The Amsterdam conference

In July 1986, Dr Billy Graham hosted an international conference in Amsterdam with eight thousand pastors from across Central Africa and over 180 nations.

Joseph's request

Joseph, an evangelist from a remote central african village, asked for a private audience with Dr Graham after the conference.

Joseph's testimony

Joseph shared how he was beaten by villagers after preaching the gospel, surviving three floggings before the village turned to christ.

“As a young man, i heard the gospel on a dusty african road, and i responded immediately, trusting jesus christ as my lord and saviour.”

Dr Graham's reaction

Dr Graham was visibly shaken when Joseph revealed his scars, saying he was not fit to untie his shoes.

“i am not fit to untie his shoes, and he wanted to meet me?”

The cost of faith

Joseph endured repeated suffering to share the gospel, showing the true cost of faith that many church leaders today dilute for comfort.

“many of us are not even willing to live for jesus, much less die for him.”

The generational crisis

Young christians today are spiritually fireless, with many on the brink of apostasy due to church hypocrisy.

“and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the lord.”

The church's future

The future of the church in africa depends on young people who can carry the fire of the gospel without compromise.

“now the sons of eli were corrupt; they did not know the lord.”

The warning

Church leaders face a crisis as young people abandon faith due to disillusionment with church leaders.

“the fall of turkey into the hands of radical islamists proves that there is no guarantee that the church will always survive in every nation.”

The call to action

Church leaders must urgently repair the broken walls of the gospel to prevent widespread apostasy among young people.

“the fathers are ageing. the children are aching.”

The current state

Many young christians today are spiritually fireless, with little meaningful connection to authentic christian faith.

“they can organise grand programmes but can rarely agonise in genuine prayer.”

The generational gap

The church faces a generational crisis as young people increasingly reject the faith they were taught.

“they can feast lavishly but can rarely fast sincerely.”

The stakes

Without urgent action, the church in africa will lose its influence as young people turn to apostasy and atheism.

“the influence of the church will be obliterated with reckless speed.”

The solution

Church leaders must gather to repair the broken walls of the gospel and restore faith among young people.

“the fathers of this generation do not urgently congregate a solemn assembly to repair the broken walls of the gospel.”

The author

Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and founder of Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada.