In my time in ministry, I have encountered many people who, while acknowledging Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” feel impossibly ill-equipped, and so are reluctant to do so.
In fact, many of these people further claim that they lack any ability whatsoever to evangelise, presuming the work of evangelism is for those whom God has so gifted. Yet what is apparent is that God typically calls people to himself through the patient, prayerful and consistent sharing of the gospel by regular Christians, despite how prepared they may or may not feel. Having said that, it should be our constant desire to better equip Christians for evangelism to grow their confidence in sharing the gospel with others.
Some of the key ways this can happen is through the encouragement of other believers, through training and equipping one another, but also by engaging with those who have a gift for communicating the gospel clearly and winsomely. Listening to someone who is gifted with communicating the gospel can be an encouragement for Christians, but it can also provide us with a great opportunity to invite someone to hear the gospel taught with clarity and faithfulness.
This was precisely what the churches in the Illawarra were offered when Christian broadcasting organisation Leading the Way invited them to participate in a mass-scale mission campaign, which would culminate in evangelistic outreach events at which Dr Michael Youssef would speak. It was an offer that was gladly accepted.
Hope for the Illawarra was initially planned as a two-part event to be held on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March 2025. The Friday evening would be specifically geared for youth (headed up by the Christ for the Coast team—an already successful and well-established youth event, held annually around the same time), and the Saturday evening would be for adults. Straight-shooting Aussie evangelist Dave Jensen was lined up to speak to the youth, and Dr Michael Youssef to the adults. But as momentum built, it became clear that churches were keen for an event which kids could attend, and so an additional third event was added—with a talk pitched for children by Youthworks’ Adam Jolliffe, and Colin Buchanan to keep everyone entertained.
From the outset Leading the Way and Dr Michael Youssef were firm that churches understood the outreach events or celebrations were merely to be the climax of a much broader evangelism scheme. In the weeks and months leading up to the events, each participating church was invited to utilise the ‘Come and See’ programme designed to train and equip church communities with greater confidence in evangelism. Furthermore, church members were encouraged to pray for their family members, neighbours, friends and co-workers who didn’t know Christ, in order to invite them to attend the celebration events in March. In its email correspondence with churches, Leading the Way made clear how the outreach events were not for Christians, but for non-Christians: we want thousands to gather at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, from right across the Illawarra, and hear the uncompromising truth of Christ proclaimed. Hope for the Illawarra is about much more than the outreach events… [we] will train and empower your church to reach your community for a greater harvest.
The preparations and planning for Hope for the Illawarra were, at times, a significant source of stress, in part due to unique logistical and financial challenges. I suspect that there were many who, in the lead up to the March events, wondered how on earth WIN stadium would ever be filled. Some of the more arduous challenges had to do with the hurdles regarding access, registration and ticketing for a venue that didn’t typically support free events. Organisers of Hope for the Illawarra wanted to ensure that there was no barrier of finance which might prevent someone from hearing of God’s free gift of salvation, but this meant there was the added pressure of raising a substantial amount of money. Leading the Way Australia generously contributed $200,000 with an additional $200,000 necessary for the events to run. Praise God that these targets were met. Even in the midst of challenges, God generously provides for his people, stirring their hearts for the far greater reward of seeing the lost return home.
As a member of the Executive Committee, I encountered many of these challenges firsthand, but it was within this context that I was likewise afforded the rare privilege of working alongside leaders from an array of denominations, all firmly united by a shared passion: to proclaim Christ and see lives transformed in Him. I can attest that when believers set aside secondary differences and instead focus on the gospel, a powerful sense of unity emerges—one that ultimately reflects the heart of Jesus’ prayer for his followers to be one (John 17:21). Working as part of this team was a wonderful reminder that the mission of making Christ known transcends denominational lines, and that when we work together in humility and love we strengthen the witness of the Church to a watching world.
Rev Jason McPhail of Keiraville International Church was seconded to Hope for the Illawarra and was instrumental in gathering and mobilising hundreds of church representatives and volunteers. Jason’s example of a life that is driven by prayer was pivotal in reviving the hearts of God’s people across the Illawarra. A weekly Tuesday morning online prayer meeting was established, as well as combined prayer gatherings (including a paddle-out at Wollongong Harbour and an assembly at the top of Mt Keira) were some of the ways people were encouraged to lift their gaze from their own ‘little patch’ and instead fix their attention on the thousands wandering blindly across the Illawarra.
In terms of turn out, the three events were a great success: 2500 attended the youth event, 1700 the kids’ event, and a further 3600 people at the adults’ event. At least 1000 people across the three events responded to the gospel and declared that Jesus is Lord.
There are numerous stories of God’s Spirit breathing new life including: a couple who arrived, one a Christian the other a Hindu, but left together following Jesus; parents weeping tears of joy as they witnessed their adult child committing to trust Jesus; a man who had been prayed for for close to a decade repented and turned to Jesus; as well as a young adult who’d spent many years around church—but from a distance—left with new life. From those who attended the youth event come countless reports of the droves of youth who responded to God’s love for them in Christ, the sound the chairs made as they flicked shut when people stood, and the sight of some people who literally climbed the barricades so that they might “come down the front”.
Yet, I’m ashamed to admit that on Saturday night, after Dr Michael Youssef implored people to come forward if they had heard God speak to them, I was stunned by how many had. It is humbling (if not also good and necessary) to be reminded that God continues to be at work! Undoubtedly, he is not done drawing people to himself! He will still leave the ninety-nine in search of the one; he is not silent and despite our (my) faithlessness and doubting, he remains faithful to his promise to open the door for any who will knock.
There is much encouragement we can take from Hope for the Illawarra. Certainly, it is amazing to think of the number of people who responded in March, but there are the other, albeit less obvious ways we can be greatly encouraged too. For instance, from my church there were very few non-Christians who accepted an invitation to attend an event, perhaps even none at all. Even still, God has reminded us that he is sovereign and in control as we bear witness to his answer to our prayers. One couple were busy and could not accept the invitation offered, but expressed interest in learning more about Jesus and subsequently agreed to meet for coffee and further conversations. Another young mum who would have loved to attend with her children, instead accepted the follow-up invite to our weekly after-school kids’ program. She has continued to enthusiastically bring her child along, while we build a relationship with her and she with us. Similarly, in another parish, one person shared that while their friend did not go forward on the night, they did agree to meet weekly to read the Bible together.
Perhaps what is even more encouraging are the testaments of so many in our region demonstrating growth in faith and boldness to speak about Jesus. Not only have Christians in the Illawarra boldly stepped out of their comfort zone to proclaim the gospel of Jesus and invite those they love to a relationship with him, we also have been reminded of the power of prayer. Like Moses, who pleaded for the Lord to send someone else, someone who would know what to say to the Egyptians—the events, planning and aftermath of Hope for the Illawarra remind us that God is true to his promise: he is our God and he rescues his people.