After Lausanne

Amid many bleak and discouraging items in the news of late, the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation can bring us both some joy and hope.

Apart from its more major achievements, the Congress produced a staggering number of photographs chronicling the event, and browsing through them it is hard not to be encouraged by the sheer breadth of those attending and the evident joy. It is worth taking a moment to flick through some of those pictures online.

There was some controversy, as our news report makes clear. This should not surprise us unduly, given the picture the New Testament paints of the early churches and the propensity of any group of Christians to disagree on some matters.

The aim of the Congress was greater global collaboration between gospel partners to further world mission. No doubt the relationships built and conversations shared will bring momentum to facilitate this. But it would be interesting also to know what concrete steps Lausanne intends post-Congress to take this aspiration forward.

The Seoul Statement is also well worth reading. There is a wealth of thoughtful theology here, notwithstanding the further work that has been promised after some delegates voiced concern about a lack of opportunity to contribute. Again, it would be good to know what Lausanne intends to ‘do’ with this statement.

All in all, let us be encouraged, and give thanks to God for this event, praying that it will indeed help us fulfil Jesus’ commission to ‘make disciples of all nations’.