Younger Leader Development within Lausanne

Details

Written by Larry Russell, Director of Younger Leader Development

It was very encouraging that over 1000 younger leaders (under the age of 40) attended Cape Town 2010.  This group was energized by the Congress, connected with each other through receptions and a younger leader’s lounge, and have received email updates as a group from the Younger Leader Team.  Currently there are about 2000 younger leaders in the Lausanne database (defined by age) who have in some way been involved with Lausanne over the last several years.  Younger leaders worldwide are ready to connect and it appears that the Lord is using Lausanne as one of the ways that emerging young leaders can intersect as they grow in ministry.  The Cape Town Commitment strongly identified leadership development as an important part of The Call to Action.  This Call to Action is given to the whole church, but also specifically to Lausanne as a Movement.

Younger Leader Development for the next four years

The key ways that Lausanne works in the world is as a Movement that Connects, Convenes, Communicates and Catalyzes leaders for world evangelization.  This applies to younger leader development as well.  Over the next four years, Lausanne will intentionally provide platforms for younger leaders in the following ways:

• Younger Leader Team
  This team has been in place since the 2006 Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering in Malaysia and will continue to be developed as an integral part of the Movement.  The team is composed of representatives from each of the 12 Lausanne regions.  These men and women will serve to creatively focus on the development of younger leaders worldwide and create ways for younger leaders to connect with each other.  They meet “virtually” each month and once a year in a face-to-face meeting.  Each of these younger leaders will be a part of Lausanne’s regional initiatives and will serve alongside the Lausanne International Deputy Directors for each region.

• Regional Younger Leaders Gatherings
  Each region will sponsor two younger leaders gathering during the next four years.  These low-cost events held over a weekend allow younger leaders to connect with each other, encourage each other in ministry, consider specific regional issues, and humbly pray for each other.

• Virtual Connecting, Convening, Communicating and Catalyzing
  There is no doubt that technology is a key part of the lives of many younger leaders.  We are all aware of how young people used the technology of Facebook and Twitter to mobilize as a part of the “Arab Spring” events.  We will use the Lausanne Global Conversation website and other technologies to help younger leaders connect regionally and worldwide.

• Younger Leaders Gathering 2015
  In 2015 Lausanne will convene the third international Younger Leaders Gathering.  Approximately 700 younger leaders from churches, ministries, the arts and the marketplace will be invited to participate in this international event.  The focus will be on the continuing vision of mobilizing the whole church to bring the whole gospel to the whole world and the challenge of that vision to a new generation of leaders.

The investment into younger leaders now is really an investment for the future.  Lausanne recognizes the need to inform, equip and encourage those leaders who will carry the message of Christ to the next generation.  Please pray with us that we will find ever increasing ways to help younger leaders grow in love for Christ and connect with each other in unified service.