“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:20-23

This week on August 2-5, 2023, an event is underway in Lisbon, Portugal called The Change. According to the founder of The Change, Rodrigues Pereira, it is an evangelization event where all denominations from all Christian spectrums are coming together to celebrate Jesus, demonstrating John 17 to those who don’t know Jesus so that they would see a relationship of love, friendship, and compassion. Pereira says that bringing these denominations together fulfills Matthew 28 in bringing the good news of salvation and the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him.

The Change event consists of an online challenge as well as a stadium event in Lisbon, holding up to sixty thousand people. In a recent interview, Pereira stated that 70% of this event will be centered upon music, along with a gospel message and speakers, such as Bill Johnson, Mike Bickle, Lou Engle, Patricia King, and Jonathan Roumie. This event’s website boasts that “church leaders and clergy across continents and denominations agree The Change Lisbon may be the most important event in modern church history.” Not only did Pereira’s Association organize this event, but it has another contributor: CHARIS– Catholic Charismatic International Service. This organization serves to promote the Charismatic Renewal among Roman Catholics.

What is important to understand about this event is the call for Protestants and Catholics to come together in unity. In fact, Bill Johnson made this clear on a recent social media post where he shared this image containing the logo with the following caption:

“Of the one million dollars needed for this event, $800,000 has already been raised. $200,000 more is needed. It is an unprecedented opportunity for Protestants and Catholics to work together in evangelism.”

Bill Johnson, Facebook, July 24, 2023

This event is coinciding with another event taking place in Lisbon this week: World Youth Day. This is an event held every three years for Catholics as a worldwide encounter with the Pope. This event, focusing on the Pope’s selected verse for 2023 (Luke 1:39), consists of an opening mass, personal prayer times, the Way of the Cross, Prayers at the vigil of the Lady of Fatima, pilgrimages of the Pilgrim’s Cross and the icon of Lady Salus Populi Romani, and a closing missional mass. You can see in the upper righthand corner of the image above where The Change has shared the logo for this event. This logo contains a silhouette of Mary, as a well a path for the Holy Spirit and rosary beads. You will also note the logo of CHARIS in the lower right corner, which has a blue semicircle on the right-hand side. According to CHARIS, this blue area represents Mary’s mantle that covers the earth.

There are concerns surrounding events such as these. Those within the movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation are very proactive in creating stadium events and gatherings that are deemed as historic and promoting the move of the Holy Spirit. Many times, these events can be experience focused and emotionally fueled with minimal emphasis on the gospel and the Word of God in context. What raises additional concerns in examples such as this is the promotion of a false unity between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The embrace of an ecumenical call is not new within this movement, and this is something to note and to observe. Based on the very events taking place during World Youth Day and the obvious veneration of Mary, it raises questions pertaining to The Change endorsing unity among both groups, calling it an evangelization event for those who see this group gathered in perceived unity.

The truth is that there is no unity in beliefs regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ between Protestants and Roman Catholics. John 17 does not apply to an event such as this as it promotes false unity, and an evangelization opportunity is presenting itself in proclaiming the gospel according to Scripture to the Roman Catholics. We are to speak the truth in love. How can we unite around such beliefs as the mass, prayers to dead saints and to Mary, and a grace plus works message without hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus by grace through faith alone? The answer is we cannot without compromising the truth.

Please pray for those in attendance that the true gospel in accordance with Scripture would be proclaimed and people would come to saving faith in Christ alone. Be aware of these types of calls for “unity” and abide in His Word so that you will not be deceived. Massive stadiums with persuasive and emotive music are not necessary in order for God to do something powerful and worthwhile. The gospel is powerful enough by itself to save without any assistance (Romans 1:16,17). True unity can only be found in agreeing with what God has already established and made known in the written Word of God.

Listen to this episode providing a more in-depth discussion pertaining to this topic: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: The Change and NAR Ecumenism on Apple Podcasts