Article

Lausanne 4: Listen

06 Jul 2023

Listen | Act | Gather | Seoul 2024

Our process of listening includes a number of intentional activities that engage us in listening to God, through Scripture and prayer, as well as to one another.

What is the listening process?

Listening to God’s Word Together

We invite the global church to join in the public reading of Scripture through our weekly Listening to God’s Word Together (L2G) calls.

More about Listening to God

Praying for the Global Church

Listening to God through prayer is an integral activity that covers every aspect of the Lausanne 4 Journey. Guided by the Lausanne Intercession Working Group, we invite the global church to pray for a different region of the world each month.

God is directing the Lausanne 4 Journey and guiding the faithful response of every person involved. Join us in praying that Lausanne 4 would see global mission accelerated to the glory of God as the gospel of Jesus Christ advances around the world.

Pray Now

Global Listening Calls

The Lausanne 4 listening process seeks to gather information around five key questions:

  1. What are the most significant missional gaps and remaining opportunities?  
  2. What promising breakthroughs and innovations can accelerate global mission?  
  3. In what areas is greater missional collaboration most critical?  
  4. Where is further research needed?  
  5. Whom else should we be listening to as part of this process?

Listening Reports

Following the global listening calls and further focus group meetings, two extensive Global Listening Reports have been produced. These reports summarise the findings of the Global Listening Team with a particular focus on the five questions listed above. 

Global Listening Report 1

November 2021

Full Report | Summary Slides

Global Listening Report 2

June 2023

Full Report | Summary Slides

Why is the listening process important?

Polycentric

Listening forms a key aspect of the polycentric process that is Lausanne 4. We want to hear the input of voices from every corner of the globe as we gauge how to effectively disciple the nations and prepare the next generation to continue to fulfil the great commission in their regions, contexts, and cultures.

State of the Great Commission Report

In early 2024 a diverse team of missiologists will publish a preliminary culmination of our listening, research, and gatherings, known as The State of the Great Commission Report.

Seoul Statement

Informed by the listening process, this key document is expected to emerge from the Seoul 2024 Congress. It  will sound a call for collaborative action for the sake of God’s mission as an active response to the Lausanne 4 Journey.

Collaborative Action Teams Commitment

The commitment that will help align the global church towards implementing action as a result of the Lausanne 4 Journey and Collaborative Action Teams.

Timeline

2020-21 

GLOBAL LISTENING CALLS

Regions, issue networks, and generations hosted 35+ global listening calls, resulting in a detailed report.

2021 

FROM LISTENING TO STRATEGIES

Regional teams, issue networks, YLGen

GLOBAL LISTENING TEAM ANALYSIS

Responses, comparisons, matrix, global themes, theological themes, prayer, opportunities, reports

2022 

REGIONS, ISSUE NETWORKS, AND GENERATIONS

Planning for 2023, research, networking/listening, cross-connecting

PRAYER MOBILISATION

THEOLOGY WORKING GROUP

Addressing listening themes

2023 

REGIONAL GATHERINGS

Gaps, innovations, collaborations

GENERATIONS CONVERSATION

2024 

GLOBAL SYNTHESIS GATHERING

SEOUL 2024 CONGRESS

Team

The global listening team is co-led by Eiko Takamizawa and Steve Sang-Cheol Moon

Femi Adeleye
Sarah Starrenburg
Laurence Ko
Lisa Loden

Victor Nakah
Steve Chang
Ruslan Zagidulin
Stanley Clark

Elias Ghazal
Emmanuel Oumaru
Victor Lee
Jim Memory

Listen | Act | Gather | Seoul 2024