In a major initiative for global evangelism, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has announced plans for the Asia-Pacific Congress on Evangelism, a landmark gathering set to bring together 2,500 Christian leaders from 50 nations in Sydney, Australia, from Aug. 24–27, 2027.
The three-day congress—hailed as a “defining moment” for the Church across Asia and the Pacific—will focus on reigniting evangelistic passion and collaboration across a region that is home to nearly four billion people, most of whom have yet to hear the Gospel. Modeled after the successful European Congress on Evangelism held by BGEA in Berlin, Germany, that brought together 1,000 leaders from 55 countries in May 2025, the Sydney event aims to inspire pastors, evangelists, and ministry leaders of all generations and languages to “boldly take the Gospel where billions still do not know Jesus Christ,” according to BGEA’s announcement on Oct. 16.
The event will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney, one of the region’s leading venues for major global gatherings. It represents BGEA’s most significant initiative in the Asia-Pacific since its landmark evangelistic crusades of the late 20th century. The congress also continues a historic legacy that began with BGEA’s first World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin in 1966, followed by influential global gatherings in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986, and 2000.
“As one who was blessed by the recent European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, I am delighted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s plans for an Asia-Pacific Congress on Evangelism in Sydney in 2027,” said Revd. Kanishka Raffel, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, who delivered a keynote address at this year’s European congress. “Berlin left us burning with a shared vision—to see the Gospel proclaimed with boldness and clarity.”
Based in the city that will host the upcoming event, Raffel said the upcoming congress represents a rare opportunity for regional unity in evangelistic mission. “Now, evangelists from Asia, Oceania, and Australasia will gather ‘down under’ around our one task and one calling—to make Christ known. We have a glorious opportunity in Australia and the Asia-Pacific; let us not waste the moment.”
Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and convener of the congress, called the forthcoming 2027 event a “defining moment” for the church across Asia and the Pacific.
“We want to light a holy fire in the hearts of another generation of Christians who will continue carrying the Gospel torch of hope to every remote jungle island, crowded city, and isolated mountain village,” said Graham. “It is an honor for us to come alongside and encourage believers in this part of the world to fearlessly take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.”
About four billion people live in this region, where less than 10 percent of the population identifies as Christian.
“We recognize the urgent need to enlist, equip, and empower believers to share the Gospel in a region that is home to the majority of the world's population and the greatest number of people who are yet to know Christ,” said Bishop Efraim M. Tendero from the Philippines who serves as a global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance and executive director of the Galilean Movement from the Philippines.
“Let us rise to the challenge together, mobilizing and empowering a new generation of Christ-like harvest workers who are Gospel proclaimers and disciple-makers to transform the Asia-Pacific region for Christ.”
Attendance at the Asia-Pacific Congress on Evangelism will be by invitation only, with organizers urging Christians to begin praying for the gathering and its impact. Additional details about the event are expected to be released in the coming months.
Regional Christian leaders welcome 2027 Asia-Pacific Congress as catalyst for renewed evangelism
Meanwhile, church leaders across the Asia-Pacific and beyond have expressed strong enthusiasm for the upcoming Sydney gathering, viewing it as a timely and unifying moment for evangelism in the region.
Rev. Edmund Chan, founder and leadership mentor of Global Alliance of Intentional Disciple-making Churches in Singapore called discipleship without evangelism “blind” and evangelism without discipleship “lame”.
“As such, I am keenly excited about the forthcoming Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism in Sydney, Australia, in 2027,” said Chan. “There is such a great need for the Gospel in this part of the world. As a redeemed community, we can each do our part—some sow, some water, and some reap—all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)!”
Dr. Daniel Ho, founding senior pastor of Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Malaysia said Christ’s mission to seek and save the lost “must be our ultimate preoccupation.”
“It cannot be more urgent in these uncertain and challenging times when global church growth has stagnated and countless are lost to a Christless eternity,” said Ho.
“Now is the moment for the church to rise up and preach the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ!
Dr. Robert Cunville, evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, believed the event resonated with the need to reignite zeal for the gospel in India and across the region.
“India first heard the Gospel in 52 AD through Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, and in 63 AD, China first heard the Good News of Christ. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since then, yet today there are still millions in Asia who have yet to hear the Gospel.
"This is why I am looking forward with great anticipation to this congress in Sydney. It is my prayer that it will reignite our zeal to continue to proclaim the simple message of the cross and the blood of Jesus throughout the Asia-Pacific.”
Rev. Heng Cheng, chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia, believes the Asian-Pacific Congress is coming at a crucial time for Cambodia and the entire region.
“It serves to inspire and equip believers to bring the Gospel into their communities through both word and action. Evangelism begins when others see the joy of new life in Christ reflected in families and everyday relationships. The congress reminds us that sharing the Gospel and making disciples go hand in hand, and calls every believer to live out the message of Jesus with renewed passion and unity.”
Rev. Charles Jonan, head of Market Place Division Gereja Bethel in Indonesia, quoted the timing of reaping a harvest by Jesus and saw a mirroring of this in the event.
“Jesus said in John 4:35, ‘Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest?” Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’ Let us gather together, and unite our hearts and work to collect a great spiritual harvest in the Asia-Pacific. The harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few.”
Dr. Robert Siakimotu, an evangelist with Open Air Campaigners and co-founder of Polynesian Ministries, said the BGEA congress presents a remarkable opportunity to advance the Gospel across New Zealand and neighboring Pacific nations.
“The time to recognise the ministry of the evangelist and evangelism in the Asia-Pacific region is long overdue. As an evangelist based in New Zealand and working throughout the South Pacific, I believe that this Congress on Evangelism will help encourage and motivate evangelists and the church to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel and prepare more Christians to share the Gospel effectively in our part of the world.”
Dr. Billy Kim, chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea and former interpreter for Billy Graham’s historic 1973 Crusade in Seoul, underscored the growing need for evangelistic proclamation across the region.
“Today, the need for evangelism in Korea and across the Asia-Pacific region is more urgent than ever,” said Kim. “As secularism grows and spiritual hunger deepens, we are called to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, compassion, and humility. I want to especially encourage young pastors to look ahead with excitement and faith. May this gathering be a powerful catalyst for revival, unity, and a renewed passion to fulfill the Great Commission!”
Rev. Eric Tong, president of the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong, said the event aligns with a growing movement of Gospel renewal across the region.
"God is stirring something powerful across the Asia-Pacific, and the upcoming Congress on Evangelism is a divine response to this moment. This gathering is more than an event—it's a strategic move to unite believers, recharge our faith, and equip a new generation of leaders to proclaim the Name of Jesus Christ with boldness.
"A new wave of revival is coming, and the congress will be its catalyst. ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?’ (Isaiah 43:19)."
Rev. Ugtakhbayar Togoobor, pastor of Bright City Christian Church in Mongolia recalled the history of evangelistic proclamation in the country and expressed joy at how the BGEA-led event will spark further witness for the gospel.
“When Mongolia opened in the early 1990s there were just four Christians in the country. Through the proclamation of the Gospel, the true joy and value of life and the love of God have spread across Mongolia.
"A fire for the Gospel is being kindled in the next generation, and I believe the congress will be the fuel to ignite a lasting passion and zeal for evangelism not only in Mongolia, but across the Asia-Pacific. Now is the time to come together and pray for the Lord to send laborers into the harvest fields of Asia and the Pacific.”
Dr. Veraded Jitsakdanont, chairman of the Thailand Evangelism Committee and the Thailand Protestant Churches Coordinating Committee lauded the timing of the event.
"As the Thai Church is in the process of implementing a unified national plan to reach our kingdom with the truth of God’s love, it brings me great joy to know that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will be holding the Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism to emphasize the urgency of proclaiming the Good News, not just in Thailand, but throughout all of Asia and the Pacific,” Jitsakdanont said.
“This will be a pivotal gathering for Asia to display the unity of the Church and the singleness of our commission to ‘Go and preach the Gospel’ (Mark 16:15).”
Rev. Ho Tan Khoa, president of Vietnam Evangelical Alliance, said the church in his country has been equipped to proclaim the Gospel through evangelistic outreaches that have been freely held in many cities throughout the country in recent years.
“The upcoming congress will be a great joy. It will continue to equip the church and remind all believers throughout the Asia-Pacific to be unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Khoa said.
Rev. Yoshikazu Takada, senior pastor, Church of Christ New Zealand Nippon Osaka Church and chairman of Japan Mission Center, said the time had come “for the veil to be removed” in the country.
“There are 125 million people living in Japan and many different objects of worship. The true God and the way to eternal life has been veiled to Japanese people for hundreds of years. But in John 14:6, Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’
"When the Word of God is preached by the power of the Holy Spirit, the veil is removed, and His glory will be revealed. I pray that this truth will pour down like a rain shower of God’s blessing on Japan and the Asia-Pacific. We prepare and wait for this with great expectation.”
