Our Task posted by John Sorensen on Mar 13, 2023

It was August 30th, 2019, and we had just concluded our 4th Congress of Nations in Tirana, Albania. It was a wonderful event, but it could have been better. Many of our National Directors struggled to get a visa to Albania, and this resulted in a lower attendance than anticipated.

The last session of that 2019 Congress was a stunning performance by our EE South Korean team, excitedly welcoming us to Jeju Island, South Korea, for the upcoming 2022 Congress of Nations! It was anticipated to be our biggest and best event entry yet. Jeju Island allowed entrance to people from almost every nation on earth without a visa…solving many of the previous Congresses’ issues and concerns. We were all incredibly optimistic!

THEN CAME MARCH 2020.

One of the core philosophies of Evangelism Explosion is one-to-one, in-person discipleship training for the purpose of personal witness and spiritual multiplication. In light of our rapidly changing world, how could we do that? Would we ever be able to gather people like that again?

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” This has become our daily practice. Over the next few years we watched God use this worldwide challenge for significant increase. He moved in the hearts of Americans causing an increased openness to the Gospel. We saw revival spread in Africa and our ministry there explode with activity! We watched how God brought increased unity within our national ministries for a common movement in fulfilling the Great Commission. 

Last year, we saw our professions of faith reach an estimated 17.3 million people, a 21% increase over 2021.  Which means that, by God’s grace, for every $0.49 we raised and spent in 2022, we saw a person make a profession to faith in Christ Jesus! So what happened with the 2022 Congress? Like EE, it multiplied! This summer, we are excited to host one Congress in four locations (focusing on key geographical centers around the world). We are praying for attendance from over 90% of our member nations. We are anticipating critical discussions that will, by God’s grace, be part of taking the Gospel forward to the very ends of the earth.

Thank you for partnering with us. It is because of partnerships with people like you that we can carry out this work. This year, like every year, God has again reminded me that His works are marvelous and that He is indeed exceedingly faithful! (Isaiah 25:1)

Together, in His service,
Dr. John B. Sorensen,  D.D., D.H.L.
President and CEO

Dr. John Sorensen is the president of Evangelism Explosion International and host of Share Life Today. Sorensen has authored the books Well Done and Your Story Counts and travels the globe for Evangelism Explosion. This past year Evangelism Explosion International equipped more than 435,000 Christians worldwide to be witnesses for Christ, and saw, by the grace of God, more than 7.9 million people make a profession of faith in Jesus. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife, Ann, and he has four adult children and six grandchildren.