The atmosphere was euphoric! Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with 5,400 Christian leaders from 200 nations—all worshipping King Jesus. Though we represented vastly different cultures, spoke hundreds of diverse languages, and hailed from every socioeconomic level, we united as brothers and sisters before the Throne. Though our passports reflected governments often at odds with one another, we came together in heart allegiance to King Jesus.
It was a foretaste of Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Standing Side by Side
This was likely the most diverse large gathering of evangelical Christians in history. The Lausanne Congresses, started by Billy Graham and John Stott in 1974, has played an instrumental role in the outworking of the Great Commission. I participated in the last congress, Cape Town in 2010, with a handful of OC colleagues.
In Seoul, I was joined by 40 OC Global Alliance co-workers. It was a joy to participate alongside current board members, former board members, several OCGA leaders, OC mission workers, and one OC MK!
OC aligns with Lausanne’s vision to see:
- the gospel for every person
- disciple-making churches for every people and place
- Christ-like leaders for every church and sector
- kingdom impact in every sphere of society.
Toward this end, the OC Global Alliance currently engages in nearly 600 strategic partnerships around the world. The Lord has positioned us to serve as catalysts and connectors to accelerate increasing collaboration. In Seoul, someone said, “The Great Commission advances at the rate of relationships.” This is so true. The Congress provided a massive networking opportunity to renew friendships, make new linkages, and explore new possibilities.
Reflections
As I reflect on that eventful week, several impressions stand out:
- Most moving day – focus on the persecuted church with stories from leaders who’d been imprisoned for their faith (Iran) or churches destroyed (India) and have pressed on.
- Most eye-opening session – the candid story of Christianity in Korea with decades of growth after the war, the sending of 20k+ missionaries, and the current challenge of plateauing.
- Most interesting new friends – a Russian who fled the war and is now serving as a missionary in Mexico.
- Most important conversations – my priorities targeted the OC Global Alliance, mentoring moments, and conversations with leaders involved in church planting, leader development, and majority world missions.
One day the Great Commission will be fulfilled, and we’ll stand together with people from every nation and culture. But until that day, there is much work to be done. Nearly nine out of ten Muslims and Hindus in the world do not personally know a Christian. And every generation must come to embrace it on its own.
We emerged encouraged from Lausanne! You and I are part of God’s global team comprised of passionate disciples from every nation. God is on the move and invites us to join him. Each day we give ourselves to making Jesus known brings us closer to his return.
Dean Carlson, One Challenge President