Conversations on Mission
Follow up Dialogue from the Lausanne #L4Congress
Many of the Lausanne delegates wanted to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. As such, Ed Stetzer—who serves as editor of Outreach Magazine, a sister site to ChurchLeaders.com—created this portal to share articles from delegates to the congress.
You can find Ed’s four-part series requested before the congress by Korean church leaders here. His two articles during the congress are here and here. Other articles are listed as they are published.
This forum is no longer taking submissions, but we hope you find the articles helpful.
This is not an official Lausanne Movement outlet but simply a series of conversations posted in the hope of promoting dialogue in the spirit of Lausanne.
Could It Be That We Also Need Flies?—Flies as Part of a Healthy-Holistic Lausanne Ecosystem
By Dave DeVries
The lack of a compelling and persistent call to the unevangelized and the unreached at the fourth Lausanne Congress left me deeply saddened.
The lack of a compelling and persistent call to the unevangelized and the unreached at the fourth Lausanne Congress left me deeply saddened.
Lausanne Movement and Grassroots Ecumenism
By Ruslan Zagidulin
I see the massive potential for grassroots ecumenism, and the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Congress is a starting point for its development towards the 2050 goal.
I see the massive potential for grassroots ecumenism, and the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Congress is a starting point for its development towards the 2050 goal.
Lausanne 4: Learning To Listen to Diverse Perspectives
By Christian Mungai
At Lausanne 4, we saw the beauty of the church in its potency as we embraced and engaged the theme “Let the Church declare and display Christ together.”
At Lausanne 4, we saw the beauty of the church in its potency as we embraced and engaged the theme “Let the Church declare and display Christ together.”
Creation Care and the Gospel: A Letter to the Lausanne Theology Working Group
By Andrew Loke
It is important to understand the gospel within the larger biblical narrative of God’s work from creation to new creation. Nevertheless, to say that creation care is part of the gospel would be to imply that good works (caring for creation) are part of the gospel, which they are not.
A Christian College President Reflects on Lausanne 4
By Michael Hammond
It was an honor to be a part of the fourth Lausanne Congress (L4), a beautiful demonstration of the church across the world, celebrating together and focusing on the timeless principles of the Bible and the good news of the Gospel.
Lausanne and the Brown Church: An Asian-Latino Reflection on the Inspiration, Pains, and Public Witness of L4
By Robert Chao Romero
As a professor and pastor, Lausanne was a privilege to attend because it brought together my identity as an “evangélico” in the tradition of Samuel Escobar and René Padilla, and my research and teaching on the Brown Church.
The Seoul Statement: What Is It and Why Is It What It Is?
By Steve Bryan
An overlooked feature in the early response to the Seoul Statement is that it is, well, a statement. It is not a covenant, a manifesto, or a commitment, but a statement.
Lausanne: When Strategy and Vision Lead to (Dis)Order
By Jeffrey Thomas
Strategy and vision can lead to disorder even as we strive for order. In this article, I want to explore a few observations and loving critiques of the fourth Lausanne Congress (L4).
Recommendations From an Anthropologist and L4 Listening Team Member
By Christine Jeske
As an anthropologist trained to analyze qualitative data from interviews and participant observation, I often refer to myself as a professor, author, and listener. I was thrilled, therefore, to learn that I was selected to volunteer at Lausanne 4 on the Listening Team.
Where Is the ‘Child in the Midst’? A Response to L4’s Children-at-Risk Report
By Susan Greener
The Children-at-Risk Issue Group was formed to equip the church and para-church organizations to bring the whole gospel to children-at-risk, advocate on their behalf, and invite them into meaningful participation on mission.
Lausanne 4: Together in Christ, Yet Diverse
By Allan Varghese Meloottu
As a young intercultural studies scholar from India who lives in the USA and serves in theological higher education, attending Lausanne Four (4) in Seoul-Incheon was an exciting experience.
Evangelism in the 2024 Seoul Statement
By Greg Wilton
After reading the Seoul Statement, I am concerned that the Lausanne Movement existing for World Evangelization may be the least clear document on world evangelization in the entirety of its existence.
Lausanne: In Need of a Plan
By S. Joshua Swamidass
The fourth Lausanne Congress exposed that we are a family with many disagreements still. These disagreements troubled some, but they comforted me.
Heralds of Hope: Reclaiming the Power of Proclamation Evangelism for Today’s Global Church
By Desmond Henry
The Seoul Statement, building on earlier foundational documents like the Lausanne Covenant, Manila Manifesto, and Cape Town Commitment, became an example of the assumed priority of evangelism rather than a stated one.
A Sri Lankan’s Reflections on L4 and Integral Mission
By Nathanael Somanathan
The Lausanne movement, since its inception in 1974, has been about world evangelization. However, evangelization understood as one mode of mission, was not to be separated from social action.
Embodying the Great Collaboration: Reflections on the Fourth Lausanne Congress
By Bosco Tung
By coordinating our efforts and making room for focused collaboration, the global church can truly live out its calling as one unified body in mission to the world.
Lausanne and the Voice of the ‘Flies’: Concerns From a Majority World Church Leader
By Kazusa Okaya
During his closing remarks at the Fourth Lausanne Congress, Michael Oh urged us not to be like the “flies” that see only filth, but to be like “bees” who see beauty.
Recentering Evangelism: Reflections on the Lausanne Movement
By Craig Ott
Evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel in all its fullness. Without gospel proclamation, there is no gospel transformation.
Technology and The Holy Spirit: The Role of AI in Global Church Strategy
By Jessie Cruickshank
The idea of depending on AI for church strategy is unsettling. Using AI for data summarization is one thing; strategic direction is another.
Well Done, Lausanne! Reflections on the Full Week of Lausanne 4
By Timothy Tennent
The breathtaking beauty of a Lausanne gathering: 5,200 people from nearly every country on earth, worshipping in joy and harmony.
Learnings From Lausanne, Part 6: Broken and Beautiful
By Philip Miller
As the Fourth Lausanne Congress ended, we celebrated the Lord’s supper as a global church of over 5,000 delegates from 200+ countries.
Reflecting on Lausanne Congress 2024: A Call to a Diverse, Holistic Gospel
By Derwin Gray
Reflecting on the Lausanne Congress 2024 in Seoul felt like experiencing a foretaste of the new heavens and new earth.
Declaring, Displaying, and the Future of Lausanne
By Ed Stetzer
The missiology of Lausanne is characterized by its unwavering commitment to “integral mission.”
Learnings From Lausanne, Part 5: Declaring and Displaying
By Philip Miller
As day five of Lausanne 4 draws to a close, I reflect on the moving presentation the Korean church gave of God’s faithfulness in unleashing a gospel movement.
Learnings From Lausanne, Part 4: The Incarnational Advantage
By Philip Miller
Reflecting on day four of Lausanne 4, I’m learning an important lesson we might call The Incarnational Advantage.
Responding to the Lausanne Seoul Statement: We Need a Greater Focus on Evangelism’s Place in the Holistic Mission
By Ed Stetzer
The Lausanne Seoul Statement needs a stronger call to prioritize evangelism.
Lausanne Speaker’s Comments About Israel Spark Backlash and Apologies
By Stephanie Martin
At the Fourth Lausanne Congress, comments made by Ruth Padilla DeBorst about the Middle East conflict offended some delegates, prompting an apology.
Learnings From Lausanne, Part 3: Courageous Faith
By Philip Miller
On day three of Lausanne 4, we gathered as a global church to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters.
Learnings From Lausanne, Part 2: The Beauty of Community
By Philip Miller
Reflecting on day two of Lausanne 4, I saw the beauty of community through our global brothers and sisters.
4 Hopes for the Lausanne Congress (L4) in Seoul, Korea
By Ed Stetzer
Each Lausanne Congress provides the opportunity to put down markers—statements of faith that shape the movement’s future.
Foundations of Faith and the Future of Evangelism: A Look at the Lausanne Movement, Part 1
By Ed Stetzer
As we prepare for Lausanne 4, we should remember the principles that have shaped the movement and how they can guide the future of evangelism.
