The Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering this past August has surged the Movement ahead with tremendous momentum, but we’ve been blindsided by a major obstacle. I recently found out that our largest financial partner is unable to make a significant gift that was committed for 2016. This financial partner is a beloved friend of Lausanne, and it was hard news both for them and for us.
I would like to invite you to join me in a special giving opportunity to meet this need, as two-thirds of our budget has been affected by this sudden loss. After three years of going from financial survival to financial stability, we’re in the beginning stages of implementing a model of ongoing financial sustainability. But this significant financial hardship has hit us very unexpectedly.
This affects Lausanne at the core in our ongoing content development, the globalization of our leadership, and communications in key languages other than English.
It also affects a huge initiative we’ve launched this month called the Younger Leaders Generation (YLGen). YLGen is a ten-year, long-term commitment to come alongside younger leaders in mentoring, resources, and connections for global mission. It has tremendous momentum, as nearly 90 percent of YLG participants have signed up. There is a newly formed intergenerational YLGen leadership team and visionary ideas with great potential. YLGen is also a multilingual initiative—like the YLG, YLGen was launched in seven languages.
An initiative of this scope and vision requires great energy and resources. Our unexpected financial hardship has stopped us in our tracks right at the time we need to expand capacity to fully support the leadership team in their critical launch year, as well as strengthen the ongoing work of the Movement. I’m praying that through this special fundraising effort, God will provide the necessary means to keep moving forward.
To support Lausanne’s special giving opportunity, you can give now online or schedule a recurring gift for 2017. You can also see other giving options here. Please don’t hesitate to send any questions to give@lausanne.org.
Lastly, I’d like to share with you a video from YLG. You’ll see participants with a passionate commitment to North Korea; mobilization for refugee ministry in Jordan; younger leaders from China and from India and Africa in some strategic brainstorming sessions. We are eager to see connections like these for global mission continue to extend through the work of the Movement.
God has raised up the Lausanne Movement to be in a unique role to connect influencers and ideas for global mission. Please prayerfully consider supporting the missional momentum from the Younger Leaders Gathering by joining me in this special giving opportunity. May God guide and provide for all we do in his name and for his glory.