Reports From Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, October 2010
 See videos of sessions from the Congress here.
1) The 3rd Lausanne Congress Officially Opened
As 4200 leaders from 198 countries gathered in Cape Town, the Lausanne congress on World Evangelism was opened with celebration, historical reflection, drama depicting often the sad state of the world, worship and opening remarks by Doug Birdsall, it's executive chair, leading a host of international leaders. Mention was made of 100 000 leaders that were linked by GlobaLink.
The congress is reportedly the most diverse event of its kind in the history of the Christian church. Gender, nationality, generations and theological diversity were unprecedented.
Words of welcome were read from Dr Billy Graham and John Stott.
The Archbishop of Uganda urged participants to have a new vision for the 21st century
Reference was made to the late Dr Ralph Winter who at the 1974 congress challenged the audience with 16 000 people groups not yet reached.
Doug Birdsall spoke of a possible next congress where no such peoples would be found and where all languages would be engaged in Scripture translation. These last two points draw most of the audience applause.
'Triumphalism' was critized but the triumph of Christ on the cross emphasized.
A return to the authority of Christ and Scripture was called for.
Concern was expressed that although the Christian population will probably reach 3 billion that other major faiths such as Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus remain largely unreached.
From the platform prayers for unity and the breaking of barriers were made. Greater levels of partnership, thinking, collaboration were called for and hope expressed that the congress would be a catalyst event for work of God.
Special note was made about the Chinese delegation that was not present and prayers for them and the country of China were expressed.
The opening event had a distinctive African feel and flavor and thanks was expressed to Africa, South Africa and the city of Cape Town.
The congress started today and will end Sunday the 24th of October in Cape Town Johannesburg.
Reporting by Martin Deacon - call2all media team
2) A New Generation Needs To Be Mentored Into Significance
The global Church has a leadership problem, according to the authors of a survey conducted for the Cape Town 2010 Congress. Most leaders surveyed believe the top causes of our problems are a lack of effective training, and that older leaders don’t allow younger leaders to develop.
The survey, with over 1000 respondents from all regions of the world, was conducted on behalf of the Lausanne Leadership Development Working Group. However, only one aspect touched on emerging leaders, on a busy and stimulating Friday for the 4200 delegates presently meeting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
The results were presented in a multiplex session entitled 'How do we build a new generation of Christ-like leaders?' The session was so popular participants had to be turned away at the doors.
Shamira Manwar, a young leader from India, who presented a case study at the multiplex on biblically-based leadership training with grassroots politicians in India, commented on the challenges faced by younger leaders. 'We are struggling to find mentors. I really believe that it’s crucial for older leaders to invest in [younger leaders]. This will help make the leadership transition between generations smoother and we will be less likely to make the same mistakes.'
Her husband Ashish added: 'We are a fatherless generation – mentors are important but we also need models to be examples. By bringing people together it creates unity – and the learning goes both ways, often the older leaders learn from the young.'
The theme of fatherlessness was continued in the evening plenary session which celebrated the continent and people of Africa, and looked in more detail at ministry to children and youth. More than 60% of Africans are under the age of 25 years, making Africa 'the church of the future' in the words of Daniel Bourdanné of IFES. Yet only 1 in 40 young people on the continent have a healthy relationship with their father. How is a fatherless generation meant to be the future of the global church?
Ndidi Sam-Woruka, from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, made a comment on the Lausanne Global Conversation website, 'The oldies are too busy to make time to mentor the youngies; they lord it over them and are more inclined to use people to accomplish the task than to raise people to accomplish the task. The youngies, like orphans, struggle to develop themselves through every other available option (experience, bible school, etc.), and to influence their successors.'
This might explain why the leadership survey quoted the top reasons for leadership failure as including burn-out, abuse of power and pride. Not empowering the younger generation takes its toll on both the younger and the older leaders. But encouragingly, according to the survey, leaders put mentoring/coaching at the top of their list for desired classes in leadership development.
Grace Samson, part of the Lausanne Younger Leaders Network, spoke of the hierarchical cultural systems in Africa that often hold back young people in the continent. 'We need those with life experience to help young people – they need to stand on the shoulders of giants. Older people don’t have to stand aside they just need to work out how to release the potential of the youth of Africa.'
Young people have played a key role in most of the major world events throughout history, both for the good and the bad.
'Don’t ignore their potential,' said Grace. 'They have raw energy and it all depends on who taps it. With young people change happens.'
And change was in the air. As the majority of the delegates headed home to well-deserved rest, hundreds of younger leaders (those at the conference under 40) met to build relationships and listen to a greeting from the Lausanne Chairman Doug Birdsall.
Michael Oh, head of the Younger Leaders network and President of Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan, spoke about the need for mentorship and announced the launch of a mentorship network for younger leaders as well as training in collaborative ministry and the organization of regional meetings. The younger Lausanne leaders are certainly planning to be the future of the movement.
Doug Birdsall closed by speaking about a fresh wind blowing from Cape Town. 'These are winds of change, winds of hope and winds of courage. We are looking to a generation willing to make sacrifices and dream dreams. The future is as bright as the promises of God.'
Perhaps if both young and old leaders support one another towards the task of global evangelization, a new generation of leaders will be able to celebrate God’s blessing at the next Lausanne Congress.
Reporting by Miles Giljam
3) Orality Videos/Conversations
http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/resources/browse/topic/910
For more reports link to www.lausanne.org
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