Delegates from 16 countries representing 90 different Bible-teaching events and almost 50,000 believers are attending the 150th celebrations at the Keswick Convention.
They are participating in a special track – the Keswick Fellowship International Consultation.
Delegates will be arriving from some 16 countries: Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Finland, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, the UK and the USA. Several of these countries host multiple conventions.
The Keswick Fellowship was formed in order to encourage the 30 or more UK events, but also to strengthen the network of international conventions which have sprung up over the past 100 years.
Some of these events have a long history, including those in Australia founded over 100 years ago. Others are younger, such as the vibrant work in Hungary.
For over 60 years, the Japan Keswick has developed a wonderful programme of events in February each year, with conventions held in many cities from the south of Japan to Hokkaido in the north, covering all six districts. The Japan Keswick is one of the few events in the country which brings believers together across the denominations. In Tokyo the convention teaching is recorded by a TV company and broadcast nationally.
One of the conventions, in Kolkata, India, also has a long history, having held conventions for over 65 years. Typically, meetings include a Saturday Breakfast for around 750, morning Bible Studies in English, and evening messages with Bengali translation.
The conventions in Australia are strong, and there are multiple events across the country. At this year’s International Consultation, four conventions will be represented, and some of these ministries are the largest in the world, with conventions for men, women, youth, seniors, and Christian workers, as well as all-age events at Easter, Summer and New Year.
This year’s Consultation will be held as a morning track throughout Week 2 of the Keswick Convention, and will be looking at the core priorities of the global ministry, expressed in the strapline of “Hearing God’s Word – Becoming like God’s Son – Serving God’s Mission”.
There will be discussion of key elements such as strengthening youth and children’s ministry, raising up a new generation of Bible teachers, growing new leaders, and also issues pertinent to Asia and elsewhere, such as handling opposition and societal pressure. And each evening we will pray country by country for the word of the Lord to speed on and triumph.
