Almost 1000 participants of the Lausanne Fourth Congress chose to collaborate on this gap—highlighting the priority given to it. The health of the global Church in 2050—including our ability to participate effectively in the Great Commission—depends on those referred to as the ‘next generation’. Though this term refers to children, youth and young adults, at the outset, there is a suggestion this changes to the ‘younger generation’, as the term ‘next’ is part of the gap problem—where often this generation is considered to be a ‘generation in waiting’ rather than a generation that is already active.
Listening to the Current Reality
Globally, the younger generation is not one homogenous group. There are many differences between children, youth, and young adults. There are also regional differences, and significant differences exist between those that have (for example, the ever-growing ‘middle class’) and those that risk being left behind (for example, children at risk). However, this generation is also the most globally connected and more influenced by global trends than any previous generation. Therefore, as with any generation, it is possible to identify commonalities, some of which are positive. For example, this generation is not content with accepting the status quo; they want change and believe it is possible, and many want to be part of bringing about that change.
This generation is unwilling to accept the discrepancy between what is preached and what is lived out; they reject duplicity and crave authenticity. They want to move beyond the sacred/ secular divide—what happens on Sunday should connect with what happens between Sundays. They want a gospel to be good news in the here and now—not just for after death. They are engaged in, and often passionate about, the issues of the day—identity, justice, climate change—and they want these issues to be addressed and acted on by their churches. Unless we address these gaps, a divide will exist between the older and younger generations.
Key areas of concern include:
- Changing Parental Influence: Younger generations are less influenced by their parents and extended families than previous generations. Parents are busier than ever with work, and are more distracted (eg by their phones). Meanwhile, in many societies, families are retreating ever-increasingly into their nuclear units, where an extended support network would be more helpful than ever.
- Discipleship Needs: Although there are bright spots, the overall picture is that we need to do much better regarding our discipleship efforts. Concerns include either approaches that focus more on entertainment than communicating the gospel; or those that preach a narrow, legalistic gospel that limits focus on a transformative relationship with Jesus. Recognising that the younger generation is characterised by a yearning for relationships with others, authenticity, integrity, and transformation (both of themselves and society), healthy approaches to discipleship are essential—presenting a significant opportunity.
- Lack of Opportunity to Participate: All too often, older leaders do not invite the younger generations into positions of responsibility. The lack of working together, mentorship, and healthy passing on of the baton of leadership leads to withdrawal or friction between generations.
- Technology: For the younger generation, it’s increasingly true to say that digital technology is not a part of life. It’s integrated into nearly every aspect of life. This presents many challenges but provides staggering, never-before-imagined opportunities to advance the Great Commission.
As we consider how we can collaborate to close this gap, we are not starting with nothing. On every continent, God is evidently at work within the lives of children, youth, and young adults, and there are many examples of the Church rising to meet the challenges and opportunities. For each of these ‘areas of concern’—parenting, discipleship, participation, and technology—there are many excellent examples of innovation, intentionality, and progress. There is hope.
Imagining a Preferred Reality
By 2050, we want to see a Church that is bigger—and healthier—than anyone could have ever expected. We want to see those we currently define as ‘the younger generation’ passionately following Jesus—igniting a transformative movement of disciple-making churches in every community. We strive for churches that nurture growth and disciple-making among all people and places, creating a ripple effect of faith and hope. We imagine a truly intergenerational church—when this ‘younger generation’ becomes the ‘middle generation’. We pray that they will learn from past mistakes and be the ‘connecting generation’—bringing together, in genuine participation, the younger and older generations.
- Family: Healthier families will indicate success and be a foundational building block in growing healthy churches and influencing healthy societies. Churches will be intentional about nurturing marriages and supporting positive parenting. For Christian families, discipleship will begin at home—not outsourced to churches. This will result in ‘families on a mission’ in their communities. However, this won’t reduce the role of churches in discipleship. Churches will be equipping families, supporting families in crisis, and recognising that in most communities, ‘Christian families’ will be in the minority. However, in 2050, Christian families will increasingly be beacons of hope.
- Discipleship: Churches should be spaces where the young are listened to and encouraged to practice discernment and prayer to deeply listen to how God uniquely calls them as part of a multigenerational community. There will be no doubt that the Church understands its call to make disciples rather than converts.
- Participation: Christian leadership in 2050 will not be limited to a select few or the most experienced; it includes every believer—young and old, individuals, families, and children alike. Churches faithfully engage with God’s word—communicating it clearly and confidently, enabling it to be lived out and speak into the most complex issues of the day.
- Technology: Technology will look more different than we can possibly imagine today, but whatever it looks like, churches will equip people to use it well and make the most of all it offers to make disciples of all nations.
These things will provide the foundations to ensure that all Christians are meaningfully engaging in their context and culture and enable them to make unique contributions to transforming their communities and culture. We envision Christ-like leaders emerging in every church and going out into every sector of society—collaborating and sharing resources as they go, thus having a profound Kingdom impact as the values of the gospel restore communities and reshape cultures. In the same way that a generationally divided church will be a thing of the past, so too will be the sacred/secular divide. This inspires us to see every area of life as part of God’s work —from the care of creation to the transformation of communities. Through active service, churches will be known for reflecting God’s love, justice, and mercy in every corner of society. And as our light shines before others, they will see our good deeds and turn to our Father in heaven. (Paraphrase: Matthew 5:16).
Creating a Way to Close the Gap
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” (Ezek 22:30)
In Bible times, cities and walls represented powerful images of God’s desires for His people. The walls provided protection from the enemy so that cities would not be vulnerable to destruction. God tells Ezekiel that he is looking for people who will stand in the gap in the wall, risk their lives, and secure the city’s safety. Toward 2050, God continues to call on His people to stand in the gap and surmount obstacles to fulfil His plan for the world. If God looked at us today, would He find us willing?
To fulfil our biblical mandate to reach the generation of children, youth, and young adults for Christ, root them in the Word of God, and release them to fulfil their divine purpose to glorify Christ in their lives, there are three significant changes we need to make.
- Foster Intergenerational Unity: We need to encourage and make way for the young generation to stand in the gap together with the older generations through intergenerational unity and discipleship. We will fail before we start if we create (or continue with) an ‘us’ and ‘them’ approach. We must be together. We must intentionally foster deep and strong relationships of trust, understanding, and unity between the older and younger generations. We must prioritise actionable strategies that provide as many meaningful, age-appropriate ministry opportunities as possible now and not just see the younger generation as agents of mission in the future. Programs like “I Need You Groups” foster strong, supportive relationships across generations, promoting a unified, mission-driven church community.
- Revitalise Discipleship Models: We need to enhance how we engage our children, youth, and young adults in Kingdom building by revisiting our disciple-making, mentoring, and leadership training mindsets and strategies. These three elements are key to our mindset and strategy shift:
- Focus on equipping families: As the Lausanne Issue Network on Children and Families describes, “transformation occurs when parents and caregivers are living out their conviction about the powerful role of home discipleship.” We need to redevelop our mission strategy, which prioritises partnering with parents as they disciple their children to know God’s mission and be a blessing to the nations.
- Global to local engagement: When we apply best practices locally while keeping a vision for global impact, a ripple effect occurs. Sharing successful models and experiences across contexts will inspire other communities and strengthen the connection between local churches and the global mission.
- Digital connectivity and communication: Digital platforms help ensure ongoing connection and collaboration across regions. We can continuously share updates, resources, and prayer requests through online platforms, helping youth access discipleship resources and support from mentors worldwide.
- Advocacy: We need to do significantly more in our advocacy to amplify the voices and speak on behalf of children whose voices have been silenced for a long time. We need to actively speak up, defend, and act on behalf of children who are marginalized, left behind, or are victims of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
God has already been at work. All praise and glory to His name. So much good work has been going on. There are churches, ministries, advocacy groups, global networks and movements that have been standing in the gap and passionately working towards reaching the next generation. But there is much more to be done—and together, in the next decade, we can do more by God’s grace and power.
Communicating a Prayerful Proposal
The Cape Town Commitment says this about children and youth:
Children and young people are the Church of today, not merely of tomorrow. Young people have great potential as active agents in God’s mission. They represent an enormous under-used pool of influencers with sensitivity to the voice of God and a willingness to respond to him. We rejoice in the excellent ministries that serve among and with children, and long for such work to be multiplied since the need is so great.
We serve the God of the generations, whose will is for every generation to declare and display Christ together. The goal of our collaboration is to see every child, youth, and young adult in every tribe, language, and nation in the world follow Christ and reflect His love, holiness, and lordship over all.
For the sake of Christ and in His name, this is our clarion call for Spirit-led collaboration. We call on the Global Church to amplify the voices of the young generation today. They are already acting now and seek to do more to fulfil God’s purpose in their generation.
Our strategy for collaboration will be marked by:
- Commitment to intergenerational unity, intentional discipleship, and mentoring.
- Sharing and celebrating “Glocal” engagement and sharing resources to promote best practices.
- Optimising digital platforms for enhanced collaboration and forging partnerships across churches, communities, ministry organisations, institutions, and networks.
- Prioritising and strategically using our influence to amplify children’s voices and pull our resources together to speak up for children in vulnerable situations.
By building a legacy of discipleship and service, we will seek to equip the younger generation to fulfil the Great Commission in their generation and extend the church’s impact across generations and communities. Our hearts beat together with the psalmist who declared in Psalm 78 these verses:
We will not hide them from their descendants.
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
Psalm 78:4-7 NIV
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Josue de Paiva Sant’anna and Maria for facilitating Gap 3 and all the affinity and language hosts:
Seblewongel Asrat Denneque, Adnan Azhar Sandhu, Gustavo Borges, Luke Cawley, Vania Christian, Margunn Dahle, Selvi Ganesh, Alexander Ganta, Pearl Ganta, Abigail Hegaud, Ashish Hirday, Eliezer Magalhaes, Sudhakar Mondithoka, Ester Montefalcone, David Mukonyoro, Davide Neri, Sarju TR Rijal, John Rinehimer, Dave Rofkahr, Sreedhar Subramaniam, Serah Wangari
Authors
Maggie Gathuku | ndarimaggie@gmail.com
Maggie Gathuku is the CEO of Timazi Africa, a non-denominational discipleship-focused ministry that proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ to high school students in Africa so that they may know him, love him, live for him, and make him known. They do this by training high school teachers to be disciple-makers and publishing discipleship resources for use in the work. Maggie has a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) and a Master of Education (Curriculum Development). She desires to see a committed Christian teacher in every classroom in Africa.
Phil Green | p.green@viva.org
Phil Green is the CEO of Viva – a global children’s charity that mobilises networks of churches and community-based organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children. He is the co-catalyst for the Lausanne Movement’s Children at Risk issue network.
Michelle Sheba Tolentino | mtolentino@lausanne.org
Michelle Sheba Tolentino is Co-founder and Executive Director of Made in Hope, a community that comes alongside women survivors of sex trafficking and their children in Manila, Philippines. She is a spiritual director, a broadcaster in a weekly children’s radio program with FEBC Philippines and co-catalyst for the Lausanne Movement Children-at-Risk issue network.
Menchit Wong | menchit.wong@gmail.com
Menchit Wong currently serves as co-Vice-Chair of the Lausanne Movement International Board. She also serves in OneHope as a Strategic Networks Liaison for Collaborative Partnerships. Menchit also volunteers to help provide strategy consulting with two global initiatives: the Lausanne Leadership Journey and the Galilean Movement.