International (MNN) — Lausanne 4 in South Korea isn’t this week’s only landmark international gathering. The annual United Nations General Assembly began September 22 in New York City with more than 140 world leaders in attendance.
Both congresses have called for unity, collaboration and action to solve global challenges. However, their perspectives and goals are very different.
Darrel Templeton with MegaVoice is at Lausanne 4 this week. He sees a contrast between “the atmosphere of the delegates here at Lausanne, versus at least what we see reported in the news in the atmosphere of the UN: the [UN’s] focus of despair, war, chaos, and tragedy, versus [Lausanne’s] looking at what can we do as a body for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.”
He continues, “We have 202 countries represented here at Lausanne — delegates from all over the world. To see the unity in the midst of diversity around the tables, in the halls, and in the sessions, is just wonderful.”
Photo from Lausanne 4 (Courtesy of lausannemovement via Flickr )
That doesn’t mean there is blind positivity at Lausanne 4: world crises and conflicts are realities.
“We are mindful of those tragedies,” Templeton says. “But when it is brought up, it is brought up with, ‘What are we doing to help in the situation?’ and ‘What can we do in collaboration to support our brothers and sisters in these difficult places?’”
The contrast between Lausanne 4 and the UN General Assembly comes down to hope in Jesus Himself, not human ingenuity or wisdom.
“To have the light of Christ providing hope for not only this generation but for the future is the big contrasting difference,” Templeton says.
Pray for God to move powerfully in the remaining few days of Lausanne 4. MegaVoice itself was started as a result of the 1989 Lausanne congress; ask God to forge more relationships and ministry visions toward the accomplishing of the Great Commission.
Pray also for the UN General Assembly this week, in line with 1 Timothy 2:1–4.
“God’s Kingdom is on the move. There is a lot of momentum in the nations that are working together for the sake of the gospel,” Templeton says.
Still, there’s a lot more to learn. Templeton invites believers worldwide to read the Lausanne Covenant and learn where they and their local church could fit in the universal Church’s mission to reach the lost in our neighborhoods and nations.
Header photo of UN General Assembly hall in New York City courtesy of Patrick Gruban via Wikimedia Commons.
