January 01, 1992 by Tom Houston and Luis Bush

The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (Lausanne) and the AD 2000 and Beyond Movement (AD 2000) share the common commitment to world evangelization. It is the conviction of the leaders that they are complimentary to one another. These movements could be compared to a fast-flowing river with Lausanne representing the broad flow and AD 2000 a hot current within it. Another comparison is to that of the Babushka dolls of Russia in which one Babushka doll is within the other. Lausanne is like the "larger doll" within which is the "smaller doll" of

AD2000 Historical Background

Lausanne contributed significantly to the birth of AD 2000. The Manila Congress devoted major time to developing the AD 2000 vision. Thomas Wang, the founder and chairman of AD 2000, was International Director of Lausanne as well as the Manila Congress Director. The vision of AD 2000 was first presented to the Lausanne Executive Committee during the planning prior to the Lausanne II Congress. The Lausanne Committee felt strongly it should continue with its current plans which were broader than AD 2000 and were already well established. Consequently, AD 2000 developed into a separate movement. Those committed to the AD 2000 vision made the decision to unite and become a movement during the Manila Congress. Most of the tracks of AD 2000 are a continuation of the Lausanne II tracks.

In fact, the AD 2000 Movement builds on the thinking of Lausanne in several ways. The description of the remaining task of world evangelization by focusing on the unreached peoples was introduced to the world at Lausanne I in 1974 and has been fostered and developed within Lausanne ever since, and articulated in the Manila Manifesto under the section entitled AD 2000 and Beyond. This indebtedness is openly acknowledged in AD 2000 publications.

Simularly, the idea of church planting to reach the unreached peoples grew within the Lausanne Network. The DAWN strategy grew out of the Lausanne Strategy Working Group. The personnel involved in the two movements are often the same people. There are several clear distinctions that suggest a strong complementary function in the progress of world evangelization. We are committed to work together for the cause of world evangelization. n

Tom Houston
International Director
L.C.W.E.

Luis Bush
International Director
AD 2000 and Beyond Movement

Much of the information used in this article is from the AD2000 And Beyond Handbook and was used by permission.

If you would like to obtain copy of the Handbook you may order by sending a donation of any amount to:

AD 2000 And Beyond Movement 1580 Puerto Vallarta Drive San Jose, CA. 95120 or call 408/268-4411