Out of respect for those of you who have taken the time to comment about a statement I made eleven years ago regarding the World Economic Forum, I thought it would be beneficial to restate God’s call on my life. In 1988 He made it clear that I was to be His messenger, going wherever He sent me and giving out His Word to whomever He put before me.[1] Therefore, when I received the invitation in 2005 from Professor Klaus Schwab to attend the World Economic Forum as a world religious leader, I did what I do with all the invitations that come my way: I prayed.
By way of background information, the invitation from Professor Schwab was prompted by George Carey, who was at that time the Archbishop of Canterbury. He had heard me speak at the United Nations when I had presented the Gospel to the world religious leaders in the General Assembly. Lord Carey urged me to attend WEF, as he was seeking to make an impact for the Gospel among the leaders who gathered there annually. I was not familiar with the WEF; but as I researched it, I was unsure I should accept. However, the organizers said if I came they would give me two opportunities to speak, with no restrictions on the content. At the time I was also on the Board of Trustees for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as was Chuck Colson. When I asked for Chuck’s advice regarding the invitation, he was visibly stunned that I had been invited, questioned me about the opportunity, then encouraged me to take it. He gave me his blessing and assured me of his prayers.
In obedience to what I believed was an assignment from the Lord, I accepted the invitation.
When I arrived in Zurich I was treated as a VIP. The privileged status gave me a private car and driver to take me to Davos, and thereafter, for any place I needed to go. I also was given access to the VIP entrance. During the WEF I was able to speak and lead two discussions; share the Gospel with those who stayed afterwards; entered into a discussion led by Lord Carey for the world religious leaders who had assembled; and had a private meeting with Elaine Chao, the US Secretary of Labor at her request, during which time I prayed with and for her. In addition, I was able to speak with and pray over the phone with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General at the time, as I conveyed to him my father’s personal greeting.
In 2011 I felt led to accept another invitation to WEF and the opportunity it afforded to share the Gospel with world leaders that may have never heard it. But this time my experience was different. I was not given VIP status. And while I felt the tension with some of the staff who sought to marginalize me, I distinctly remember one lovely woman on staff taking me aside to tell me how thrilled she was that I was there, and that she was praying for me. I took every opportunity of which I was aware to tell those with whom I came in contact that there is a God who loves them and who offers forgiveness and eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
I do not know if my attendance at the WEF made any difference to anyone there. But it did make a difference to me. It made me much bolder and more confident as a witness in the years that followed. And it helped to underscore the truth that can become clouded by my emotions. And this is the truth:
God loves globalists as much as He loves nationalists.
God loves communists as much as He loves capitalists.
God loves Russians as much as He loves Ukrainians.
God loves Arabs as much as He loves Jews.
God loves Iranians as much as He loves Europeans.
God loves North Koreans as much as He loves South Koreans.
God loves Chinese as much as He loves Taiwanese.
And I could go on…
While God’s purpose is different for various people groups, and while He may hate the policies and sin of those in the above categories, He loves the people. Yes, He does!
May I ask you: What did you know about the World Economic Forum in 2006? In 2011? My original impression was that many of the leaders who gathered sincerely wanted to make the world a better place. I was convinced that if they would turn to God, they could indeed make the world a better place. However, in the last decade or so, either the WEF has taken an increasingly dark turn or the agenda that was hidden in the past is now being revealed more clearly as a result of the pandemic in 2020 and the worldwide lockdown that followed. What I do know is that one day the Lord Jesus Christ will put down all rebellion against Himself. He then will set up His kingdom on this earth, bringing peace as He rules with justice and righteousness. Lest there be any doubt, our Lord God is King of the nations![2] As Rabbi Jonathan Cahn has stated, “God is on the throne and He’s not getting off!”[3] Ever!
So…am I sorry that I went to the World Economic Forum in 2006 and 2011? No. Instead I am grateful for the opportunity and the difference it made in me. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…[4]I am confident that God’s Word will not return void but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it.[5]
Because even in its rebellious state, God truly does love the whole world!
