Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism to be held Aug. 24-27, 2027 in Sydney
SYDNEY, Oct. 15, 2025 —From Australia to Afghanistan and from Vanuatu to Vietnam, in two years, 2,500 Christian leaders from more than 50 countries and territories across Asia and the Pacific are expected to gather in Sydney for the Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism. For three days and in over 10 languages, pastors, evangelists, and ministry leaders of all ages will come together to be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to boldly take the Gospel where billions of people still do not know Jesus Christ.
“As one who was blessed by the recent European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, Germany, I am delighted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s (BGEA) plans for an Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism in Sydney in 2027. Berlin left us burning with a shared vision: to see the Gospel proclaimed with boldness and clarity,” said Rev. Kanishka Raffel, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney who recently spoke at BGEA’s European Congress on Evangelism. “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 BGEA and the convener of the congress said, “This is 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. 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.”
BUILDING ON BERLIN AND PAST CONGRESSES
BGEA’s first World Congress on Evangelism was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1966. Subsequent evangelism congresses then took place in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986, and 2000.
The Asian-Pacific congress follows the European Congress on Evangelism, which was held this past May in Berlin, Germany. More than 1,000 Christian leaders from 55 countries in Europe came together to renew their commitment to unashamedly proclaim the Gospel. With burning hearts many attendees said they couldn’t wait to return home to share the hope of the cross in their communities.
One pastor went back to Italy determined to place a greater emphasis on prayer and offering a Gospel invitation. He did just that during a youth summer camp and 40 young people surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
“Being at the congress helped me to put into more sharp focus the importance of the invitation and to give campers a concrete way to respond,” said Rev. Danny Pasquale. “We also focused more on prayer, praying that the Gospel would truly impact the campers’ lives.”
IGNITING A GOSPEL FIRE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
Roughly four billion people live in this part of the world where less than 10% of the population is 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, 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 Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism will be by invitation only. Christians are encouraged to start praying for the congress, and more information will be available in the coming months.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES FROM CHURCH LEADERS
- SINGAPORE | Rev. Edmund Chan, founder and leadership mentor of Global Alliance of Intentional Disciple-making Churches
“Discipleship without evangelism is blind. Evangelism without discipleship is lame. As such, I am keenly excited about the forthcoming Asian-Pacific Congress on Evangelism in Sydney, Australia, in 2027. 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 Cor. 3:5-9)!” - MALAYSIA | Dr. Daniel Ho, founding senior pastor of Damansara Utama Methodist Church
“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. Now is the moment for the church to rise up and preach the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ!”
- INDIA | Dr. Robert Cunville, evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
“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.” - CAMBODIA | Rev. Heng Cheng, chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia
“The Asian-Pacific Congress comes 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.” - INDONESIA | Rev. Charles Jonan, head of Market Place Division Gereja Bethel
“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.” - NEW ZEALAND | Dr. Robert Siakimotu, evangelist with Open Air Campaigners and co-founder of Polynesian Ministries
“The time to recognize 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.” - SOUTH KOREA | Dr. Billy Kim, chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea and the interpreter for Billy Graham’s 1973 Crusade in Seoul
“Today, the need for evangelism in Korea and across the Asia-Pacific region is more urgent than ever. 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!” - HONG KONG | Rev. Eric Tong, president of the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong
“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).” - MONGOLIA | Rev. Ugtakhbayar Togoobor, pastor of Bright City Christian Church
“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.” - THAILAND | Dr. Veraded Jitsakdanont, chairman of the Thailand Evangelism Committee and the Thailand Protestant Churches Coordinating Committee
“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. 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).” - VIETNAM | Rev. Ho Tan Khoa, president of Vietnam Evangelical Alliance
“The church in Vietnam 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.” - JAPAN | Rev. Yoshikazu Takada, senior pastor, Church of Christ New Zealand Nippon Osaka Church and chairman of Japan Mission Center
“It’s time for the veil to be removed. 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.”
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
- Press kit with photos and video: Media.BillyGraham.org/Asian-Pacific-Congress-on-Evangelism.
- Journalists are welcome to register to attend the congress, which will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), 14 Darling Drive, Sydney NSW 2000.
- There is no cost for journalists to register or attend sessions, and congress meals will be free of charge.
- To RSVP or for more information, please contact media@billygraham.org.
HISTORY OF BGEA’S EVANGELISM IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
Founded by Billy Graham in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) shares the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. Billy Graham had a profound love and appreciation for the Asia-Pacific region, where he shared the Gospel with over 13 million people at 35 Crusades. His historic outreach in Seoul, Korea, in 1973 had over 3 million attendees and was his largest ever. When he came to Sydney, Australia, in 1959, nearly 60,000 people made decisions for Christ.
His son, Franklin Graham, has preached in the Asia-Pacific region 41 times over the past 33 years. Most recently, Rev. Graham was invited to preach in Vietnam and Laos, where thousands of people responded to the Gospel. Graham is also looking forward to preaching in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2026, and in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2027.
Franklin Graham’s son, Will Graham, has a passion for this region of the world as well. He has held more than 30 evangelistic outreaches in Asian-Pacific countries and territories and will be preaching in Japan and Korea in 2026.
ABOUT THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
Founded by Billy Graham in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association shares the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. From its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale outreaches led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; the Billy Graham Library; the 24/7 Billy Graham Prayer Line; the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, located outside of Asheville, North Carolina, and ministers to many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the internet.
Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team have deployed more than 40 times to countries in the Asian-Pacific region to offer emotional and spiritual care to people suffering from disasters, such as the 2011 earthquake in Sendai, Japan, the 2014 typhoon in Cebu, Philippines, and the deadly 2022 Halloween stampede in Seoul, Korea. SearchforJesus.net, BGEA’s internet evangelism project, has reached more than 100 million people around the world and continues to connect with hundreds of thousands in the Asian-Pacific region each year. For more information, please visit billygraham.org.