empowered movement working to connect the generations for blessing, impartation and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. Its U.S. office is on the campus of Oral Roberts University, of which Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson is president. To learn more, visit www.empowered21.com.  

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Media Contacts:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com

214-912-8934  

Empowered21's 'Amsterdam2023' Conference Available Online: Registration Now Open

Global Event Unites Believers in Fulfilling Great Commission by 2033

TULSA, Okla., June 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Empowered21, a relational leadership network representing the more than 650 million Spirit-empowered Christians, will host Amsterdam2023, a three-day conference and one-day stadium event on June 21-24, 2023, at Amsterdam RAI & Olympic Stadium. Influential leaders and powerful speakers are gathering at this international event to launch a decade of unprecedented evangelism to see the gospel reach every person on earth by 2033. Thousands will attend in-person, but a free online option is now available for virtual attendance, as well.

"For those who cannot attend Amsterdam 2023 in-person, all the general sessions will be available to watch live online via the event's website for free. For a small fee, viewers can also watch the breakout sessions of their choosing. We want everyone to be able to benefit from the training and encouragement God is providing through this event, whether they're with us in Amsterdam or with us online," shared Empowered21 Global Chair, Dr. Billy Wilson.

Registration is now open for people to watch the online version of this conference at https://register.amsterdam2023.com/Amsterdam2023.

Empowered21 has also recently launched a 21-day prayer initiative, encouraging individuals to pray leading up to and through the conference. Prayer guides can be found at www.amsterdam2023.com.

With the goal of catalyzing a new era of evangelism by re-personalizing the Great Commission, Empowered21 believes that Amsterdam2023 will kick off the most significant decade of growth in the history of the Church. It will do this by calling Christians to fulfill the Great Commission by the year 2033—significantly marking the 2,000-year anniversary of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost.

"I believe we're entering the most important decade of evangelistic effort in the history of the Church," said Dr. Wilson. "For the past 2,000 years, Christians have been praying for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Today, we're closer than we've ever been before. It's imperative that we come together prayerfully and collaboratively, fully committed to take the news of Jesus to every person on earth."

The international event will feature more than 150 influential leaders and powerful speakers to launch this transformative decade. Amsterdam2023 will equip believers from across the globe to:

• Collaborate cross-culturally about the Great Commission

• Innovate new ways to reach more people with the Gospel

• Experience the power of the Holy Spirit

• Inspire a greater vision of God's heart for the world

"A new era of evangelism is dawning. We have the technology, the resources, and the people. Let's finish the task," Dr. Wilson encouraged. "Join us in Amsterdam as we intercede, collaborate and mobilize to reach the world with the message of Jesus."

Participating Ministry Leaders:

• E.A. Adeboye, Redeemed Christian Church of God

• Brian Alarid, America Prays & World Prays

• Glyn Barrett, Audacious Church

• Andy Byrd, YWAM

• Christine Caine, A21 and Zoe Church Europe

• Stephan & Anne Christiansen, Jesus Church

• Chroma Worship

• Dunamis Music

• Russell Evans, Planetshakers

• Ben Fitzgerald, Awakening Europe

• Claudio Freidzon, Rey de Reyes Church

• Alton Garrison, Acts 2 Journey Initiative

• Mart Green, Hobby Lobby

• Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion

• Nick Hall, PULSE

• Teo Hayashi, Dunamis Movement

• Desmond Henry, GNE

• Rob Hoskins, OneHope

• Cindy Jacobs, Generals International

• Dr. Todd Johnson, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

• Cash Luna, Casa De Dios

• Wonsuk Ma, ORU

• Nathan Morris, Shake the Nations

• Niko Njotorahardjo, Gereja Bethel Indonesia

• Joe Oden, Assemblies of God, USA

• Andrew, Kevin & Wendy Palau, Luis Palau Association

• Terry Parkman, OneHope and Empowered21

• Planetshakers

• Goodwill Shana, Word of Life International

• Ed Stetzer, Talbot School of Theology at Biola University

• ORU Worship

• Jean-Luc Trachsel, Europe Shall Be Saved

• Mattheus van der Steen, Harvest Fields International

• Mark Varughese, Kingdomcity

• Rick Warren, Finishing the Task

• Markus Wenz, Gospel Forum

• Billy Wilson, ORU and Empowered21

• Nicky Gumbel, Alpha

• Daniel Kolenda, CFAN

• Bill Johnson, Bethel

• Samuel Rodriguez, NHCLC

For more information or to register, visit www.amsterdam2023.com.    

About Empowered21
Empowered21 is a global Spirit-empowered movement working to connect the generations for blessing, impartation and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. Its U.S. office is on the campus of Oral Roberts University, of which Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson is president. To learn more, visit www.empowered21.com.  

Media Contact:
Heidi McDow, A. Larry Ross Communications
heidi@alarryross.com
972-267-1111

Leaders Call for Global Church to Commit to a “Decade of Great Commission Effort”

Leaders make united commitment to share the Gospel with every person on earth by the year 2033

 Tulsa, Okla., April 6, 2023 – Ministry organizations and church leaders from a broad segment of the global church are uniting around the “2033 Commitment: A Call to the Global Church for a Decade of Great Commission Effort.”  The “2033 Commitment” calls for Christians from around the world to recognize the need for Jesus Christ of the over 8 billion individuals on earth, including the 3.5 billion who have never had the chance to hear the Gospel, and challenges Christians to:

●      Collaborate with one another toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission

●      Pray for the salvation of our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and the people of the nations of the world

●      Mobilize the followers of Jesus entrusted to our ministry and local churches in reaching every person on earth with His grace and truth

●      Invest increased resources in evangelistic efforts especially for people who have never heard the Gospel

●      Go with the Good News using every means available so that everyone has the opportunity to know Jesus Christ

Signatories to the commitment agree to prioritize the fulfillment of the Great Commission in their life and ministry, with the goal of seeing every person on earth reached with the gospel by 2033, which is the 2000-year anniversary of Christ’s Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and the Birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost. 

“I believe we are entering the most important decade of Great Commission effort in the history of the church,” said Dr. Billy Wilson, Chair of Empowered21 and the Pentecostal World Fellowship, “If we as the church will work together, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can reach EveryONE on earth with the good news of Jesus and see the fulfillment of Christ’s command in Mark 16 to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone.” 

The 2033 Commitment was drafted during a gathering of denominational and parachurch leaders in New York City in December 2022.  The 2033 Commitment will be a centerpiece of the Amsterdam2023 conference, to be held June 21-24 at the Amsterdam RAI Convention Center and Olympic Stadium.  With over 150 speakers and thousands of Christian leaders from around the world, Amsterdam2023 will serve as a launch point for the decade of evangelism leading up to 2033. 

For more information, a list of participating organizations and individuals and to become a signatory of the 2033 Commitment, visit https://2033.earth/

About Empowered21:  Empowered21 (E21) is the world’s largest Spirit-empowered relational network.  E21 is comprised of a global council, international and regional leadership teams, and various work groups.  E21 organizes regional and global events to inspire the Spirit-empowered community. E21 mobilizes efforts to recognize and implement effective models to answer the cry for spiritual fathers and mothers, connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation and focusing on crucial issues facing the movement.

For more information about Empowered 21 and Amsterdam 2023, visit https://empowered21.com and https://amsterdam2023.com. 

Ministry Leaders Unite on Fulfilling the Great Commission by 2033

Dr. Billy Wilson and Dr. Rick Warren Hold ‘2033 Leaders Consultation’

 NEW YORK, December 8, 2022 — More than two dozen ministry leaders of significant global networks convened Dec. 5-6 in New York City to combine their experience and insights toward the goal of Great Commission fulfillment within the next decade.

Representatives of influential global ministry networks gathered in New York City, December 5-6, 2022

Hosted by Dr. Billy Wilson, Oral Roberts University President, Pentecostal World Fellowship Chair and Empowered21 Global Chair, and Dr. Rick Warren, Executive Director of Finishing the Task and Founding Pastor of Saddleback Church, the event brought the leaders representing significant denominations, para-church networks and evangelistic ministries from around the world together for prayer, connection and collaboration.

“I believe we are entering the most important decade of Great Commission effort in the history of the church,” shared Dr. Wilson. “Numerous 2033 initiatives were represented in this consultation and it was a joy to witness our shared passion and unity across the diversity of the body of Christ. The next decade is going to be amazing as we push together toward providing everyone on planet earth the opportunity to know Jesus as their savior.”

The two-day meeting ended with the development of a commitment document agreeing to significant efforts over the next decade, including collaborating with one another, praying for the salvation of others, mobilizing followers of Jesus to join in the efforts, investing increased resources for evangelism and going with the good news to the ends of the earth.

“In our polarized world, it’s easy to erect walls and go it alone with just your own tribe,” noted Warren. “It takes courage to build bridges to others who love Jesus but don’t believe or practice the faith in the same way you do. On Dec. 5, as I listened and watched a small group of 24 influential Christian leaders, representing a wide spectrum of the Body of Christ, step out of their comfort zones in order to begin collaborating to complete the Great Commission, I sensed that God was smiling from Heaven. He had found a group of people willing to be an answer to Jesus’ prayer for the unity of His church that He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He was crucified.”

The group plans to convene again at Amsterdam2023, a three-day conference and one-day stadium event hosted by Empowered21 on June 21-24, 2023 at Amsterdam RAI & Olympic Stadium. The international event will feature influential leaders and powerful speakers to launch a decade of unprecedented evangelism to get the gospel to every person on earth by 2033. For more information, visit amsterdam2023.com.

Represented Organizations

The following organizations and ministries were represented at the Dec. 5-6 event:

·      Brian Alarid, America Prays & World Prays

·       Doug Beacham, International Pentecostal Holiness Church

·       Keith Boyette, Global Methodist Church

·       Henry Cappello, Global 2033

·       Samuel Chiang, World Evangelical Alliance

·       Doug Clay, Assemblies of God

·       Dick Eastman, Every Home for Christ 

·       Oliver Fleury, Jesus Celebration 2033

·       Mart Green, Hobby Lobby

·       Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion

·       Tim Harlow, National Association of Christian Churches 

·      Alan Hawkins, Anglican Church in North America

·       Rob Hoskins, OneHope

·       James Hwang, Billion Soul Harvest

·       Young Cho, Billion Soul Harvest

·       Everton Jackson, Baptist World Alliance

·       Werner Nachtigal, GO Movement

·       Michael Oh, Lausanne Movement

·       Nick Perryman, Alpha

·       Thomas Schirrmacher, World Evangelical Alliance

·       Rick Warren, Finishing the Task

·       David Wells, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

·       Michael White, Rebuilt Parish / Church of the Nativity 

·      Billy Wilson, ORU and Empowered21 

·       Caleb Wehrli, Empowered21

·       Ashley Wilson, Empowered21

Participating Leader Quotes

“After our meeting, the World Evangelical Alliance is even more committed to ‘2033.’ It was a great meeting of collaboration, planning and global leaders becoming friends for the gospel’s sake.”

— Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary General, World Evangelical Alliance

“The rising global generation is perhaps the most cause-oriented generation in the history of the world. This call and clear statement from the leadership of the global Church to reach everyone in the world with the love, truth and power of Jesus is going to be incredibly appealing for a decade of unprecedented evangelism.”

— Rob Hoskins, President, OneHope

“It’s inspiring and exciting to be part of a coalition across global Christianity focusing on global evangelism by the year 2033. The spirit of prayer and unity is palpable.”

— Doug Beacham, Superintendent, International Pentecostal Holiness Church

“I was inspired and envisioned by the unity amongst all Christian leaders and the commitment to engage and collaborate to finish the task of the Great Commission. This is the beginning of a new era, with an incredible momentum, through which every person can be reached with the Gospel message.”

— Henry Cappello, International Director, Global 2033

“Imagine that we live in a time when it is possible to reach the whole world with the Gospel.  We’re excited to call the Church to join us for this incredible decade of evangelism.”

— Werner Nachtigal, Founder, GO Movement

“What an amazing privilege to meet with global leaders passionate about accelerating the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We have a unique opportunity to unite across the Christian church to ensure that every person hears and has an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

— Keith Boyette, Connectional Officer, Global Methodist Church

“What a historic meeting of like-minded Global leaders gathered around Jesus for the biggest push ever for the Great Commission. The Ecclesia has the best Good News ever told. And this broken world desperately needs hope at a geo-politic level and transformation at a personal level. A powerful united Global Momentum has begun.”

— Olivier Fleury, Founder and President, JC2033

“The call towards collaboration of the body of Christ to reach 8 billion is an exciting and encouraging opportunity for the Global Church. This is a crucial, historic, unprecedented work of God.”

– Bishop Alan Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer, The Anglican Church in North America.

About Empowered21

Empowered21 is a global Spirit-filled movement working to connect the generations for blessing, impartation and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. Its U.S. office is on the campus of Oral Roberts University, of which Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson is president. To learn more, visit empowered21.com.

Empowered21 to Host ‘Amsterdam2023’

Conference to Unite Believers in Fulfilling the Great Commission by 2033

TULSA, Okla., February 8, 2023 — Empowered21, a relational leadership network representing the more than 650 million Spirit-empowered Christians, will host Amsterdam2023, a three-day conference and one-day stadium event on June 21-24, 2023 at Amsterdam RAI & Olympic Stadium. The international event will feature influential leaders and powerful speakers gathered to launch a decade of unprecedented evangelism to get the gospel to every person on earth by 2033.  

With the goal of catalyzing a new era of evangelism by re-personalizing the Great Commission, Empowered21 believes that Amsterdam2023 will kick off the most significant decade of growth in the history of the Church by calling Christians to fulfill the Great Commission by the year 2033—significantly marking the 2000-year anniversary of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost.

“I believe we’re entering the most important decade of evangelistic effort in the history of the Church,” shared Empowered21 Global Chair, Dr. Billy Wilson. “For the past 2,000 years, Christians have been praying for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Today, we’re closer than we’ve ever been before. It’s imperative that we come together prayerfully and collaboratively, fully committed to take the news of Jesus to every person on earth.”

The international event will feature over 150 influential leaders and powerful speakers to launch this transformative decade. Amsterdam2023 will equip believers from across the globe to:

• Collaborate cross-culturally about the Great Commission

• Innovate new ways to reach more people with the Gospel

• Experience the power of the Holy Spirit

• Inspire a greater vision of God’s heart for the world

“A new era of evangelism is dawning,” said Dr. Wilson. “We have the technology, we have the resources and we have the people. Let’s finish the task. Join us in Amsterdam as we intercede, collaborate and mobilize to reach the world with the message of Jesus.”

Participating Ministry Leaders:

• E.A. Adeboye, Redeemed Christian Church of God

• Brian Alarid, America Prays & World Prays

• Glyn Barrett, Audacious Church

• Andy Byrd, YWAM

• Christine Caine, A21 and Zoe Church Europe

• Stephan & Anne Christiansen, Jesus Church

• Chroma Worship

• Dunamis Music

• Russell Evans, Planetshakers

• Ben Fitzgerald, Awakening Europe

• Claudio Freidzon, Rey de Reyes Church

• Alton Garrison, Acts 2 Journey Initiative

• Mart Green, Hobby Lobby

• Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion

• Nick Hall, PULSE

• Teo Hayashi, Dunamis Movement

• Desmond Henry, GNE

• Rob Hoskins, OneHope

• Cindy Jacobs, Generals International

• Dr. Todd Johnson, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

• Cash Luna, Casa De Dios

• Wonsuk Ma, ORU

• Nathan Morris, Shake the Nations

• Niko Njotorahardjo, Gereja Bethel Indonesia Joe Oden, Freedom City Church

• Andrew, Kevin & Wendy Palau, Luis Palau Association

• Terry Parkman, OneHope and Empowered21

• Planetshakers

• Goodwill Shana, Word of Life International

• Bekele Shanko, CRU Ethiopia

• Ed Stetzer, Wheaton College Billy Graham Center

• ORU Worship

• Jean-Luc Trachsel, Europe Shall Be Saved

• Mattheus van der Steen, Harvest Fields International

• Mark Varughese, Kingdomcity

• Rick Warren, Finishing the Task

• Markus Wenz, Gospel Forum

• Billy Wilson, ORU and Empowered21 

For more information or to register, visit amsterdam2023.com.

About Empowered21

Empowered21 is a global Spirit-empowered movement working to connect the generations for blessing, impartation and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. Its U.S. office is on the campus of Oral Roberts University, of which Empowered21 Global Chair Dr. Billy Wilson is president. To learn more, visit empowered21.com.