The Lausanne Legacy: Celebrating 50 Years of Accelerating Global Mission with Dr. Leighton Ford

In this special episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Leighton Ford, former CEO of the Lausanne Movement, to commemorate and celebrate Lausanne’s 50th anniversary.

On this day, the 16th of July 1974, more than 2300 evangelical leaders, from over 150 countries gathered together for the first Lausanne Congress for World Evangelisation.

Dr. Ford shares personal memories from the first International Congress, provides insights into the movement’s evolution, and discusses the importance of mentorship and intergenerational relationships. He emphasises listening to God, to others, and to the increasingly interconnected global Christian community while celebrating the impact of the Lausanne Covenant.

Join us as we look back on the Movement’s legacy and discuss its future.
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Guests in This Episode

Leighton Ford

Honorary Lausanne Lifetime Executive Chair

Dr Leighton Ford is the president of Leighton Ford Ministries and a prolific author, speaker, and social activist. He was vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for 31 years, and has been featured on his own radio and television spots in the United States, Canada, and Australia. He has also served on the boards of World Vision US, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Duke University Cancer Center.

From 1973 to 1975, Dr Ford served as programme chair of Lausanne’s First International Congress on World Evangelization. He continued this role from 1976 to 1992, as chair of the Continuation Committee for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE, which would later become the Lausanne Movement). During this time, part of his focus was to challenge, encourage, and equip younger leaders for future leadership positions. In 1987 this vision grew into the first Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering (Singapore ’87), which convened younger leaders from 65 countries. In 1989, he was chair of the Second International Congress on World Evangelization in Manila. Dr Ford was appointed honorary lifetime chairman of the LCWE in 1992.

Dr Ford and his wife, Jean, live in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have a married daughter, Debbie, and a married son, Kevin.