South Korea (MNN) — This week, over 5,000 Christian leaders from almost every nation on Earth will gather in South Korea for the Lausanne Movement’s fourth global Congress (Lausanne 4).
Amid the frenzy of preparation, there was a moment when it hit me: this is a “once in a generation” sort of event. The ripple effects of each meeting are profound because it succeeds in uniting the global Church in a shared mission — to evangelize to the entire world.
Many of us have been living all our lives in the eddies created by this Movement without realizing it. Concepts like “unreached people groups” and “the 10/40 window” originated at Lausanne Congresses. While studying at Cedarville University in the late 80s, I heard about something happening in the Philippines but paid little attention.
(Image courtesy Lausanne 4)
It wasn’t until 2010 that I understood a little better why the Lausanne Congresses were so fundamental to shaping the direction of the big “C” church. While the focus and energy of each meeting have been unique, they all bear similar characteristics:
- Empower the next generation
- Enlarge the Church’s vision
- Expand cultural awareness
- Enrich global praise
For example, in 1974, Billy Graham gathered mission leaders worldwide to partner for evangelism. This First International Congress on World Evangelization convened in Lausanne, Switzerland. All 2300 present signed their names to “The Lausanne Covenant.” The document is considered one of the most influential in modern Christianity.
The second Lausanne Congress met in Manila, Philippines, in 1989. From it came the “Manila Manifesto,” which focuses on holistic mission, societal transformation, and the proclamation of the gospel, influencing Christian engagement worldwide.
(Image courtesy Lausanne 4)
The third Congress assembled in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2010. That meeting produced “The Cape Town Commitment,” which attempts to answer the question: What are the priorities for Christian mission in the 21st century that we, as the Christian Church, should address? The manifesto is framed by love for the gospel, the Church, and the world. The Commitment has two parts: a confession of faith and a call to action. The call to action focuses on representing biblical truth in pluralism, the workplace, globalized media, the arts, science and emerging technologies, and public arenas.
Under the banner “Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together,” Lausanne 4, hosted in Incheon, South Korea, looks ahead to 2050. Participants will examine what discipling the nations might look like amid the challenges and opportunities of ministry in the digital age, the quest for humanness, the new Middle Class, and a global aging population.
Before Congress, the Movement released the “State of the Great Commission” report to help prepare the way for collaborative action. By the end of the week, the resulting Commitment will be completed and distributed among participants.
It’s massive, overwhelming, intimidating, and exhilarating to think about what God will do at Lausanne 4.
Header image courtesy of Lausanne 4.
