AN EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH is being planned for Amsterdam when the city hosts the international Gay Games later this year.

Organizers hope to see as many as 500 people taking part in the event, as an estimated 200,000-plus competitors and spectators gather in the city widely known as the gay capital of Europe.

Renowned worldwide for its liberal attitudes to sex, Amsterdam is the first city outside North America to stage the "homosexual Olympics" - from August 1 to 8 - since they were launched in 1980. Arts and cultural presentations celebrating the gay lifestyle will run alongside the sporting events.

Amsterdam '98 is being staged by Youth With A Mission, with support from local churches and other Christian ministries. YWAM-Amsterdam staff expect to be joined by colleagues and short-term volunteers from other parts of the world. During the outreach - from July 26 to August 14 - teams will share the gospel with visitors through music, drama and literature distribution.

"We're not setting out to attack gay people, or hit them over the head with the Bible," said YWAM's Rebeca Balderas. "We want to bring God's compassion into the streets of Amsterdam because he is still in the business of healing the brokenhearted. We want to reach out with God's love and forgiveness so people can see him as he really is.

"Many people have misconceptions about who God is. We want to reach them with the love of Christ. We believe that God has a purpose and destiny for each individual, and that a lot of people have accepted a counterfeit of what they can only find in a relationship with Jesus."

Amsterdam '98: Kadijksplein 18. 1018 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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