This article was originally published in Danish.
Reading the news from around the world can cause many people to become concerned and even anxious. I understand this, of course, and I also wonder what the future will bring.
At the same time, I am also incredibly hopeful—because there is another reality. I cannot help but quote Paul regarding the current world situation as I see it today: “Here there are open doors and rich opportunities for me” (1 Cor. 16:9). I have been an evangelist for more than 40 years, and never before have I experienced the same openness to the gospel of Jesus as I have in the last 2-3 years.
I have been an evangelist for more than 40 years, and never before have I experienced the same openness to the gospel of Jesus as I have in the last 2-3 years.
Great change
For the last 35 years, we have had a group of people regularly bringing the message of salvation through Jesus to people on the streets of Copenhagen. Times have changed, and the response has varied over the years. But quite suddenly – almost from one month to the next in the summer of 2023—a big change happened. Our street team was not very large at the time, but we often came home, looked at each, and said, “It was strange how many people we talked to today,” and “Yes, I met a group of young people who came up to me on their own and asked why I believe in Jesus.”
The openness we experienced then has only grown. At the same time, we have seen God answer many years of prayer to send workers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38). Our team has grown—for some time now we have had 8-15 people going out every week, all year round, sharing Christ.
Jesus is your hope
Our set-up is relatively simple. We have a garden table and a trolley with flyers, New Testaments, coffee, etc. We wear hats and vests with the slogan ‘Jesus is your hope.’ Sometimes we use different visual effects to catch people’s attention—a wheel of fortune game, a sketch board, small competitions, etc. We also alternate between waiting for people to approach us and being a little more proactive and approaching people ourselves.
In the United Kingdom, this same openness is being called The Quiet Revival. There has been a significant increase in Bible sales in recent years. And many churches have seen a significant increase in church attendance.
In Denmark and Scandinavia there has also been an increase in church attendance in many places, particularly in churches with conservative biblical preaching, an emphasis understanding the Bible, living in Christian community, etc. In addition, there are many testimonies from young people—including on social media—where they talk about how they have started reading the Bible and how Jesus has transformed their lives. During the same period, several well-known people from the media, the Danish Parliament, etc. have shared that they have come to faith in Jesus and that church attendance and Bible reading are now important to them.
Young people between the ages of 15 and 30
On the streets of Copenhagen, we see it is mainly young people between the ages of 15 and 30 who want to talk about Jesus and faith in him. Some have become interested in Jesus through social media, like the man I spoke with a while back who said, “My brother saw a young guy on TikTok who posted some Bible verses and talked about what they mean to him. So my brother read them and sent them to me. Now I want to find out more.”
For others it is friends, classmates, or others in their life who have sparked their interest—like the young man I spoke to one day. “What are you doing?” he asked. “We’re talking to people about the Bible and Jesus,” I replied. “That’s strange,” he said, “Yesterday I downloaded a Bible app and read The Gospel of Matthew.” “How much did you read?’ “The whole thing, because it was very exciting.” He had downloaded the app and read it because his girlfriend had encouraged him to do so.
After talking to hundreds of young people, a picture emerges of what they are looking for:
1. The Bible
Some have already started reading the Bible—either a physical Bible or a Bible app such as YouVersion. Many others do not have a Bible but would like to read it. We have handed out many New Testaments (NT) and encouraged people to read it. We often recommend starting with The Gospel of Mark, which is short and simple. We look it up and show them how to find it in the physical Bible, and several people have said, “I’ll make a little fold at the top of the page so I can find it later.”
I have often been reminded of Philip in Acts 8, where he meets the court official and asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The situation for many today is the same as for the court official: “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30-31). It is wonderful that it is the Bible itself young people are seeking. As Paul writes, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
A life built on Jesus and the words of the Bible can last a lifetime—even into eternity.
2. A solid foundation on which to build your life
“When you believe in Jesus, would you say that this is what you’re building your life on?” A young guy asked. I could only confirm. “If only it were me,” he continued, “I am always told that I have all the options and can just choose between everything. But I can’t figure that out.” We had a very important conversation about how a life built on Jesus and the words of the Bible can last a lifetime—even into eternity. I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words about the two houses in Matthew 7:24-27.
3. Hope for the future
Many young people walk around with anxiety. Many of them are anxious about the future. How is the climate changing? Will the earth end one day? Is there a future for me? Will I be able to get a job when AI can do so much? These are some of the questions we have encountered. And some start a conversation based on the slogan on our vests and caps: “Jesus is your hope.” It is a wonderful message to be able to pass on, that Jesus came to give hope both for the present and for the future. And hope right into eternity.
4. Happy to receive prayer
Some of the young people ask us to pray for them, and of course we are happy to do so. A young man we met a few weeks ago knelt down on the wet pavestones and received prayer, and he was very grateful. Another young man came up and said, “We met a while ago, and you prayed to God for me.” We talked further, and I asked if I could pray for him again. “Yes, please, but not just for me, also for my four friends here.” We talked a little about what to pray, and the five of them and a few from the street team stood in a circle with their arms around one another’s shoulders. I prayed that Jesus would open their hearts and they would receive him as their Saviour.
You have received it for free—give it away for free
Jesus—the only Saviour
It is wonderful to experience this openness to the gospel of Jesus. And it is a privilege to be allowed to share the world’s best message with all these people. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
You have received it for free—give it away for free (Matthew 10:8). It is vital, because Jesus is coming soon!
