Reflections from the Lausanne Conference
In 1974, Billy Graham, John Stott, and hundreds of other leaders gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss how to fulfil the Great Commission and ensure the true gospel was clearly defined and faithfully proclaimed. One of the most significant outcomes of this first Lausanne Congress was the creation of the Lausanne Covenant. This powerful document remains as relevant today as ever — I encourage you to give it a read.
A movement was born out of that initial Congress, and since then, three other gatherings have occurred in Manila, Cape Town, and Lausanne L4 in Seoul, which took place this year. Fulfilling the Great Commission—reaching the world for Christ with the authentic gospel—has only grown more urgent and necessary as the global population rapidly expands.
South Korea: Mike Betts finds himself back in Seoul following his trip for Pacific Rim Conference in April
A Surprising Invitation and Providential Encounters
The invitation to attend Lausanne ‘24 came as a bit of a surprise. I prayed and sought counsel and, though the cost was considerable, I felt increasingly convinced I needed to be there. So I asked the Lord, “If you want me to go, please provide.” Incredibly, without any prompting, someone offered to cover my conference fee. How kind of the Lord to make a way.
Before I set off for the conference, Tim Virgo remarked in a prayer meeting, “Mike, it’s important to consider who you sit next to during the event.” This prayer stayed with me, and from the very first day, I experienced providential encounters. I met individuals eager to build in ways similar to those we practice in Relational Mission and seasoned leaders whose immense experience and godly wisdom provided invaluable insights.
The Global Church and GAPS
I spent precious time with people from many nations: Pakistan, Malaysia, Kenya, Korea, India, Japan, Uganda, China, Ethiopia, and the list continues. The content of the meetings opened my eyes to the magnitude of God’s purposes, making me deeply aware of how actively He is at work and how beautiful and vast His global church truly is.
Alongside the many heart-rending and empowering stories that played their part in reinvigorating missional motivation, we addressed other vital issues the global church must confront.
One of the most significant aspects of the conference was our collective participation in what were termed 'GAPS'. This initiative, aimed at enhancing the global church's effectiveness in reaching the whole world with the gospel, underscored the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in fulfilling the Great Commission.
My GAP was polycentric resource mobilisation. Let me very quickly unpack this.
Historically, financial and human resources and cultural and spiritual influence have primarily flowed from the West to the rest of the world. This influence significantly shaped global missions, leadership approaches, and church practices, with Western perspectives often guiding how the gospel was communicated and ministries were developed. This is now changing as the church in most of the world, the global south and east, grows and emerges as a mighty missional force.
We are now in a situation where the gospel mission flows from everywhere to everywhere, with mighty movements emerging across Africa, India, Asia, and Latin America. However, financial resources often remain imbalanced. My GAP focused on exploring solutions to create a more equitable distribution of resources and stronger global partnerships, ensuring that all movements are supported and empowered to thrive.
This is an area of ministry that has long been on my heart.
Rich Inheritance: A Lifelong Mission
When I was 19, I attended a meeting where the word of God was handled unhelpfully. I was deeply concerned that the misrepresentation and neglect of key truths would hinder some from experiencing all God had for them in Christ. I remember sobbing on the way home, overcome by the prospect of the church being robbed of her inheritance–the full experience of grace and truth in this life.
The Lord impressed upon me how precious the church is and shared His longing that she would not be deprived of what is rightfully hers. I sensed His call to help restore all the bride is meant to experience in Christ, and this has remained my driving passion.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed too many distorted teachings on grace and the grievous neglect of other vital Biblical truths, and each time, my heart aches because I know the church is missing out on the gifts God has given her.
However, standing among representatives of the global church at Lausanne, I found it profoundly moving to witness how the body of Christ has grown and flourished in many ways across nations and cultures. I was encouraged by all the Lord is doing and stirred by the realisation that He still has so much more for His beautiful, glorious church. We still have a vast inheritance in Christ to fully embrace, and through sharing the gospel, we are called to lead the ransomed from every nation into their glorious inheritance in Him.
The final session captured this sense of mission, featuring perspectives on how the global church can fulfill the Great Commission. Senior leaders from the USA, Latin America, Asia, and Africa shared their insights, renewing our sense of purpose and inspiring us to take bold steps in advancing the gospel. All in all, it was a fitting conclusion to the conference.
Final Reflections
I return to the UK feeling humbled, inspired, and deeply stirred by the belief that, as Relational Mission, we can make a meaningful contribution to fulfilling the Great Commission. Through diverse collaboration and collective efforts, we can help bring many to faith in Christ.
Lastly, I want to congratulate the Korean church in Seoul for hosting 5,000 people from over 200 nations with remarkable efficiency and beautiful hospitality. Korea has a rich history of revival, and I really got the sense that a sacred aroma continues to permeate the present.
May God bless the Korean church in the coming days with a fresh outpouring of His Spirit.
P.S. Please take a moment to explore the resources from the Fourth Lausanne Congress; I’m sure they will enrich you. You can also access videos of the conference talks here.
Alternative way to access Fourth Lausanne Conference talks as they come out
I specifically want to highlight the Seoul Statement as an invaluable doctrinal framework that addresses many of the pressing theological issues of our time. In particular, section four provides insightful commentary on the nature of humanity, engaging with contemporary debates on topics such as AI and sexuality. This statement by the Lausanne team will be a frequent reference point in my discussions on these critical matters.
In terms of worship, the song that stood out was ‘Facing a Task Unfinished’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty, who were among those leading us in worship. This was a fitting anthem that beautifully encapsulated the spirit of the conference. Be sure to add it to your worship playlist.
by Mike Betts
Mike is the Apostolic founder of Relational Mission, a movement of churches which is part of the global Newfrontiers family, which now includes some 70 churches - of which 30 of them are pioneering situations spread across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. In this current season of life, Mike and his wife Sue share their time between Lowestoft (Suffolk) and North London.