July 01, 2003 by Hugo Morales

In preparation for the 2004 Forum for World Evangeliza­tion which will be hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE), in part­nership with the Great Commission Roundtable (GCR), the leadership members of the various Issue Groups which compose this forum met for a 3 day intensive planning session along with the sponsors of the World Inquiry International Coali­tion (WIIC).

Although results varied between regions, composite ones helped immensely in establishing a clearer picture of current church realities. Religious fundamentalism, materi­alism and injustice were recognized as the highest external challenges that the Church faces today. Lack of vision, lack of inspiration/united prayer and lack of effective leader­ship, the highest-ranking internal obstacles. Personal evangelism and social transformation were predom­inant as respondents stated their be­liefs of what today’s Church calling is; and finally the areas of support which are expected from global structures were inspirational/ prayer networks, leadership development, and relationship/ fellowship building.

Undoubtedly some of the most encouraging news came from areas with a high degree of persecution, places like India, Indonesia and China where in spite of many times, violent opposition, the Church continues to grow and solidify.

Three presentations were partic­ularly challenging as they con­fronted participants with trends that have colos­sal expressions worldwide. First, “The World of the Twenty-First Century” by Delia Nüesch-Olver. This position paper encouraged the audience to understand the powerful forces of globalization, urban­ization, unem­ployment, hunger and AIDS and to live and exercise a Christian faith that is culturally relevant and holistic.

Second, “The Younger Leaders Forum” by Jeffrey De Leon and Lucas Leys. As many sta­tistics show, the largest percentage of the global population is found below the age of 30 and in the evangelical world it is not any differ­ent. The need to strategically focus on this group and specifically on those who already exercise leader­ship or have the potential to do so was emphatically conveyed. At a time of transition, passing the baton in a fluid man­ner is of utmost importance. Third, “The Church’s Mission of World Evangelization at the beginning of the Third Millennium” by C. Rene Padilla. A back to basics kind of pa­per, it had the impact of narrowing the enormous task being handled at the time into the simple reality that we must not be led astray from a proper understanding of the Gospel, the commitment to Christ as Lord that it requires, the expression of discipleship as a missionary lifestyle and the significance of “being, doing and saying the witness.”

Unfortunately, as the Mid-Course Assessment Session was being brought to a close, tensions arose in the blending of agendas with Lausanne. The two groups continue to dialogue about their next steps together.

Lausanne and the World In­quiry are information providers and thought provokers. I believe that the Lausanne Covenant is a time­less document which is as pertinent today as it was when it first was published. It needs to be read and understood by a new set of leaders if they are to continue building on the “good” things that this genera­tion has produced. I believe this is part of what Jeffrey de Leon described as “holding the hand of new leaders as they move into positions of influence.” Second, the World Inquiry is a phenomenal tool to gain an understanding of church realities nowadays.

Both go together; the latter gives you a updated picture of the church and the former a frame­work in which to respond and become an agent of transformation.

God in His sovereign plan has not allowed any one person/ initiative/organization or move­ment to hold “all aces” in its hand. In this day and age, financial resources are more difficult to obtain, fundamentalism and perse­cution are on the rise, and church growth is explosively occurring in the southern/poorer portions of the globe. The call for these enti­ties, the majority of them “western led” by the way, to come together and find a way in which to vividly demonstrate how to work in unity is more important than ever before.

In our part of the world we honestly do not have the luxury of going our own way to accomplish our God given vision. Our poverty and lack underdeveloped situation forces us to partner with others. It is a matter of survival. If “western led” entities are going to show some relevant level of global lead­ership today, it will have to be in a one-body environment of unity and partnership.

From the information and themes presented during this Mid-Course Assessment Session, the World Enquiry and the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization are clearly needed and must be car­ried out to completion. May God grant us this day the unparalleled strength, grace and vision to see them become a model of efficient and fruitful cooperation.