Lausanne Movement

• Lausanne Admin Committee Meets in Los Angeles
• 2004 Forum Application Update
• Largest Gathering of Jewish Evangelism Leaders in This Century
• Held in Helsenki in August
• Haitian Believers Want to Reclaim Country for Christ
• Worldwide Evangelism Campaign's Goal: Leave No Home Untouched
• Praise and Prayer

A report from Dr. Paul Cedar, LCWE Administrative Committee Chair

The Administrative Committee of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization met for their annual face-to-face meeting in Los Angeles August 14 – 16. The major topic at the meeting was the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization. Joining us for the meeting was David Ruiz, the executive director of the Great Commission Roundtable, the group that is co-sponsoring the Forum with LCWE.

Reports on nominations for the Forum were very encouraging–with nearly 50% of the current nominations coming from the developing nations of the world. In addition, 20% of the nominees are under the age of 36 with a total of 70% of the nominees under the age of 50. The goals of this working consultation are that at least 50% of the participants be from developing nations and that 70-75 % of the participants be under the age of 50.

Thirty major issues have now been identified. These issues include such cutting edge subjects as children at risk; new age spirituality; human mission in the midst of a world suffering from terrorism; non-traditional families; and racial reconciliation. Each of these issues will be considered by participants involved in an issue group comprised of representatives from the church around the world.

Issue group participants will soon be confirmed and will begin to interact via the Internet and other means of communication so that much work will be taking place before participants ever arrive at the Forum. The goal of each issue group is to not only deal with the obstacles and opportunities afforded by these 30 issues, but also to prayerfully develop practical potential steps for mobilization and implementation. This important information will be shared with the Church around the world through the Internet and published occasional papers on each issue.

We invite and encourage you to join with us and thousands of other Christians around the world in praying fervently for this significant Forum on World Evangelization that we believe has great potential for the advancement of the Gospel in the early years of the 21st Century.

For more information on the 2004 Forum, go to www.lausanne.org.

Lisa Tucker, Forum Invitations Chair
The 2004 Forum Planning Committee thanks all ministry leaders who have submitted applications and/or expressed interest in learning more about the 2004 Forum.

With the close of applications on August 31, 2003, the issue group leaders will proceed with the participant selection process–a process expected to continue through the month of September. Issue group leaders and the 2004 Forum leadership will work together to ensure a balance of age, gender, ministry experience and regional representation both within the issue groups and across the Forum.

In early October, email and postal invitations will be sent to those who are selected to participate, along with instructions on how to complete registration and begin working within their issue group.

As issue groups begin the strategy development process this fall, monthly articles will be posted on the 2004 Forum website featuring the progress of the issue groups along with more information about leaders and participants.
We invite you to return to the website each month for these updates in preparation for 2004.

To receive an email alert when articles become available, please send an email to Lisa Tucker.

A report provided by Theresa Newell, LCJE North America Coordinator

The Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) held its seventh international conference at the Finnish Bible Institute near Helsinki, Finland, August 7-12. The LCJE sponsored event was the largest ever since the establishment of the group in 1980 – drawing more than 200 participants from 18 countries. It was also intentional in its location.

Tuvya Zaretsky, president of LCJE and a Jewish believer in Jesus, commented, “The venue for the conference was chosen because of its proximity to the former Soviet Union where we are encouraged to see indigenous leadership growing for our movement. In addition, Finland was chosen because of the Nordic region’s historic concern for the spiritual and physical well being of the Jewish people.”

Over 300 pages of reports and papers were given as leaders were updated on trends in the Jewish community worldwide and innovations in the field of Jewish missions. They also adopted a conference statement (more on that below) entitled “Jesus and His People.”

Highlights of the statement include:

• An affirmation of the love between Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus. The statement points out that Jesus is “both the road and the map to true shalom with God and one another.”
• An appreciation for addressing humanitarian concerns of the Jewish people, but a strong caution for those “who do not consider verbal proclamation of the gospel to Jewish people a necessary part of the Great Commission.”
• An acknowledgement of the “vibrant witness of Russian-speaking Jewish believers worldwide and the creative and courageous indigenous leadership they bring to our movement.”
• An acclamation that Jesus is God incarnate and that “there is salvation in no other Name.”

On this last point, Dr. Kai Kjaer-Hansen, international coordinator of LCJE and one of the organization’s founders added, “If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, how can He possibly be the Messiah for the rest of us? He is either the Messiah of all, or he is not the Messiah at all!”

Full Conference Statement: http://www.lcje.net/papers/2003/helsinki.doc

Full News Release: http://www.lcje.net/papers/2003/helsinki_press.doc

Contact: Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism, Ellebaekvej 5, Box 11, DK – 8520 Lystrup, Denmark, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Internet: www.LCJE.net

An effort is under way to end centuries of spiritual bondage in Haiti. Haiti is experiencing one of the greatest instances of church growth in modern history. (Source: Religion Journal)

There is a “remarkable openness” to the Gospel, particularly in developing countries. Evangelists reportedly visit 50,000 families a day in China. (Source: Religion Journal)

Glenda Weldon, Prayer Working Group Chair
Please take time to read and meditate upon this Psalm and let you heart rise in praise and worship to the LORD! A Psalm of Praise:

“ I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.”

Psalm 145
 

Praise God:

• He is alone is worthy to receive praise.
• For the opportunity He has given us to work across the world in the task of “making disciples of all nations.” We praise God for the privilege of sharing His passion!
• For the wisdom and guidance the Lord is giving day by day in the complex arrangements for the 2004 Forum.
• For the cooperation and help being given by the Thai Church.
• For the individuals and ministry organizations that have encouraged qualified ministry colleagues to submit applications for the Forum and for each individual who has submitted an application and their commitment to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministries they serve.
• For the diverse gender, age, ministry expertise and regional representation reflected in the applications received.

Please pray:

• That the Lord will visit us in a profound and significant way at the 2004 Forum.
• That in every aspect of the Forum, nothing will happen that will quench the moving of the Holy Spirit among us.
• For visas for every participant and for the complex process involved in applying for visas for some areas of the world.
• For the Lord to add to the Issue Groups participants of His choice.
• As the Issue Groups begin to work together, please pray that the Lord will bring to the surface the key factors that are on His heart for the Church around the world in relationship to each issue.
• For the protection of the Lord for all the participants.
• That God will grant the 30 issue group leaders wisdom and discernment as they evaluate applications and proceed with the participant selection process.
• For the host committee and volunteers already working to assist us in preparation.
• For final negotiations with hotels, airlines, etc. as we continue to reduce the costs for participants.
• For Gary Barnes, Operations Director for Forum, for continued recovery from a low-grade infection and for his family as they adjust to their eldest daughter going to college.
• For Dr John Cho, Vice Chair of LCWE, for renewed strength and daily empowering of the Holy Spirit as he recovers from surgery. He has a busy schedule of preaching and teaching and presenting papers at two international theological seminars in September and October.