EEI Stories

Church leaders in both England and Scotland were also asked: did they know any young person who showed real promise as an evangelist? If so, please would they submit their name? The result was a good number of names, and in due course about 35 young evangelists in England and 25 in Scotland accepted the invitation to join.... The result was the first ever Emerging Evangelists’ Institute (EEI). The young Emerging Evangelists were both men and women. Some already belonged to well known evangelistic ministries across the UK, such as Youth for Christ, YWAM, Counties, N.F.I., The Message, Share Jesus and many more. Others belonged to a local church or worked in evangelism for one of the denominations.

But all had one thing in common: a call by God to ‘proclamation evangelism’ – a full time evangelistic ministry. So the first EEI was underway. The programme lasted two years. Since that time, further Institutes have followed, until now the EEI programme covers the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland. But the heart of EEI is not the organisation, but the people involved. So we asked some of our Emerging Evangelists to remember what their dream was... and how it is now being fulfilled.

Matt Wilson at EEI said: “If I was to describe my dream, it would be to see every layer of life in my city, Manchester, touched by a radical generation of disciples who are totally on fire for God.”
NOW: Matt now heads up the work of The Message in Manchester and his ministry is reaching not only across the city of Manchester but beyond – he is now an influential example of how to do culturally sensitive youth evangelism.

Mark Ritchie at EEI said: “My vision is to think differently, to think off the edge of the world and to ask, ‘What does evangelism look like in our day?’”
NOW: Mark’s evangelistic ministry has pioneered the use of theatres for an evening of story telling. These evenings are widely in demand and are proving wonderfully effective in evangelism.

Phil Collins at EEI said: “I’m trusting that God will give us opportunities to share Christ with thousands of people across our nation”
NOW: Phil now heads up the work of Saltmine in the UK, leading evangelism and evangelistic teams to work with churches in every corner of society.

Neil Fearn, Nottingham – “It is just an amazing privilege and blessing to have participated in EEI. There is a real depth that you don’t find in many programmes. Tou find your own calling in enriched and strengthened with insights from those who have so much experience in evangelism.”

Maretta Sangster – “Even as I prepare for evangelistic meetings and projects I have the notes of the Institute on my desk. They are so helpful and practical. The teaching was really useful to me right now! The Institute was critical for me.”

Dot Tyler – “Absolutely brilliant. A best kept secret”

Armond was a recent EEI delegate.

Read how he shared the gospel  

Applying to join the EEI

Please complete the application form and return it to :

Pat Strange
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Ltd.
Victoria House,
Victoria Road,
BUCKHURST HILL
Essex IG9 5EX

info@bgea.co.uk