As we approach our fiftieth anniversary, we are preparing for the Fourth Lausanne Congress to be held in September 2024 in South Korea. Although we believe this gathering will be a new milestone, it is more than an event. It will culminate the years of work we have dedicated in our countries and regions. At last we will be together, and we look forward with great expectation. At the same time, it will be the continuation of a process of enlarging collaboration for world evangelization with our horizon set in 2050. At the Congress, there will be celebration, analysis, gratitude, evaluation, and planning of what is to come.
In the case of Latin America, Lausanne held its first regional gathering on 19–22 September 2023, choosing Montevideo as the host city. We had 191 people registered (plus 50 virtual). It comprised 44 percent women and 56 percent men from 18 countries in the region and 14 people from other countries. All were involved in ministry, most of them serving as vocational ministers (ie, their livelihood comes from their jobs and professions and not from their ministries). There were 18 tables of people of different ages, countries, etc. The meeting was a time of biblical reflection on the book of Acts, fellowship and joy, and strategic collaborative initiatives to advance the gospel in the world.
The results of the roundtables are summarized below. It is worth mentioning that they are a summary of the interaction that took place around the tables. There was a diversity of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and emphases. Our meeting was one of listening and consultation. The questions will continue to resonate and produce reflection and, we hope, concrete actions that will have the shape, sound, and flavor of the different participants. The process remains open because God continues to work. More than a report, this summary is an invitation to reflect and work, in our most diverse contexts.
Gaps in the Great Commission
As an initial reflective task for the working groups, the proposed question pointed out some significant gaps in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Among the responses, the following needs were highlighted:
- Discipleship and the formation of healthy leadership.
- Unity and cooperation among churches and Christian institutions.
- The formation of new generations.
- An accurate contextualization of the gospel for the challenges of today’s world.
- Expanding the role of the Lausanne Movement in achieving these objectives.
The conversation reminded us that it is God who is the protagonist of this Great Commission (not us) and that it is he who invites us to join in what he is already doing in the world. Therefore, we must be attentive and sensitive to listen to the voice of God’s Spirit through his word. Likewise, the gaps raised are also opportunities to listen and work together. Among them these opportunities were mentioned:
it is God who is the protagonist of this Great Commission (not us) and that it is he who invites us to join in what he is already doing in the world.
More Precise Definitions of the Terms Related to the Great Commission
There is still a lack of clarity in our regional languages about what the call to the Great Commission means. Providing more precise definitions, with the help of biblical-theological tools, of the meaning of the terms ‘mission,’ ‘missionary,’ etc., that clarify both the local and global role of mission is fundamental. It would allow for a greater awareness and mobilization of the church of Christ.
Christ-centered relational discipleship
Even today there is a lack of effective and deep relationships between Christians that lead to effective service to and from one another. Therefore, for the Christian community to participate in the Great Commission, it is first necessary to foster in the churches a culture of serious, deep, and intentional discipleship that prepares people to follow the model of Jesus and find their identity and purpose in him.
Focus on the formation of healthy leadership
If we understand that the Great Commission happens through the church of Christ, it is fundamental to look more closely at leadership training and formation. The gaps identified in training were many: a decrease of Christians willing to be trained to be leaders in the face of new challenges; the professionalization of roles in the church; the polarization between theological and missionary study that generates a limited or erroneous understanding of the missionary task (eg, evangelism as only an event, missions as a task only for specialists and little missionary investment; the lack of academic programs in seminaries focused on missions). It is necessary that churches unite and cooperate to improve the process of leadership formation.
Unity and cooperation among churches and Christian institutions
The biblical standard for Christian unity remains a major challenge for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Lack of dialogue and cooperation can generate competition and lead to duplication of efforts. We need to cultivate a communal understanding of faith through love and dialogue. On the one hand, some timely actions were identified to work on unity and cooperation, such as creating materials on how to apply mutual aid in the Great Commission, strengthening networking in Latin America and fostering strategic alliances between local churches, mission agencies, and other Christian institutions. On the other hand, areas considered to be of greater tension for unity were highlighted:
- Unity that begins in families: Family deconstruction also affects Christian families; therefore, it is necessary to inculcate love for God and his principles from the home. Thus, families become the basis for evangelization.
- Mental health: Work in unity that aims at integral wellbeing, not only as a diagnosis of mental illnesses, but at all levels. Caring for the heart of the believer.
- Economic resources: Through unity, we can secure economic resources for missionary support and transparent accountability. For example, the opportunity for greater unity among the Americas is on the table. North America has economic resources but, sometimes, few candidates, while South America has the candidates but insufficient economic resources to support them.
Working with the new generations
There is a generation gap that demands greater dialogue between generations. Therefore, it is essential to give more opportunities to younger people, accompanying them in their maturity so that they can assume their responsibilities in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. However, it is necessary to do so, always, considering the strengths and weaknesses of the generation. It is necessary to consider some generational characteristics. For example, the new generations are more linked to causes and not to organizations. Similarly, we must also focus on children and their specific needs.
Biblical contextualization adequate to the challenges of today’s world
Contextualizing the gospel for each culture is a primary task for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Good contextualization produces adequate methods for evangelization. Some challenges for biblical contextualization in today’s world were highlighted:
- The marks of sin in our society, such as individualism, selfishness, corruption, and materialism.
- The divorce between faith and reality, separating the sacred from the secular.
- The lack of courage among Christians to express countercultural opinions.
- Lack of understanding of the languages of social subgroups.
- The difficulty of building a balanced biblical worldview on faith and politics. There is a lack of creative ways to bring the gospel to places isolated by totalitarianism. Instead of proclaiming the gospel, we install a moralistic agenda.
- The theology of work: How do we integrate our faith with our profession? Does a professional have a mission? How does a professional or academic fulfill the Great Commission?
- The use of technological tools: There is a lack of creativity with all the tools and gifts that God has given us, as well as a lack of knowledge about the ethics for the use of technology and understanding of its effects on people’s mental health.
Environmental justice/Creation care
It is fundamental to understand our role in caring for nature. We need to re-read Genesis with the perspective of creation care and reflect on how to apply it in our present time.
The challenge of Bible translation
There is still a lack of awareness of the need for Bible translation for those who do not have it. It is necessary to see the urgency of getting the gospel to these less accessible people. Today much technology is available for this task.
Observation of the reality of migrants
We must be prepared to observe the problem of migrant and refugee communities in our countries and understand how to enable the church to create organic initiatives of reception and evangelization.
Expansion of Lausanne’s role among local churches
Local churches must be equipped with information so that they can understand what is happening in their communities and in the world and know how they can participate. Lausanne has great potential to dialogue with local churches and support them in fulfilling the Great Commission. To do this, we need to share more in local churches and seminaries about what is being worked on in spaces like Lausanne and connect with key leaders to raise awareness of the statements in the Lausanne documents.
Opportunities for the Great Commission
As a second reflection challenge for the working groups, the proposed question asked the groups to identify what promising developments or innovations they see that can accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Among the responses, the following categorical opportunities were highlighted:
- Use of technology and arts
- Increased collaboration and alliances and strengthened theological education institutions
- Increased participation of younger generations
- Discipleship as axis of the Great Commission
The use of technology in the Great Commission
At the core, it is essential that we assign specialists to the early exploration of new technologies and trends, and proactively anticipate the ways in which these technologies can be applied to the work of evangelism and Christian mission.
- The advancement of virtual education can help in the expansion of the training of pastors and missionaries.
- The use of technology in an appropriate way—not to demonize networks, but to be part of them with content that offers truth.
- Latin America would be great for the local mission field where different languages and dialects are spoken.
- The impact on the availability of the Bible in different technological platforms (oral, visual, etc.).
- Through technology, people from places without direct access to churches or Christians, or from persecuted church contexts, could find an opportunity to be part of virtual communities.
- Digital ministries (different from technology as a catalyst for face-to- face ministries) where Christian streamers and influencers are doing Bible studies. They are using the infrastructure of new technologies for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
The arts as a tool for the Great Commission
The creative arts (eg, visual, drama, etc.) can be used for proclamation, reflection, and study of the word. The expressions of art such as cinema, theater, and music can be used to connect with the diverse realities of today’s society and to make the gospel known in each of these areas. The challenge is to redeem art, discerning its expressions of death and life.
Ministerial collaboration and alliances in the Great Commission
We call to intensify prayer due to our contemporary moment of global collaboration. A new era of partnership is needed between movements and agencies to reach unreached ethnic groups. This expands to include governmental organizations, foundations, etc. with common interests. Other aspects:
- National mobilization movements (eg, churches, resources, people, agencies) through alliances.
- Urbanization allows for strategic collaboration between local organizations and churches.
- The new perspective of networking, based on the unity between pastoral work and the various stakeholders.
Strengthening theological institutions to fulfill the Great Commission
A key requirement is to make missiology central to the curriculum of theological seminaries.
- The standardization of remote or virtual study platforms allows greater access to theological, missionary, and leadership education that impacts communities at a minimum cost, which will allow the proliferation of seminaries and Bible institutes that empower missionaries in their work centers.
- Development of applications (apps), with the use of AI for theological education, facilitating easy access to materials, bibliographies, biblical commentaries, and ministerial tools to those who today do not have direct access to such materials.
The participation of the new generations in the Great Commission
Consider that the new generation is more collaborative. Therefore, we should be very intentional in the development and specialization of teamwork—influencing new generations to use technological advances to advance the gospel.
- Mission-minded Christian student networks
- Christian start-ups to carry the gospel
- Be intentional in re-thinking the mission in the field of work of the younger generation.
Discipleship as the axis of the Great Commission
Discipleship plans according to the socio-cultural context, placing trust in children, adolescents, and youth for the responsibilities of Christian ministry and fulfillment of the Great Commission.
- Disciple-making movements (self-responsibility, commitment to the mission, mutuality, cooperation/support).
- Work on the concept of contemporary organic discipleship using all the technological means we can use (children, parents, church, businesspeople, etc.).
Missionary listening to fulfill the Great Commission
We need to open spaces of sharing to listen to the needs of society and, in this way, to present/communicate the gospel. This requires an active listening process for the church, leadership, and new generations. We should not be afraid to innovate and to establish inter-institutional and inter-ecclesial connections and dialogues, considering the tension that exists between the polarizing theological positions—proclamation only and social action only.
Missionary Concerns
As part of the responses from the worktables, several Latin American missionary concerns were identified and discussed. The following is a summary of the responses of the issues of missionary concern today.
Concern 1—The role of the church in God’s mission
The church still does not understand the true role or essence of its life in the world. Below are several areas the worktables identified as areas where there remain questions about the church’s role.
- The relevance of the church: How the church connects with the reality of human beings today: the growing and serious climate crisis, wars, materialism, technological and cultural changes, post-pandemic reality (loneliness, suicide, etc.).
- Narrow agenda of the local churches: Only concerned with ‘soul winning’ inwardly and not outwardly. An opposite and negative tendency are also noticeable: the push for a socio-political agenda without the centrality of Christ and the gospel. There is a need for an intentional focus on the work on developing mature character in the church, with scriptural foundations.
- Polarization: We see society separated and aggressive. The church is in this context and does not dialogue, ignoring the current issues. Even within the church, there is a lost sense of unity.
- The unity of the Church as a missionary force: The missionary movement from Latin America deserves to be highlighted. Despite the enormous political and economic challenges in the region, missionaries continue to be sent out. According to Comibam, there are some 33,000 field missionaries serving in 200 nations. This source says that the average sending rate has been maintained, and that attrition is disappointing. At the same time, there are many challenges ahead. We need more collaboration of the churches as a movement without falling into institutionalism and being naïve in the management of power and of personal or international interests.
- Lack of biblical and missionary training: There is room for growth in the cultural and linguistic training of Christians and missionaries to impact the culture, placing the Bible as the authority in the church, creating disciples who know how to present responsible responses to the Scriptures.
Concern 2—Poverty and social injustice in the world
Like the first concern, this concern highlights the special role that the church has in engaging with poverty and social injustices within Latin America. While this is a multi-dimensional concern, below are several areas where there is need for further church engagement. The worktables identified several areas where there remain questions about the church’s role, and the inordinately few missionaries who are engaged in these parts of the world. These areas include: poverty, urbanization, violence, drug trafficking, corruption, migration issues, social injustices, minority communities, businesses, and work.
Concern 3—Lack of focus and intentional work in the new generations
The worktables also highlighted a concern for the lack of intentional work in the new generations. There is an observed lack of communication with integration of, and evangelization to, the new generations. These realities have, in part, created challenges with generational replacement of leadership. The new generations are not very concerned about taking on these challenges as they often value individualism and are distanced from the church. Thus, there is a need to renew recruitment strategies and increase intergenerational dialogue, taking special care with the language of messaging to the younger generations.
Concern 4—Lack of use of new technologies in the mission
Lastly, the worktables further highlighted the gap, need, and potential strategic use of new technologies in mission. There is an observable influence of media and digital communications on younger generations, and the populations at large, which the church and mission have yet to fully utilize. Further, the church appears to additionally be disengaged from the broader movement of technology, which has generated numerous challenges to society and simultaneously opened new frontiers of culture, including the development of artificial intelligence. The use of technology is a necessary part of mission today, and the church must work diligently to understand and use these tools in mission.
Latin American Message to the Global Church
In conclusion, we asked to reflect on the Latin American contribution that adds value to global mission, while maintaining our own color, our Latin American tone. We have selected some proposals that have been emphasized in several groups, trying to give shape to a coherent contribution.
First, we demonstrate to the global church that it is possible to do mission from suffering and difficulties. This is a reality that crosses the continent. The mandate is to embrace the call of the Lord Jesus to serve from where we are, bringing to the mission this face that can be integrated into the world that needs to receive the gospel.
Second, we remind the global church of the need to keep putting mission into its fullness in practice. In Lausanne 1974 there was a prophetic call. That voice has been taking dimension throughout these decades. In this difficult time, we once again wish to make this voice heard. We must not forget to be coherent with the gospel of the kingdom of God and his justice. Integral mission was heard loud and clear then and has thus continued during these years. However, at this time it is necessary to recognize that the term ‘integral mission’ has become a kind of buzz word and has been used for many things to the point of almost losing its meaning.
We must be bearers of the message of reconciliation, forgiveness, and compassion, inwardly and as a genuine expression of the gospel; to allow us to enjoy the multiform grace of God and to be enriched by the multicultural contributions.
This has been the case to the point that many times instead of uniting, we have seen that it divides. An increasing number of mission leaders are proposing that we address ‘the integrality of the mission’. We understand that the mission of God is whole, integral—near-far, spiritual-physical, etc. There are no compartments, separations or divides.
Third, we remind the global church to be a resilient church. The Latin American quality of resilience has marked the path of the communities of faith. Despite political totalitarianisms, natural disasters, deep economic crises, and the post-pandemic suffering of mental health, teenage suicide, etc., the church is still resilient and called to be a voice of hope for our peoples. We know that other regions of the ‘global village’ share this reality, and we affirm this call.
Fourth, we remind the global church that we are a global missionary force, and we want to keep growing. To see that happen, we need to make alliances to serve, keep creativity, see contribution of professionals in different fields, etc. All this is critical. We need to break the paradigm of the last century so that the churches of the North can recognize us as co- partners in the global missionary task. We have strengths particular to our Latin-Caribbean culture. For instance we highlight the ability to initiate something creatively and with few resources. This quality can serve to plant the seed of the gospel in unreached regions.
Fifth, we advocate to the global church to see the value of unity in diversity. We must build bridges of dialogue and cooperation among churches/mission agencies/NGOs. We must be bearers of the message of reconciliation, forgiveness, and compassion, inwardly and as a genuine expression of the gospel; to allow us to enjoy the multiform grace of God and to be enriched by the multicultural contributions. We must promote a mission that crosses borders from South to North and from West to East. The mission of God motivates us to be agents of unity, to confront the ethnocentric views of the world, of closed borders, and to value each contribution.
Sixth, we commend the global church to serve as churches that are therapeutic communities in a hurting, helpless, and crisis-ridden world. We should be therapeutic communities rooted in hope, as followers and servants of the God of all hope: to face suffering, to embrace the homeless, migrants and displaced who roam countries and cities, looking for a place to live, the grieving who have immersed themselves in substance abuse, pleasures, and anti-life models. We are the vanguard of the kingdom.
Seventh, we call the global church to relational discipleship; discipleship around the table. This is a quality that crosses the continent from the Rio Bravo in Mexico to the southern tip of Ushuaia in Argentina. We are people who celebrate the table, the dialogue, the welcoming home, the breaking of bread to share with others, the after-dinner meal, etc. It is our cultural imprint. We recognize that this cultural imprint is shared in other regions of the world. Therefore, it is a call to rethink discipleship, a step beyond the intellectual and affecting lifestyle. We can take advantage of this quality of Latin America.
In summary, we recognize Latin America as a plurality of voices and perspectives, which have given us a cultural identity that we contribute to the global mission. The Fourth Lausanne Congress is an opportunity to unite our voice with the voices of the other continents, until the ‘whole world hears the call of the gospel of the kingdom of God and his justice’.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, this gathering and time of reflection of Latin American leaders, reminded us that it is God who is the protagonist of this Great Commission (not us) and that it is he who invites us to join in what he is already doing in the world. Therefore, we must be attentive to listen to the voice of God’s Spirit through his word. We rejoice that his mission continues to unfold and extends despite obstructions, delays, setbacks, ignorance, and disobedience. We are on mission with God, there is nothing better.