The Global Evangelists Forum was created by French Christians to help equip and encourage the next generation of evangelists. Knowing that the ministry of evangelism can be terribly isolating, the goal of the forum is to create a community of mentorship.
Originally, the forum was in France alone, but it has expanded into 15 countries around the world.
One of the Forum’s key leaders, Alain Stamp, organized the CAR forum and invited pastors, evangelists, students, and church planters from around the country. Alain had met some of these leaders at a forum in Cameroon and listened to their pain over experiences during the recent rebel warfare and political strife. Their struggles motivated Alain to bring the forum to their country.
Alain Stamp was a French missionary for France Pour Christ with his wife Doris until 1978, when Doris was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The couple fought MS in and out of hospitals for 17 years, until Doris passed away. After her death, Alain found comfort and purpose in the God’s call to mentor the next generation of Christian leaders, and he began investing everything in equipping young men and women through Global Evangelist Forum.
Someone who has benefited from Alain’s mentorship is our very own Florent Varak, Encompass World Partners’ Director of Church Equipping.
Florent attended the CAR forum with Alain and was moved by the power of the gospel at work among a people who have been through unimaginable suffering. Two days of the forum were dedicated to reconciliation and healing, led by a Rwandan pastor who lost his entire family to the genocide in Rwanda. Florent and Alain also led seminars about the power of God’s forgiveness and trauma care through the gospel.
The forum was concluded with the guest appearance of CAR’s President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. While the President was in attendance, Alain made a powerful speech about the behavior of the French government in CAR’s history. In the spirit of reconciliation, Alain asked for forgiveness on behalf of France. The speech was recorded and played on the radio in CAR.
Later, one young woman told Florent that as a result of the time together, her heart had been freed. That freedom was exactly what Alain had longed to share with the young leaders.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in CAR, who seek to be healed and to handle the ongoing unrest throughout their country, and join them in praying for President Touadéra’s leadership during this critical time.
