“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
On 1 and 2 March 2013 a symposium was held in Gomaringen near Tübingen. It was dedicated to the memory of Prelate Rolf Scheffbuch, a promoter of the Missions Movement, who had been called home on 10 November 2012. The following mission-theological declaration was issued. Now, at Pentecost, we address ourselves to all Christians who are committed to Mission and Evangelism.
Ever since the beginning of Church History, Pentecost has meant world Evangelism. The ascended Lord, having received the Holy Spirit from the Father, sent Him as promised to His disciples (Luke 24:47-48; Acts 1:8) to equip them for the Great Commission – to take the Gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:18-20), so that the pagans, too, should receive salvation from sin, death and the devil which Christ accomplished at the Cross and by His resurrection.