I love the word “advance!” It communicates momentum, action and intentional activity. But in a world where everything is moving at lightning speed, the advance can loose some of its punch.

The truth is that unless we know where we are going, advancing is simply an act of physical movement without the intentionality that we desire to see. This is true with the Lausanne Congress just as it is true with so many other arenas of ministry.

So I want to pose a challenge to you that is critical to the success of the congress in October. Lausanne is currently releasing what they call “Advance Papers.” These are the work of key groups of thinkers around the main topics of the congress. The idea is that these Advance Papers will become the catalysts for your ideas and input in order to inform the events on the ground in Cape Town.

Only one problem—the movement can’t advance without the effort of people like you (whether you are going to the congress or not) to review these papers, add to the conversation and engage on the issues.

Before we get to the “calls-to-action” at the bottom that I always have, let me share a few thoughts on what it takes to advance a movement:

1. You don’t advance a cause unless you spend the time.
2. You don’t see the foundation of a movement develop unless you come prepared.
3. If we want to see breakthroughs in our efforts towards global evangelization, we have to invest in understanding the issues.
4. Even if we spend time, prepare and seek breakthrough as we understand the issues, we will not see global impact unless we are interacting with the same vocabulary, topics and content.

I know that each person reading this blog wants to see evangelism advance and at the same time I know that each person is very busy in their ministry/professional lives. So here is what I suggest . . .

Participate: Go to the Advance Paper section and select just one to read and interact with. Put aside one hour to invest in reading one and posting a response.

Engage: Take the topic that you responded to and commit it to prayer over the next few months leading up to the congress. Ask God to give you insights and for insights to those interacting on the topic online and in person.

Own: Pick a meeting you are leading this week within your sphere of influence and challenge each person there to read one of the papers and respond.

Comments

Diego Leandro da Anunciação Almeida

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Perfect! I am was dreaming with an opportunity to be there, but God have perfect plans to everyone who believe Him, and it's good to me could see virtually all that is being prepared to the Lausanne III, Cape Town 2010. Since 2007 I became a Missiologist, studying and (now in 2010) teaching on the same Seminary I am studying (Seminário de Educação Cristã, in Recife-PE, Brasil). Since I knew more about the Lausanne Convenant I keep praying for advancing the cause. It's good for me to read the monthly newsletter and see the accordance in what is God doing around the world. May God continuing bless you all!

Maanantai 21 Kesäkuu 2010, 02:52

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Jon Hirst

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Diego, I commend you for your enthusiasm and for your dedication to the cause of global evangelism. I hope you can engage in the global conversation and with the advance papers so that the whole community can benefit from your insights.

Tiistai 29 Kesäkuu 2010, 17:43

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C R David

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Having had the opportunity to attend the Lausanne conference at Thailand , I am greatly disappointed at not being given the permission to attend the conference at Cape Town , in spite of applying much earlier . I was very much blessed by that conference

Will someone hear my call & cry.......& come to my help ......

C R David
Director , Gospel Resource Center
Trichy - 14 , South India

davidgrc@hotmail.com

Tiistai 29 Kesäkuu 2010, 06:37

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Jon Hirst

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David, Thanks for sharing this note. I am sure it is hard not to be able to attend this event, but be encouraged that as you give input to the Advance papers, interact on the global conversation and look to attend a GlobaLink event in your area that you will be part of the conversation and the movement overall.

Blessings in your ministry.

Tiistai 29 Kesäkuu 2010, 17:45

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