Bees and Flies: A Call to See the Beauty in the Global Church

Michael Oh passionately calls for global unity among evangelicals to fulfill the Great Commission. He stresses the beauty and necessity of collective action to make disciples of all nations, warning that 86% of Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims may never hear the gospel. Oh emphasizes that reaching the unreached requires participation from every believer, not just pastors and missionaries. He highlights the need for coordinated efforts, urging the global church to share resources and disciple-making strategies to spread the gospel more effectively. Through the metaphor of flies and bees, Oh encourages believers to focus on the beauty and potential of the global Church rather than its flaws. He celebrates the sacrificial generosity of those supporting the Congress and looks ahead to future mobilization efforts, such as the YLG in Latin America in 2026. Oh concludes by calling the body of Christ to rise together, demonstrating the beauty of God’s work across the world.

Talk Outline

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Togetherness
00:45 The Great Commission: A Collective Responsibility
01:51 Global Challenges and the Need for Unity
04:47 Embracing Our Role in the Body of Christ
09:05 Celebrating Diversity and Sacrificial Giving
12:58 The Beauty of the Church: A Call to Action
16:56 Conclusion: Rise Up, Beautiful Body of Christ

This recording is from the Fourth Lausanne Congress, held in Incheon, South Korea in September 2024. This gathering brought together global church leaders to collaborate on mission strategies for advancing the gospel. Through plenary sessions, table group discussions, and collaborative workshops, the Congress focused on addressing critical gaps in global mission today.

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Speaker's Bio

Michael Oh

Global Executive Director/CEO

Dr Michael Young-Suk Oh is global executive director / CEO of the Lausanne Movement.

Michael is of Korean descent, born in America. Michael received his BA, MS, and PhD degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well as an MA in regional studies, East Asia, at Harvard University.

Michael, his wife Pearl, and their five children served as missionaries in Nagoya, Japan from 2004 to 2016. In January 2004, he founded a ministry called Christ Bible Institute (CBI), which includes Christ Bible Seminary, the Heart & Soul Cafe, and a church-planting ministry. He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for CBI and chancellor of Christ Bible Seminary.

Michael’s first involvement with the Lausanne Movement was at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization. Then in 2006 Michael served on the younger leaders planning team for the 2006 Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering, where he also gave the keynote address. In 2007 he joined the Lausanne Board of Directors as its youngest member. He has served as global executive director / CEO since March 2013.