In the final address of Cape Town 2010, Lindsay Brown quoted from John Wesley’s daily journal. John Wesley would often summarize his day in these terms: I offered Christ to the people today. Or sometimes he would write, I offered grace in Christ to the people today.
The culmination of The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization was this simple yet profound calling: to offer the grace of God in the person of Jesus Christ to the people of the world. Participants, committee, staff, and stewards each left Cape Town with this vision reverberating in their hearts. And this vision has been the driving force in the twelve months since our gathering in South Africa.
BILLY GRAHAM
In March of this year, my wife Elizabeth and I had the privilege of visiting Billy Graham at his home in the mountains of North Carolina. He had invited us to give him a personal report on the Congress. I went prepared to convey all the ways God had led in the details of the Congress but his first question was … what are the participants doing? Again and again he wanted to know: what is happening in the regions? What are the various countries doing? Are they doing evangelism? As a result of the Congress are we more inspired by the Gospel message – to get it out to a world that needs a Savior? “World evangelization” is what The Lausanne Movement is all about. And so Mr. Graham’s questions were merely referencing again the sole reason Lausanne I took place in Switzerland (1974), Lausanne II was held in Manila (1989) and Lausanne III was held in South Africa.
My role as Congress Director has been phasing out, but I have been able to observe some of the ways this vision is being fulfilled since the Congress. I see it happening in four broad categories: “through mission”, “within regions”, “in the Movement” and “through connections” . . . four ways that the Congress has been the catalyst to offer Christ to the people around the world.
THROUGH MISSION
Many will know of the ministry of Mission Africa where, prior to Cape Town 2010, international evangelists partnered with African evangelists and conducted evangelistic outreaches in 15 countries. As a result of the report given on the Friday night of the Congress some 1000 participants made a commitment to organize some form of gospel proclamation event in their region. And over 100 requests, representing 46 countries, asked very specifically for help in organizing these events. I have been asked to serve as Lausanne’s Senior Associate for Proclamation Evangelism to help meet this need. This Senior Associate position has been introduced since the Congress, in order to serve Lausanne in two ways, to heighten the profile of proclamation evangelism in the Movement, and to serve the regions in organizing missions and schools of evangelism in what has become affectionately known as Mission Africa: Stage Two, or perhaps more accurately, Mission Africa and Beyond.
Just one example of tangible outcomes: in July I spent ten days in Rwanda where evangelists from Kenya, from the South Pacific Island of Niue and from England partnered with Rwandan evangelists to conduct 74 stratified evangelistic meetings in the open air, at two universities and amongst city leadership. In addition, a school of evangelism was conducted for some 300 church leaders, along with a two-day women’s gathering led by two gifted Bible teachers. The grace of Christ was offered to more than 78,000 people; more than 11,000 responded.
Discussions on similar missions in other areas of the world are underway in French-speaking Africa, the Balkans, India, Russia, the Caribbean and in additional areas of Africa.
Though each region will have its unique approach, the emphasis is on three main strands of ministry:
- Mission and grassroots training for preparation and follow-up
- Schools of Evangelism for evangelists and church leaders
- Networking of evangelists for mutual ministry and encouragement
Please pray for the development of this ministry of proclamation evangelism around the world.
WITHIN REGIONS
Coming out of the Congress, many countries and regions have held consultations to explore the way forward and to consider what God is saying for their area. The specific purpose of these gatherings has been to network and to develop strategic plans for evangelism. In many hard situations, mutual encouragement was also an important factor. For many who met each other for the first time in Cape Town, these meetings are a crucial continuation of a commitment to work together.
I have had the privilege of sitting in on just a few of these gatherings. Early in the New Year, around the time of Orthodox Christmas, the majority of the Egyptian participants met in Cairo. It was invigorating to hear their perspective and vision. No one could have anticipated how significant their unity of spirit would be as their nation was plunged into major political and social upheaval just weeks later.
In Uganda I met with a number of leaders including Archbishop Henry Orombi who were strong in vision and passion for their people. The USA participants in Cape Town 2010, joined by hundreds of other leaders who share a vision for evangelization, convened in Orlando. Lindsay Brown and I had the opportunity to take part in a conference in Moscow of one of the Unions of Russia, where top of the agenda was the follow-up to Cape Town 2010, and developing potential plans for mission and a School of Evangelism. The Chinese Lausanne Movement and the African Conference MANI met in September. These are but a few. Please continue to pray for the regions as they seek God’s direction to offer the gospel of Christ to the people of their area.
IN THE LAUSANNE MOVEMENT
The Lausanne Biennial Leadership Meeting took place in June on the campus of Gordon College in Boston. The Movement is working hard to strengthen the platform for world evangelization and develop plans to keep the momentum going. To this end, the June agenda included:
- The Final Cape Town Congress Committee debrief, a time of review and giving consideration to the potential of a Lausanne IV
- The Lausanne Board appointed new members, affirmed a new structure, confirmed plans for next number of years, and approved a newbudget
- Lindsay Brown, International Director, met with the International Deputy Directors to present and affirm regional plans and incorporate new members
- The Strategy Working Group met and confirmed a new chairman and discussed areas of strategic importance
- The Global Executive Leadership Forum, that had its start in Cape Town, met and confirmed plans for the future
- And most important of all, a time of thanksgiving to God for his mercy and blessing on the Congress and a time of renewed fellowship
THROUGH CONNECTIONS
Connections and partnerships are an integral part of the legacy of The Lausanne Movement and noting how networks are continuing is important. For example, many of the various groupings that made their original connections in Cape Town have reported meeting again in one form or another. One of the most commented-on aspects of the Congress was the table groups. Many of the tables of six have stayed in touch. And in addition, the stewards have floated the idea of a reunion while in the meantime, keeping in touch on Facebook.
The two-part Cape Town Commitment expressing the biblical perspective of the Movement and its outcomes has been finalized, printed and distributed. It is being used in innumerable, creative ways: no doubt one South African church’s example of studying it in an adult Sunday school class is being duplicated in many places.
FINALLY
In countless ways, people have taken seriously the clarion call of the gospel. The Congress theme, II Corinthians 5:19, remains the foundational message: God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
Cape Town 2010 provided a new platform for our calling to world evangelization, with new inspiration, new partnerships, new strategies, and renewed impetus to seek God’s heart for the lost. Lausanne III continues to offer the grace of Christ to the people today. That is our calling and our privilege. To proclaim – to speak and to live – the wondrous Good News. May we keep on seeking God’s help and direction that all that is done will bring Him glory.
Blair Carlson is founder and executive director of GoodWORD Partnership and the Lausanne Senior Associate for Proclamation Evangelism. He served as Cape Town 2010 Congress Director.
This article was published as part of the Anniversary reflections one year after Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.