carry the torch of American evangelists Billy Graham and other influential Christians who influenced the 20th century.
"Billy Graham dominated the second half of the 20th century, I myself came forward after a call in one of his meetings," said Jeff Fountain the congress manager of the 4 day event known as Hope.21. "However we need a new strategy to reach the 21th century Europeans," Fountain told BosNewsLife.
"RECLAIM EUROPE"
Fountain said that Hope.21, held from April 27 till May 1, will urge evangelicals to reclaim a rapidly changing Europe for Christ. "In the last century European evangelicals have stood at the side line. That’s why the European Union politicians are not approaching us, and Europe became a mission field."
He stressed that evangelicals have often tried to "offer a one way ticket to heaven as if that would be enough." However he stressed that Jesus "teaches us to pray for the Kingdom and to be involved in every aspect of life," including politics.
"MERCY KILLINGS"
Fountain, described it as a "tragedy" that evangelicals were not able to stop the euthanasia law in the Netherlands, known as "mercy killings" and other liberal developments in the small nation. He noted that Europeans are more than ever desperate for spiritual answers after "many ‘ism’s’ failed" such as Communism, or Capitalism.
He called the success of Harry Potter children books a sign of the search for spiritual answers. "It is said that witch craft is cool, while we do know that the Bible has a different opinion about that," he said.
2,000 WOMEN
The issue about protecting children is also expected to be discussed Saturday, April 27. About 2,000 women, some of them arriving by special buses from former war torn Balkan area’s, will participate in a session focused on family and marriage.
Organizers decided to hold Hope.21 in former Communist Hungary, as it is seen by organizers as a bridge between East and West. "The bridges across the Danube river in Budapest are symbolic in that regard," added Fountain. Hope.21 is organized by the Hope for Europe initiative that is supported by several Christian organizations and movements.
"This meeting is unprecedented in the history of the church," said Geza Kovacs, the Secretary General of the Hungarian Evangelical Alliance. He hopes Hope.21 will lead to a revival among churches and Christians in his country, where he is leading a project to train young professionals.
PRIME MINISTER
The congress comes just a week after the center right alliance of Hungary’s conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban lost the parliamentary elections following what has been called the toughest election campaign since the collapse of Communism.
However the former Communists turned Socialists, who won the vote, have promised to work closely with churches and Christian democrats as their country seeks answers in this time of transition. "I think that Christian values can add much to social democracy," said President Laszlo Kovacs, a former foreign minister.
