The historic First International Evangelism Seminar of the World Methodist Evangelism Institute was held in July, 1982 at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. This intensive ten-day seminar focused on the theme "Wesleyan Evangelism for Our World," and was attended by 66 leaders from 32 countries around the world.

The faculty for this First International Evangelism Seminar was just as broadly international as the delegates. It included such persons as Bishop Alejandro Ruiz of Mexico, Bishop Lawi Imathiu of Kenya, Dr. Donald English of Great Britain, Dr. Nalla Tan of Singapore, Dr. Alan Walker of Australia and Dr. George E. Morris of the USA.

At the conclusion of this landmark event, Bishop Imathiu said, "No one will ever be the same. It is a foretaste of what will happen in many regions of the world leading to a world-wide witness." Two lay persons, Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Lillian Hankey, became faithful supporters of the Institute during this first seminar.

Subsequent to the First International Evangelism Seminar, the Institute's First Regional Evangelism Seminar was held in July, 1983, in Kenya. It focused on the same theme as the International Evangelism Seminar and featured evangelism training and evangelistic missions. Additional regional seminars were held in:

Seoul, Korea in 1983

Brisbane, Australia in 1985

Helsinki, Finland in 1986

Ghana, West Africa in 1987.

A Consultation on New Congregations was held in the United States in 1983, and the Second International Evangelism Seminar was held at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in 1984 for 75 delegates from 32 nations. This Second International Seminar focused on the theme, "The Kingdom of God and World Evangelization."

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During the 1970's, leaders in the World Evangelism movement began envisioning an institute which would raise up a new generation of faithful evangelism leaders around the world. In 1979, Dr. Joe Hale, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council said, "We are seeking to develop an Institute for World Evangelization which will enable leadership from East to West, South to North, Orient to Occident to be trained and motivated in world Evangelism - for Methodism to be a movement in the world."

In 1979, a pilot seminar was held at Emory University by Dr. George E. Morris, the Arthur J. Moore Professor of Evangelism at Candler School of Theology; Rev. Sir Alan Walker, World Director of Evangelism, World Methodist Council, and Dr. Joe Hale.

Subsequently, the World Methodist Council's meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii in July, 1981 voted to establish the World Methodist Evangelism Institute, a ministry of World Evangelism, World Methodist Council and Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Bishop William R. Cannon, President of the World Methodist Council; Dr. James T. Laney, President of Emory University, and Dr. Jim L. Waits, Dean of Candler School of Theology were key supporters for the Institute during its formation. Dr. George E. Morris was named the first Director of the Institute of the World Methodist Council; Dr. James T. Laney, President of Emory University, and Dr. Jim L. Waits, Dean of Candler School of Theology were key supporters for the Institute during its formation. Dr. George E. Morris was named the first Director of the Institute.

In its second quinquennium, the World Methodist Evangelism Institute held several regional seminars around the world focused on two dominant themes.

Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1988

Sheffield, England in 1988

Antigua, West Indies in 1988

Monterey, Mexico in 1989

Seoul, Korea in 1989 and 

Pune, India in 1990.

Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific in 1991

Johannesburg, South Africa in 1991

Jackson's Mill, West Virginia, USA in 1992

Herrnhut, Germany in 1992

Eighteen Methodist bishops led the delegates in our first seminar in South Africa with a major call to evangelization across Africa, South.

Delegates from all across the Pacific met in Tonga.

The first seminar in the USA was held for delegates from the Appalachian Region.

Connecting Congregations' pastors from Czechoslovakia attended the evangelism seminar in Germany.

The appointment of Dr. H. Eddie Fox as Director of World Methodist Evangelism in December 1988.

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As the World Methodist Evangelism Institute completed the third quinquennium, it prepared thousands of church leaders around the world for the new millennium. At the Fifth International Evangelism Seminar at Cliff College, England in January, 1993, the delegates made a covenant to go into all the world and "Proclaim the Good News to the Whole Creation" based on Mark 16:15. This seminar was followed by Regional Seminars on every continent:

Tallinn, Estonia in 1993

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1994

Nairobi, Kenya (Continental Seminar) in1994

Costa Rica, Central America in 1995

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1995

Moscow, Commonwealth of Independent States 1995

Jackson's Mill (Appalachia) USA in 1996

Rome, Italy in 1997

The appointment of Dr. Winston O.R. Worrell as Director of the Institute in 1989.

Participants from Latvia, Russia, Estonia and Finland met in a seminar at a former Communist retreat center in Lohusala, Estonia.

Methodist delegates from every region in the continent of Africa met together for the first time for vision and strategy in evangelism.

Evangelistic training of hundreds of lay pastors in Kenya and Costa Rica.

Persons from Brazil serving full-time as evangelistic missionaries came together for training and encouragement.

Over 175 delegates from Russia and Northern Europe met in Moscow for evangelism training.

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In July of 1997, the Institute began its 4th quinquennium of seminars with a new theme, Jesus Christ: The Heart and Soul of Evangelism: Communicating The Gospel Today, which was launched at the Sixth International Evangelism Seminar held in Atlanta, GA.  Bishops, Heads of Churches, and representatives from 60 countries participated in this seminar at Emory University and joined in the Institute's 15th Anniversary celebration dinner held during the seminar.

The celebration dinner featured several of the early founders of the Institute including: Former President Laney, Former Dean Waites, Dr. Joe Hale, Dr. George E. Morris and Bishop Dwight Loder.

Dublin, Ireland in 1998

Adelaide, Australia in 1998

Comarruga, Tarragona, Spain in 1998

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1999

Bangalore, India in 1999

Oaxtepec, Morelos, Mexico in 2000

Tallinn, Estonia in 2000

Cliff College, Sheffield, England in 2001

Lomé, Togo in 2001

Panamá City, Panamá in 2001

Norcross, Georgia, USA in 2002

One major highlight of this quinquennium is the sponsoring of a third tier of seminars, as follow-up training events to Institute Seminars. Large follow-up events were held in places such as: the Amazon, Indonesia, Angola and Samoa.

One final highlight of this 4th quinquennium is launching of a special theme for the new Millennium at the very significant Seventh International Evangelism Seminar in January 2001. Held at Cliff College in England, this seminar numerically exceeded all past international seminars in attendance. Over 215 delegates from almost 50 countries focused on the theme of: "The Timeless Gospel for the New Millennium." Participants were guided through several theological sub-themes and got an in depth look at the application of the Gospel in several cultures around the world.

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World Methodist Evangelism Institute continues the fifth quinquennium, we are preparing thousands of church leaders around the world for the new millennium. The following Regional Seminars have been held or are planned for this quinquennium:

Santiago, Chile in August 2002

Varna, Bulgaria in January 2003

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in March/April 2003

Runaway Bay, Jamaica in August 2003

Havana, Cuba in January 2004

Singapore in August 2004

Suva, Fiji in January 2005

Cliff College, England in August 2005

Sete, France in January 2006

Seoul, Korea in July 2006

8th International Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in June 2007

A new theme, That the World May Know Jesus Christ, was launched at the Conference of the Americas in Havana, Cuba in January 2004. This theme continued into the 6th quinquennium with new sub-themes.  This theme has begun to offer great meaning and learning for our Institute.

Our 25th Anniversary Celebrations was held during the 8th International Evangelism Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia in June 2007 with delegtes presents from 61 countries and several of our early founders present.  Our planning committee includes representatives from many of the Methodist/Wesleyan denominations represented in Georgia.  The celebration  dinner was held at the Emory Conference and Retreat Centre while the 8th International Evangelism Seminar itself was held at Simpsonwood Retreat Center in Norcross, Georgia, USA.

South America Regional Seminar in Asuncion, Paraguay January 2008

Bahamas Regional Evangelism Seminar in Nassau, Bahamas January 2009

New Zealand Regional Evangelism Seminar in Auckland, New Zealand  April-May 2009

India Regional Evangelism Seminar in Delhi, India  January 2010

The theme  for this quinquennium is That the World May Know Jesus Christ: Developing Missional Congregations.  We look forward with great excitement in using this theme as we host seminars in new regions of the world.

 May our Triune God grant us and the world church vision, guidance and blessing as we together seek to multiply the witnesses for Christ during the rest of this quinquennium and beyond.  

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