The End Picture
What do we hope the world will look like when we’re done?
We believe the vision in Revelation 7:9–10 will one day be reality:
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
This is a wonderful promise—and the amazing truth is that we get to be part of bringing it to pass.
Where Does EE Fit In Today?
The late Dr. Steve Douglass, past President of Campus Crusade, once shared with me his belief that it is God Who gives every organization its purpose.
And that this calling does not change.
We can choose to walk away from our calling—but only at our own peril.
I passionately agree with him. For Evangelism Explosion International to be all God intends it to be—and for each of us who are part of it—we must hold fast to our original calling.
Our Original Calling
What was EE’s original calling?
The answer is found in the book Evangelism Explosion itself. From the beginning, several Biblical principles guided Dr. Kennedy’s actions—and have guided this ministry since 1962:
- Every Christian is to be a witness
- Every Christian must be equipped to witness
- On-the-job training is essential
- Training soul-winners is most important
These principles have shaped our DNA for over 60 years—and they will carry us into the future.
The Great Commission Requires Everyone
I realize this section may sound “EE-centric.” Let me quickly say—many other organizations were raised up by God in the same era with a similar focus:
Campus Crusade (Cru), The Navigators, InterVarsity, and others.
The reason I focus here on EE is simple: this is what I know.
- I was saved through EE.
- I was taught to witness through EE.
- I was taught to train others through EE.
- I was led into full-time ministry through EE.
And now, I serve as its President and CEO.
EE also serves as a barometer for the broader changes happening in gospel ministry today.
From a Small Beginning to a Global Movement
Over the past 60+ years, we’ve seen massive growth in the ministry of Evangelism Explosion:
- Started as a small church plant in Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Spread to become the first Christian ministry active in every nation on earth
- In the early years: hundreds of professions of faith annually
- Today: more than 20 million professions of faith each year
- Leadership Training Clinics: from just a few per year to over 2,000 annually in 120+ nations
- Leaders trained annually: from dozens to over one million children, teens, and adults in 120+ languages and 400+ denominations
The scope is massive, but the mission is still simple—equip believers to multiply.
Something New
In the past seven years, we’ve seen a dramatic and unexpected shift.
If you had asked an EE trainer in the 1980s what percentage of people they approached were open to a gospel conversation, the answer would have been:
“About 10%.”
But in January 2019, during a training in Oklahoma City, we went out for our non-negotiable On-the-Job Training (OJT) and tallied the results:
40% of the people we approached were open to having a gospel conversation.
We assumed it might be a temporary spike—like the days after 9/11—but it didn’t fade. In fact, it’s grown.
Today:
Over 60% of people we approach say yes to talking about Jesus.
That’s 6 out of 10 people saying yes to the most important conversation in eternity.
Confirmed by Research
A few years ago, we commissioned Lifeway Research to study this shift, and they confirmed it’s real—not only in certain cities but nationwide. You can read the full study at www.ad33.world.
And this openness isn’t just in the United States—it’s global.
SWOT of the Nations
We recently conducted a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of 89 mature EE national ministries across:
- Africa
- Asia
- Eurasia
- Europe
- Latin America
- North America
- Oceania
Criteria for Inclusion
To be part of this study, each national ministry had to have:
- A signed EE covenant
- Functional Board of Directors
- National Director
- Paid field staff (full- or part-time)
- Self-support (annual budget)
- Annual Action Plan
- Measurable results
- EE materials in their language
- Significant interdenominational representation
- Nationwide multiplication and implementation strategy
- Ability to assist other nations
- Official legal registration
What We Found
It was exciting to see the strengths of these nations listed and celebrated:
- the number of trainers available
- wide interdenominational cooperation
- the overall number of Christians within the nation
- Biblical engagement on the rise
- And key partnerships
The weaknesses and threats would not surprise you (lack of finances and resources, danger from those that threaten Christians, and the opposite of what was listed as strengths).
What I was the most surprised, and encouraged by, was what was listed in the area of opportunity:
- The openness of people to the gospel (the same or greater than what we’re experiencing in the USA)
- The response rate to the gospel (what was typically 25-30% has now become over 50%)
- And the opportunities that are currently open in many nations
A Moment Like No Other
All of this points to one conclusion:
We have an opportunity for the gospel today like perhaps never before in history.
The question is—will we seize it?
The Bottom Line
Every indication we see tells us we are in the midst of the greatest revival the world has ever known.
Sadly, many believers are unaware—because they remain inside the walls of their church buildings.
What Will It Take to Seize This Moment?
I believe with all my heart that this is our opportunity to return to multiplication mode—by activating every Christian as a witness, just like in the first century.
At the opening session of Jerusalem Council 2, our focus is “New Maps for a New Millennium.” We recognize we cannot reach today’s and tomorrow’s world using yesterday’s maps.But here’s the truth: what we’re proposing isn’t a new map at all.
It’s an old map—Jesus’ map from Acts 1:8.
It’s the same map the early Church followed for its first 300 years: every believer a witness.