South Africa (CT2010/MNN) — At the First
Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization 36 years ago, Ralph Winter spoke about "Hidden People Groups." This launched
hundreds of 10/40 window ministry campaigns.
Today, the mission of taking the Gospel to the ends of the
earth is the same, but the execution will look a little different. Doug Birdsall, the executive chair of
Lausanne says, "Cape Town 2010 will be the third Lausanne congress and the
first of the 21st century. This first
gathering of the leadership team provided clarity for the planning process and
a strong sense of collegiality for the Congress leadership team. We have a
growing sense of enthusiasm for the potential and promise for the 2010 Congress."
The Congress will last for 10 days, beginning October 16 in
Cape Town, South Africa. It will include
4,000 participants–including at least two from every country.
"Cape Town 2010 provides a unique and historic opportunity
for the global church to focus this generation on the need to take the ‘whole Gospel to the whole world,'" says Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of
the World Evangelical Alliance. "WEA will work closely with Lausanne on the
executive leadership team, program committee, and participant selection for the
congress."
Birdsall continues, "And when together, they plan to
develop strategies, create documents, and strengthen partnerships that will
help establish the priorities for the global church for the next generation."
As Operation Mobilization anticipates Cape
Town 2010, their team senses the Lord calling them to times of strategic prayer
for the "least reached" nations and people groups of the world.
Their desire is to see strategic prayer
groups established to pray together both over Skype and even on-site in
particular nations among unreached people groups. As a result of CT2010, they're hoping to
encourage a partnership with existing prayer networks and intercessors to
create a synergy of divine connection and increasing passion for prayer for the
unreached.
There will be more coverage as CT2010
gets underway.
