Lausanne Movement

• 2004 Forum Issue Group Report: The Heritage of Lausanne 1974 and the Work of the 2004 Holistic Mission Issue Group
• 25 Million Africans To Pray for Transformation of Their Continent
• Christians Providing Relief in Iraq
• Mission Agencies Concerned about Cyber Attacks
• Founder of OM Joins HIV/AIDS Battle
• Mobile Phones and Religion?
• Second-Career Missionaries
• Praise and Prayer

By Evvy Hay Campbell

The hotly debated theological issue of Lausanne 1974 was the relationship of evangelism and social action. The inadequacy of a western "culture Christianity" that had historically neglected the social implications of the gospel was acknowledged and the Lausanne conference proved to be a turning point for evangelical thinking on this issue.

Thirty years later, and in a radically changed world, the seventy-nine participants of the Holistic Mission Issue Group have a stewardship responsibility: to discern the nature and impact of holistic mission initiatives in these last three decades, to clarify and articulate the role of the church and Christian service agencies in holistic mission, to reflect on contemporary ministry models and to suggest steps and strategies for the future role of the church with regard to holistic mission.

THE TASK: To engage this task, four sector groups have been formed: economic justice, health, hunger / water and agriculture, and relief. Each has a theologian, writer, facilitator, secretary and specialist. Sector group writers have written 5,000 - 7,000 word papers that address the biblical and theological bases for holistic mission in their sector. The papers consider past and present ministry models and then raise questions about "next steps" with regard to the role of the church.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE: Biblical justice, God's economy, wealth, work, kingdom business and the role of the church and state are all part of the biblical foundations for economic justice discussed in the sector paper authored by David Befus and Stephan Bauman. Access to capital and markets are identified as critical factors in whether the world's poor majority will be able to access the opportunities in an era of globalization. Both small-scale economic models and the impact of macro economic policies on current ministry models are considered. Next-step issues for participants to discuss at Forum 2004 include creating networks of Christians involved in economic ministry, promoting open discussion of Kingdom values in the light of corruption that is so common and providing training for pastors and seminarians about the world of economics. Facilitator: David Befus; Secretary: Bruce Wilson; Specialist: Hans Manoen; Theologian: Danut Mnastireanu

HEALTH: God's vision for health and the scriptural mandate this then places on us form the starting point for Holistic Mission: The Church and Health. Beginning with healing ministries in scripture and the early church, then moving on through the Reformation and era of medical missions, the discussion next centers on existing ministry models-Christian hospitals, community health, church-based health programs and a variety of creative responses to AIDS, sex trafficking and health needs in situations of armed conflict. The action plan for the church includes a discussion of strengthening health systems, encouraging health promotion, moving from dependency to partnership and clarifying the role of the local church. Facilitators: Gustavo Crocker, Debbie Dortzbach; Secretary: Tina Bruner; Specialist: Florence Muendi; Theologian: Tokunboh Adeyemo; Writer: Evvy Campbell

HUNGER/AGRICULTURE AND WATER: I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food by Ron Vos describes the impact that worldview-whether theocentric, biocentric, or anthropocentric-has on responses to global hunger. Vos argues that God, rather than creation or humankind, must be central and that models that promote the themes of stewardship and sustainability are the appropriate ones in responding to issues of hunger, agriculture and water. Vos reminds us that since our work is to be done, in the words of Abraham Kuyper "standing before the face of God," we need to learn the critical importance of asking the right questions about everything from the detrimental effects of irrigation to the sources of irrigation water. Enlightened decisions regarding practice can then be made that demonstrate stewardship and promote sustainability. Facilitator: David Evans; Secretary: Seth Le Leu; Specialist: Ronald Vos; Theologian: Dewi Hughes

RELIEF: Bryant Myers' paper, Humanitarian Response: Christians in Response to Uprooted People, explores biblical stories of aliens and refugees, such as Abraham, Israel in the wilderness and the disciples scattered by persecution. Myers also deals with biblical themes of response: hospitality, charity and solidarity, faith and love and true humanitarianism. He then describes uprooted people today-refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants. Myers also suggests guidelines for a contemporary response: ensuring survival, providing protection, recovering identity and vocation and spiritual care. Challenges the sector group will deal with at Forum 2004 include relief in the context of war, ethical dilemmas, cooperating with the military, HIV/AIDS, the demands relief work places on practitioners and the plight of uprooted Muslims. Facilitator: Darrell Whiteman; Secretary: John Plake; Specialist: Paul Kennell; Theologian: Bryant Myers

NEXT STEPS: In addition to the sector papers, participants in the Holistic Mission Issue Group identified some eleven pages of "issues and questions" related to the four sectors and those documents have been posted for internal review on the private IG web page. Next for the Issue Group will be a web-based discussion of the sector papers and then finally an opportunity for participants to respond to Rene Padilla's first draft of the Occasional Paper for our group. We have come a long way, have a longer way yet to go and are sensitive to both the privilege and responsibility of participating in consideration of such a critical concern. May the Lord grant us His grace as we proceed forward in these coming months.

Transformation coordinator David Spangenverg says "Last year in Southern Africa, there were 77 regions and 27 of the countries on the African continent participating in 136 stadiums. And so far this year throughout Africa, there will be more 1,100 stadium events taking place. The African continent consists of 53 African countries and then the five surrounding islands. All 58 are on board for this year's day of prayer on May 2nd, which includes the so-called 10/40 window, where it won't go to stadiums, but instead to cell groups or house groups."

Full Story from Assist News

Christians are heading to Iraq providing relief and more than 900,000 Bibles in Arabic have already been sent in aid, according to reports by HCJB World Radio and The Los Angeles Times.

Full Story from Religion Journal

Evangelism, church planting and discipleship is the focus of most mission organizations. The ultimate goal is introducing people to Christ. While computers are becoming an increasingly important part of that work, with computers come viruses, hackers and other types of cyber attacks which can jeopardize the work.

Full Story from Mission Network News

George Verwer, the Founder of Operation Mobilization (OM), a worldwide ministry of evangelism, discipleship training and church planting, has revealed his new passion in life -- helping in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

Full Story from Assist News

According to researchers, people in Asia are reportedly using mobile phones as a way of keeping in touch with their religion.

Full Story from the BBC

Some Canadian retirees are becoming second-career missionaries. Finishers Canada is a group of agencies and denominations started in 2003 by the Global Mission Roundtable of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, with roots in a U.S.-based movement. Finishers is providing an opportunity for retirees to accomplish God's purposes in some of the best years of their lives.

Full Story from Faith News Update

By Glenda Weldon, Chair, Intercession Working Group

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, Selah that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him." Psalm 67

This Psalm expresses the deep desire of all our hearts. Let us make it our prayer for the Forum as we come into His Presence and worship Him.

PRAISE GOD for His wonderful blessing upon the preparations for the 2004 Forum on World Evangelization.

PLEASE PRAY

• For Dr. Roger Parrott as he gives leadership to the ministry of seeking partners for the 2004 Forum who will provide necessary funding for the Forum.
• For Robyn Claydon and other members of the LCWE Search Committee as they prayerfully seek several key persons to serve the Lausanne Movement following the 2004 Forum. Pray especially that the Lord would lead them to some key younger leaders from the Developing World. Pray for her also as she finalizes details of the Forum programme and contacts all those who are going to be involved.
• For David Claydon as he seeks to give scholarship assistance to the many who have applied to be involved in the Forum. Many more have applied than Lausanne has money to support, so David needs much wisdom in allocating available funds. Please pray too for those who may not be able to come because of financial restraints: that they will accept the reality of this situation.
• Please pray for Peter Brierley as he writes an article on "Evangelicals in the World" for the Lausanne Forum.
• For Gary Barnes and his family. Gary has a very heavy travel schedule from now through the Forum. Pray that the Lord will daily refresh Gary and give him great wisdom as he has oversight of many details in preparation for the Forum including the daily program for the Pastor, Mission Pastor and Church Leaders track.

ISSUE GROUP (IG) PRAYER REQUESTS

• Please continue to pray for the provision of sufficient funds for all who have registered as Participants to attend the Forum.

IG 2: The Uniqueness of Jesus

• Please pray for God's direction in this group in clearly defining the focus of their attention on this burning issue in our pluralistic, secular, highly mobile and Post- Modern world today.

IG 6: Hidden and Unreached People

• Pray that participants will find the time to give contribution and input in the discussion in preparation for the paper they as a group have to present at the meeting in Thailand. There is need for creative thinking. They want the Christians world-wide to understand the challenge of the unfinished task of evangelization under the UPGs. God has given us the means to bring the Gospel to them, HE is waiting for HIS children to act. He has promised that all people will come to glorify HIM (Ps 86:9).

IG18: Evangelism of Children

• Please pray especially for the following people as they facilitate "sub-groups" exploring different aspects of evangelisation with children: Graham McDonald, Anne- Christine Bataillard, Mitch Jordan, Alan Charter, Adnan Sandhu, Vicki Shaver, Brent Allred, Michael Shiferaw and Heather Wraight.

IG 24: Empowering Women and Men to Utilize their Gifts Together for the Spread of the Gospel

• They can only assist about half of those who requested scholarships and in many cases could not grant their full needs. Please pray for those who need additional funding to attend.

IG 29: Bioethics

• This group is beginning an Egroup discussion of the first drafts of their material. Please pray that they can communicate well with each other and be inspired to play their part in the group's output.