As the Fourth Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG 4) approaches in March 2027 in São Paulo, Brazil, Paul’s reflections offer both encouragement and a compelling reason for both emerging and seasoned leaders to invest in the experience.
A Mission Bigger Than Any One Nation
When Paul Borthwick first joined the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG) in Singapore in 1987, he expected to see American leadership at the forefront of global mission. Instead, he encountered something far more powerful: a God who was moving across cultures and continents in ways he had never imagined. That discovery set him on a journey—from younger leader to global mentor—shaped by humility, friendship, and the conviction that mission is bigger than any one nation.
It wasn’t just the teaching or the plenary sessions that changed Paul’s perspective—it was the stories. Testimonies from leaders serving in places he had never been confronted him with a God whose mission was far bigger than his own cultural perspective. Suddenly, mission was no longer about one nation leading the charge; it was about the global church moving together under God’s direction.
‘I came to YLG ’87 thinking America would lead the world to the year 2000,’ he recalls. ‘I left praying that America would not be left out of what God was doing in the world.’
In the years that followed, Paul transitioned from ‘younger leader’ to ‘older brother’ to a respected mentor in the Lausanne network. His journey is a living testimony to the transformative power of YLG—not only in shaping leadership and ministry vision, but also in forging friendships and connections that last a lifetime.
A Bigger View of God, a Broader Vision of the Church
Paul describes the impact of YLG in two dimensions: vertical and horizontal. Vertically, it expanded his view of God. ‘When you start hearing testimonies from around the world, you are confronted with a God who’s much bigger than your little worldview,’ he says. It was a moment of spiritual awakening that shifted his perspective from a narrow, national lens to a global understanding of God’s mission.
‘When you start hearing testimonies from around the world, you are confronted with a God who’s much bigger than your little worldview,’
Horizontally, YLG deepened his connection to the global church—leading to true fellowship in the faith. Paul distinguishes between ‘relationships’ and ‘friendships’ in ministry. Relationships can be transactional, focused on projects and outcomes. Friendships, however, are enduring and holistic. Paul recalls staying in the homes of friends he first met at YLG, sharing meals, praying together, and walking alongside one another in life’s joys and challenges. ‘Some of my closest friends today are people I met at YLG,’ he says. ‘They’re not just ministry contacts—they’re family.’
Relationships can be transactional, focused on projects and outcomes. Friendships, however, are enduring and holistic.
Paul emphasizes that for younger leaders, the secret is not to try to connect with everyone but to go deep with a few. ‘You won’t know everyone, and that’s okay. Choose a half dozen people that you’re going to stay in touch with,’ he advises. ‘That makes all the difference.’ These are the people you keep emailing or calling years later, the ones whose lives you invest in as they invest in yours. ‘Your small group will be important,’ he notes, ‘but even within that group, you may only stay close to two or three. And that’s enough—those can become 40-year friendships.’
A Lifelong Journey through YLGen
The kind of friendships that Paul celebrates as one of YLG’s greatest gifts don’t end when the gathering closes. Through YLGen, participants are invited into a ten-year leadership journey that provides space to grow alongside like-minded peers and mentors from around the world.
YLGen builds on the foundation of YLG by nurturing these Christ-centered friendships into long-term communities of encouragement, accountability, and collaboration. Leaders walk together through a decade of shared experiences—deepening their conviction, strengthening their character, and discerning God’s call in the context of global mission.
Mentorship is a core part of the YLGen experience. Each participant is paired with seasoned leaders who walk with them through life’s joys and challenges, offering wisdom and prayerful support. These relationships mirror the very kind of intentional, life-on-life friendships that Paul describes—bonds that extend far beyond a single event and shape leaders for decades.
As YLG 4 approaches, the invitation is not just to attend a catalytic gathering, but to step into a sustained journey of leadership development through YLGen. Together, participants will discover what it means to live out Lausanne’s vision of the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world—not in isolation, but in friendship, humility, and unity across generations.
Serving with Humility and Listening Well
One of the most transformative lessons Paul learned through YLG was the importance of listening. In earlier years, American voices dominated the global mission conversation, but gatherings like this taught him to ask, ‘Where do we fit now? How can we serve your vision rather than lead with our own?’ He sees YLG 4 as a moment for leaders from every context to learn from one another, humbly stepping aside from national assumptions to embrace God’s wider plan. ‘It’s not about my plan for your country,’ he says. ‘It’s about helping you fulfill God’s plan for your context.’
This shift requires humility and a willingness to step back from the spotlight, enabling others to succeed, even without recognition. This type of humility was key to what the founder of the Movement, Billy Graham, called ‘the spirit of Lausanne’ and is what has marked Lausanne events over the decades. It is not about titles and credentials, but about an attitude to serve, to share, learn, collaborate, and see others succeed.
The Power of Presence
In an increasingly digital world, Paul is adamant about the importance of an in-person event. ‘Zoom sustains relationships. It doesn’t start them,’ he explains. Online connections work best when they build on face-to-face encounters, where trust and rapport are established. Paul points out that the kind of fellowship he remembers so fondly only takes place when leaders are together in the same room.
Now in his latter years, Paul sees his role not as a leader in the limelight, but as a mentor walking alongside younger leaders. ‘I don’t need to be the guy who leads the parade. But maybe I can help someone else get to where God is calling them.’
He encourages older leaders at YLG to come ready to listen, share wisdom, and encourage younger leaders without judgment. ‘We’re broken people, helping other broken people find the only One who can fix it,’ he says.
Why YLG Still Matters
As Lausanne prepares for YLG 2027, Paul reflects on why gatherings like this are so important for both younger and older leaders. For emerging leaders, YLG is a catalytic moment—a chance to see the breadth of the global church, find spiritual family, and clarify their calling. For seasoned leaders, it’s a chance to invest in the next generation and witness God’s work in unexpected places.
He urges those attending YLG 4 to come with open hearts and realistic expectations:
- You won’t know everyone—invest deeply in a few.
- Ask the questions you’re afraid to ask.
- Listen for God’s voice in every moment—from keynote talks to casual dinners.
- Let the experience change you.
YLG 4 is not only a starting point; it is the beginning of a sustained investment in leaders who will serve the global church for years to come.
The significance of YLG extends far beyond the week itself. Each participant is invited into YLGen, a ten-year journey of leadership development launched out of the gathering. Through YLGen, young leaders continue to grow in conviction, character, and community, walking alongside peers and mentors who provide prayer, wisdom, and accountability. These bonds, rooted in Christ, mirror the lifelong friendships Paul describes—relationships that shape leaders not just for a season, but for decades. YLG 4 is not only a starting point; it is the beginning of a sustained investment in leaders who will serve the global church for years to come.
A Final Encouragement
Paul’s fond memories of YLG have marked his journey of leadership over the years and shaped not only his view of ministry, but have inspired him to greater worship of the God of the global church in all its beautiful diversity. When he looks back over the years he encourages younger leaders with the simple truth that ‘The road ahead won’t look the way you planned. But God is in it.’
Likewise, older leaders have so much still to offer as they intentionally look to come alongside the next generation. Paul encourages seasoned leaders to be thinking about who they might walk alongside. ‘Because in the end, the most meaningful legacy we leave may not be in our own story—but in the lives we’ve helped shape along the way.’
What was sparked at YLG in 1987—An expanded vision of God’s mission and lifelong friendships rooted in Christ—marked the beginning of Paul’s transformation from a younger leader into a wise mentor and coach. As YLG 4 approaches in 2027, his story reminds us that the true power of gatherings like YLG lies not only in the strategy, but in the friendships and faith that carry leaders forward for a lifetime.