Page 1 of 10 Original Research Focus on the world: The Keswick Convention and mission Author: In a copy of Pierson’s (n.d.) work, The acts of the Holy Spirit, presented to the hostess of Salisbury 1 Johan (Hans) Kommers House in Keswick (UK), are the signatures of 11 missionaries from all over the world who Affiliation: attended the Convention in 1904. These are just a few of the many missionaries who visited 1Faculty of Missiology, the yearly Keswick Convention (KC). Many missionaries were a product of the genial spiritual North-West University, climate which prevailed in England after the 1859 revival. Since 1885 the KC has been the Potchefstroom Campus, catalyst for a fresh era in missionary work. Keswick and mission became inseparable, and South Africa the KC became a factor in the life of the universal church. Throughout the years missionary Correspondence to: operations have been given a place in its program. So many missionaries trace back their call Johan Kommers for mission work to Keswick and reckon the momentum of their life to be fully devoted to God, lies there. This led Keswick chairman Reverent Aldis just after World War II to say, ‘I suppose Email:
[email protected] the KC has done more than any other movement in the Churches to call men and women to the mission field.’ In 2014 the Convention website reads: The KC is passionate about mission Postal address: and has been supporting, encouraging and hosting missionaries and their families from over Faculty of Theology, hundred years! We see this as a key area of Keswick’s ministry and one in which many have North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, been keen to support in their giving (KM 2014).