Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.
As I reflect on the Lausanne Congress 2024 in Seoul, I feel like experienced a forestate of the new heavens and new earth. I was surrounded brothers and sisters from 202 nations; it was a beautiful multiethnic, multi-generational gathering of global church leaders for the sake of the gospel.
In many ways, this congress is a vivid reminder of the picture we see in Revelation 7:9—a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne of God.
The Gospel: Beyond Personal Salvation
I appreciated one of the themes that emerged from Lausanne 2024; it was the reminder that the gospel is more than personal salvation. As followers of Jesus, we cannot reduce the gospel to just a transaction between the individual and God. Yes, salvation is deeply personal and wonderful, but it is also cosmic (Col 1:19-20). The gospel is the good news that through the life, death, and resurrection of King Jesus, the powers of sin, death, and evil have been defeated. It is the announcement that Jesus is Lord over all creation, and he is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). And as his followers, are called to declare and display the gospel (Matt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 5:18-19). We are all everyday missionaries.
The full name of the Lausanne Movement is the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization. I agree with Lausanne North American Director, Dr. Ed Stetzer that,
A stronger statement on the priority of evangelism would help the Seoul Statement. These statements will influence a generation, far more than the congress itself, so let’s make it stronger and not leave #L4Congress without the world knowing that we know mission drift happens—and is already happening in many places in evangelicalism. Let’s help an entire generation know that we are deeply committed to holding evangelism central to the mission.
Evangelism is the heartbeat that empowers the Body of Christ to declare and display King Jesus.
The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (Romans 1:3-5 NLT)
A Gospel That Heals
In our fallen world, where pain and suffering seem to have the loudest voices, the gospel speaks a word of healing (Luke 4:16-18). At Lausanne, it was clear that the gospel isn’t simply about escaping earth to get to heaven but about bringing the kingdom of God to bear on earth. The gospel provides present power in the here and now, offering healing and reconciliation. This is a message our fractured world desperately needs. From the lingering effects of the global pandemic to the ongoing racial and ethnic divisions in various societies, we live in a time when the need for healing is undeniable. But that healing isn’t just individual; it is communal and systemic.
The African and Latin American leaders I encountered at Lausanne spoke powerfully about the role of the church in evangelism, ethnic reconciliation, and addressing social injustice. They reminded us that the gospel calls us to stand with the oppressed, advocate for the marginalized, and be agents of reconciliation in a world that is torn apart by division. Their passion reminded me of Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18, where he declared that He came to proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. Our Savior is a healing Savior, and His church must be a healing community.
A Global Family on Mission
Lausanne 2024 also reaffirmed that the church is a global family on a global mission. Sometimes, in our Western context, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the church is primarily a Western institution. But the congress was a powerful reminder that the center of gravity in global Christianity has shifted. The majority of Christians today are from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This is not something to fear or resist but to celebrate and embrace.
