This month marks the first anniversary of a most historic and successful gathering of the global Church which took place on African soil. This gathering was hosted by the Church in Africa through our brothers and sisters in South Africa who did a superb job and made Africa proud. To God be all the glory!!!
Cape Town 2010 Follow-Up Events
A number of countries have taken steps to ensure that the Lausanne Congress hosted by Africa in Cape Town does not end up as another conference jamboree. The following are some of the country follow-up actions:
- South Africa has embarked on a “road show” to promote and encourage the Church and mission groups to study in depth and apply the principles and ideals of The Cape Town Commitment (lausanne.org/ctcommitment). TEASA and the South African Theological Seminary will host a theological workshop in November focusing on the six Congress themes.
- Ethiopia is planning a Consultation on Evangelism and Missions in November 2011.
- Ghana is planning to host a nationwide Congress on Missions and Evangelism in 2012.
- Nigeria is planning to host a national Congress on Evangelism and Missions with a 13 Point Issue Agenda raised from issues discussed during the Congress. A prominent Church Leader in Nigeria is planning to use The Cape Town Commitment to produce Bible study outlines which will be studied in his Church denomination for the whole year in 2012. He plans to also mobilize other Church heads within his circle of influence to do the same thing.
- Mozambique: A partnership has developed between a Nigerian Missionary and a Mozambican pastor. They met at Cape Town 2010 and the Nigerian missionary has visited Mozambique twice now and actually is planning a major prayer conference to pray on the challenge of missions in Portuguese speaking Africa. Hehas a strong burden to relocate as a full time missionary to Mozambique and is learning the language.
- Sierra Leone: The EPSA Region has been in the press since May with plans to produce almost 10,000 copies of The Cape Town Commitment for distribution across Africa, once funding is made
MANI 2011
As agreed by the African participants in Cape Town during our second regional meeting at the Congress, Lausanne had a strong presence at MANI 2011. Held in Abuja, MANI included over 650 participants from nearly 60 countries in Africa and fraternal delegates from other parts of the world: The Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. Nearly half of those who attended MANI 2011 were in Cape Town. The echoes of Cape Town were felt in some of the issues raised and the design of table groups throughout the MANI Consultation. MANI focused on the issues with strong afro-centric lenses. In Cape Town we had agreed that Lausanne will also work with special continental bodies to pursue follow-up of CT2010 such as IFES, Scripture Union, MANI, AEA, Campus Crusade for Christ, Navigator’s, etc. There are also other special bodies within each country with whom Lausanne must work. Lausanne is a Movement and not an organization, a facilitating Movement and not a “take-over outfit.”
May God’s Kingdom continue to expand across Africa and the world!
Gideon Para-Mallam is the outgoing Lausanne International Deputy Director for EPSA and Regional Secretary, IFES-EPSA, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
This article was published as part of the Anniversary reflections one year after Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.