Copyright © 2017 Brian David Bohannon All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION’S MINISTRY OF EQUIPPING EVANGELISTS VIA THE AMSTERDAM CONFERENCES __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Brian David Bohannon May 2017 APPROVAL SHEET A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION’S MINISTRY OF EQUIPPING EVANGELISTS VIA THE AMSTERDAM CONFERENCES Brian David Bohannon Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Adam W. Greenway (Chair) __________________________________________ Timothy K. Beougher __________________________________________ George H. Martin Date______________________________ To my wife, Jen, and our two sons, William and Nicholas, who faithfully and patiently endured with me. I cherish and love you. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... viii PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Evangelism and Missions Conferences ...............................................................2 Berlin '66 ................................................................................................... 3 Lausanne '74 ............................................................................................. 3 Pattaya '80 ................................................................................................. 4 Lausanne II ............................................................................................... 5 Cape Town 2010 ....................................................................................... 5 Thesis ..................................................................................................................6 Amsterdam '83 and '86 ............................................................................. 7 Amsterdam 2000 ....................................................................................... 9 Background .......................................................................................................10 Methodology .....................................................................................................11 Limitations/Delimitations .................................................................................14 Limitations .............................................................................................. 14 Delimitations ........................................................................................... 14 Conclusion ........................................................................................................15 2. A BIOGRAPHY OF BILLY GRAHAM .............................................................17 Introduction .......................................................................................................17 iv Chapter Page Social and Religious Context ............................................................................18 Salvation Experience .........................................................................................20 Call into Ministry ..............................................................................................23 The Launch into Ministry..................................................................................25 Watershed Moment ...........................................................................................28 Expansion into London and Europe ..................................................................28 World Evangelization........................................................................................29 Further Progress in World Evangelization ........................................................30 Enlarging the Vision for World Evangelization................................................31 By Convening Berlin '66 ......................................................................... 31 By Convening Lausanne '74 .................................................................... 35 By Convening Amsterdam '83 ................................................................ 41 By Convening Amsterdam '86 ................................................................ 47 By Convening Amsterdam 2000 ............................................................ 49 Conclusion ........................................................................................................50 3. AMSTERDAM '83 AND '86 ...............................................................................52 Introduction .......................................................................................................52 Priorities of the Amsterdam '83 Plenary Sessions ...........................................53 Message in Graham's Opening Greetings ............................................... 53 Objectives of the Various Plenary Sessions ............................................ 54 The Priority Placed on the Calling of the Evangelist .............................. 56 The Priority Placed on the Gospel Message ............................................ 66 Supplemental Design of the Methods at Amsterdam '83 ..................................75 The Goal in Equipping in Methods ........................................................ 76 Training in the Designated Workshops .................................................. 76 Methods Taught in the Optional Workshops ........................................... 78 v Chapter Page Demonstration of the BGEA's Priorities ................................................. 91 The "Amsterdam Affirmations" of Amsterdam '83 ..........................................92 Priorities of the Amsterdam '86 Plenary Sessions ............................................94 The Priority Placed on the Calling of the Evangelist ............................. 94 The Priority Placed on the Gospel Message ......................................... 107 Supplemental Design of the Methods at Amsterdam '86 ................................120 Training in the Seminars Based on the Priorities of the Plenary Sessions ......................................................... 121 Tools the Anointed Evangelist Uses in Gospel Proclamation .............. 122 Conclusion ......................................................................................................128 4. AMSTERDAM 2000 ..........................................................................................130 Introduction .....................................................................................................130 Priorities of the Amsterdam 2000 Plenary Sessions .......................................130 The Need for Evangelism ...................................................................... 131 The Priority of the Gift of the Evangelist .............................................. 132 The Priority Placed on the Gospel Message .......................................... 134 The Priority Placed on the Calling of the Evangelist ........................... 165 Supplementary Role of Methods .....................................................................192 Training in the Seminars ........................................................................ 193 Workshops Focused on Theology and Methods .................................... 194 Workshops on Evangelism and the Church ........................................... 195 Workshops on Building an Evangelistic Ministry ................................. 197 Workshops on the Evangelist's Personal Life ........................................ 198 Workshops on the Contemporary World ............................................... 200 Workshops on Specific Evangelistic Methods and Strategies ............... 201 Workshops on Children and Youth ....................................................... 204 vi Chapter Page Conclusion ......................................................................................................205 5. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................207 Graham's Emphasis on Methods .....................................................................207 Proclivity to Emphasize Methods in Evangelism ...........................................209 Tendency Observed in Evangelistic Invitations .................................... 210 Tendency Observed in Other North American Evangelism Methods ... 218 An Emphasis on Methods on the International Field ............................ 220 Priorities Demonstrated at Amsterdam '83 .....................................................221 Priorities Demonstrated at Amsterdam '86 .....................................................222 Priorities Demonstrated at Amsterdam 2000 ..................................................222 Summary of the Contributions ........................................................................223 Conclusion ......................................................................................................226