Courageous Faith: Sharing Christ Amidst Persecution

Patrick Fung reflects on how persecution has historically advanced the mission of the church. Drawing from Acts 8:1-4 and Acts 11:19-26, Fung highlights the boldness of early believers who, though scattered by persecution, spread the gospel wherever they went. He emphasizes the importance of trusting God’s sovereignty, noting that persecution never kills the church—rather, a compromised gospel will. Through powerful examples like the growth of the self-sufficient Chinese church, Fung encourages believers to release control and demonstrate a visible faith, even in opposition, trusting God to work in unexpected ways.

Talk Outline

00:00 Introduction
00:49 The Radical Disciples of Antioch
04:32 The Power of the Unnamed Disciples
11:06 Crossing Cultural Barriers
15:19 The Power of Trust and Collaboration
20:30 The Faithful Witness Amidst Persecution
22:13 Conclusion: The Resilience of the Church

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.

Speaker's Bio

Patrick Fung

YLGen Advisory Team Chair

Patrick was born in Hong Kong and received medical training in Australia and the UK. He, and his wife, Jennie, previously served as medical missionaries in South Asia. Patrick currently serves as the global ambassador of OMF International (formerly the China Inland Mission). He formerly served as the general director of OMF International from 2005–2023, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with East Asia's peoples. Patrick was formerly on the Lausanne Movement's international board and is currently the advisory team chair of Lausanne YLGen and the programme chair for the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.