Vivid Sydney is an annual festival held in the Sydney CBD. It includes outdoor light installations, music performances by local and international artists, and a forum for exchanging ideas. The festival is Australia’s largest of its kind, attracting millions of visitors each year.
This year’s festival ran between 23 May and 14 June, and as the world showcased its lights to the people, it was most appropriate that the ‘Light of the World’ shone during these nights for all to see. A team of Gideons and Auxiliary stepped up to bring the Gospel to the people at Vivid Sydney 2025.
The team met at Martin Place, and with bags filled with Youth Testaments and pockets ready with a Personal Worker’s Testament (PWT), engaged the crowds in George Street. Being a ‘Fair and Festival’, Youth Testaments could be given to the youth. It was certainly a large fishing ground for the Lord’s work. As thousands of people made the trek up and down George Street, many were greeted with an offer to take a Testament.
Witnessing Testimonies
A Gideon reported that many young people were “ecstatic” to receive Bibles with one saying “Wow, the Holy Bible. Yes. I’ve been wanting to read this. Thank you so much.” It has been very encouraging seeing young men and women wanting to hear the Gospel message and to learn more of the things of God. During the night, groups of youth and families approached the team enquiring “Is that the Bible?” and asked for one as they entered into conversations about the Gospel.
A large group of teenagers asked to hear a Bible verse. The Gideon chose John 3:16 and they all listened with great intent and had seeds sown into their lives. They heard the Gospel message and about how they could be with Jesus for eternity.
“It has been very encouraging seeing young men and women wanting to hear the Gospel message and to learn more of the things of God.”
Several people wanted prayer and the Gideons obliged. You can really get a good idea of the pulse of a city and how hungry people are to hear about God by being on the ground interacting with them. We learnt that there is an interest in enquiring about the truth.
To God be the Glory
Over the course of the 23 nights, over 10,000 Youth Testaments and PWTs were handed out.
Many people are praying for revival, which is a wonderful mission. However, if revival is to come next month that would be of no use to the sinner who dies next week. As Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35). To God be the Glory.