As I reflect on the discussions at the Lausanne 4th Congress, I appreciate Ed Stetzer’s essential reminder that evangelism must remain central. His concern is valid—there is always a risk that broadening the mission might dilute the urgency of Gospel proclamation. However, I firmly believe that the Seoul Statement’s integrated approach is the way forward for a truly holistic and impactful mission in the 21st century.

The Seoul Statement emphasizes that evangelism, while vital, is part of a greater whole. It states, “The Gospel must be proclaimed, but it must also be embodied through justice, mercy, and care for creation.” In a world facing complex challenges, integrating evangelism with discipleship, justice, and societal transformation is not just an option—it’s a necessity. It’s about proclaiming the Gospel while simultaneously demonstrating it through tangible acts of love and justice.

The Role of Technology in Modern Mission

In today’s world, technology has revolutionized how we engage in both evangelism and discipleship. Digital platforms have become powerful tools for spreading the Gospel, breaking down barriers of location and time. This is particularly exciting for younger generations, many of whom are deeply embedded in digital spaces.

However, technology doesn’t just enhance evangelism; it plays a significant role in discipleship as well. The Seoul Statement recognizes this shift, calling for the Church to embrace digital platforms to nurture and equip believers worldwide. Discipleship is no longer limited to face-to-face interactions—it can now happen online, allowing believers to grow in their faith and share their journey with others in real-time.

Striking a Balance: Evangelism and Holistic Mission

Ed’s concern about “mission drift” is important to acknowledge. As we expand our mission to include justice and social transformation, we must ensure evangelism remains at the core. However, the **Seoul Statement** insists that evangelism and justice are not mutually exclusive: “We cannot separate proclamation from demonstration.” The challenge is to weave these elements together into a mission that speaks both in word and deed.

The Church’s mission must be balanced. Evangelism should remain the heart of everything we do, but it should also be accompanied by acts of justice, mercy, and care for creation. This integrated approach makes the Gospel both heard and seen, offering a more comprehensive witness to the world.

The Way Forward
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Ed Stetzer’s appeal is crucial in keeping evangelism at the forefront of the Church’s mission. However, the Seoul Statement’s integrated approach—one that combines evangelism with discipleship, justice, and societal engagement—is, in my view, the best path forward. This holistic vision allows us to engage the world in a more meaningful way, ensuring the Gospel is proclaimed with both words and actions. In the 21st century, this is how we can make a lasting and transformative impact.

#L4Congress #Evangelism #SeoulStatement #GreatCommission #HolisticMission

Currently, I am immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the Lausanne 4th Congress, joined by over 5,000 delegates from 202 countries. One of the highlights so far has been the enlightening presentation titled ‘The 12 Stones,’ which delves into the significant milestones of the Korean Church. Each stone discussed represents a pivotal moment that has shaped the spiritual and cultural legacy of the church. This experience has not only enriched my understanding but also deeply connected me with the collective journey of faith shared by many around the world.

1. The First Stone: Introduction of Christianity to Korea

• This stone marks the arrival of Christian missionaries in Korea, laying the foundational stone of faith in this region.
2. The Second Stone: The 1907 Great Revival

• A revival in Pyongyang that sparked widespread enthusiasm for Christianity across Korea, leading to significant church growth.

3. The Third Stone: Martyrdom and Perseverance
• Reflects the sacrifices made by believers who faced severe persecution but remained steadfast in their faith.

4. The Fourth Stone: The Korean War’s Impact
• Highlights the resilience of the church during and after the Korean War, which brought both devastation and spiritual renewal.

5. The Fifth Stone: Democracy Movement
• Represents the church’s active involvement in the democratic movements in Korea, advocating for justice and human rights.

6. The Sixth Stone: Missional Expansion

• Celebrates Korea’s remarkable growth as a missionary-sending nation. The graph depicts the impressive increase in the number of missionaries sent abroad, from just 100 in 1980 to over 22,368 by 2023, serving in 174 countries worldwide. This stone not only highlights Korea’s commitment to global evangelism but also showcases the significant impact Korean missionaries have made on the international stage.

7. The Seventh Stone: Economic Miracle
• Chronicles the role of the church during Korea’s rapid economic development, providing moral and spiritual guidance.
8. The Eighth Stone: Globalization of the Korean Church
• Discusses how the Korean church has navigated the challenges and opportunities of globalization.
9. The Ninth Stone: Digital Evangelism
• Looks at the church’s adaptation to digital platforms for evangelism and community building.
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10. The Tenth Stone: North Korean Missions
• Focuses on the ongoing and often dangerous mission work directed towards North Korea.
11. The Eleventh Stone: The Lausanne Movement
• Symbolizes Korea’s pivotal role in the global evangelical movement, emphasizing holistic mission that combines social justice with evangelism.
12. The Twelfth Stone: The Next Generation
• Points towards the future, asking how current and future generations can continue to build on the legacy of the past.

This series of stones not only recounts the trials and triumphs of the Korean Church but also serves as a reflective mirror for global Christianity today. As we engage with these historical markers, we are inspired to ask ourselves: What is the path forward? How can we, as a global faith community, prepare the way for future generations?

As we continue to navigate the complexities of faith, society, and technology, the story of the Korean Church offers valuable lessons in resilience, innovation, and commitment to the Gospel. Join me in exploring how these lessons can inform our journey forward.

#Faith #History #L4Congress #Christianity #KoreanChurch #GlobalMission

SourceLausanne 4 Congress Korean Church 12Stones booklet.

It was late afternoon at Hawassa University, and I was anxiously waiting for my professor. My final project presentation was the last step before graduation. But my mind was already on my next journey—from Hawassa to Addis Ababa and then onto a flight to Seoul, South Korea, for the Global Campus Mission 2007. Hosted by Korea Campus Crusade for Christ , it was a gathering of over 15,000 students from around the world.

That moment shaped my leadership journey and deepened my passion for global missions.

Now, in 2024, I’m heading to Seoul for the Lausanne Movement congress 4. This gathering brings together Christian leaders from various sectors of the global Church, offering a glimpse of the body of Christ flavored with diverse representation.

As I prepare for Lausanne 4, I’m filled with a renewed sense of purpose, eagerly wondering what God will do this time and excited to envision new possibilities of making Jesus known to everyone, everywhere.

What I’m hopeful for at Lausanne 4:

✅Experiencing God’s glory through worship and mission-focused discussions.

✅Listening to God and others to learn from diverse perspectives and insights on the State of The Great Commission.

✅Dreaming and activating what the year 2050 looks like with increased evangelism about Jesus. I love how the State of the Great Commission Report highlights the opportunities for advancing digital missions.

✅Together with my colleagues at Jesus Film, we will be sharing our product and services—both existing and forthcoming—at the booth in the Digital Discovery Center and exploring partnership opportunities.

✅Networking, reconnecting, and having fun – I’m excited to see old friends and, of course, when it’s time for pictures, instead of saying “cheese,” we’ll be saying “kimchi!” 😄

Would you join me in prayer as I embark on this journey? Your prayers for the gathering and the work God is doing are deeply appreciated. I expect God to move in new and even greater ways in 2024

#L4Congress #CongressVX

Lesson Three
The third leadership lesson is the EOTC leader's boldness in the face of danger. As Darcy Eikenberg defines leadership as “The courage to do the right things even when they are hard.” The EOTC remained determined to stand by its faith despite the political turmoil. The church guided its members to practice spiritual and peaceful activities over violence, demonstrating exceptional spiritual leadership.
Lesson Four
The fourth leadership lesson is the EOTC's clear and transparent communication. The priests communicated regularly with grace and favor to their members and the nation, unifying the members within the country and the diaspora and mobilizing support for their cause globally. Additionally, Abune Petros, the Secretary-General of the Holy Synod, redirected political issues outside the church and kept the church's business focused on spiritual matters. This approach aligns with Jesus's response to those who sought to twist his teachings and asked him, "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar?" (Matthew 22:17). The EOTC's clear communication and separation of spiritual and political matters demonstrates how leaders can maintain their focus on their core mission and values, even in challenging circumstances.

​In conclusion, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) has demonstrated remarkable leadership in the face of a crisis that has impacted millions in Ethiopia. 
Through
1. Prayer and fasting
2. Upholding integrity
3. Exhibiting boldness 
4. Clear communication, the EOTC has shown valuable leadership lessons that can be learned from their response to the crisis. By following the EOTC's leadership example, individuals and organizations can navigate leadership crises with wisdom, integrity, courage, and effective communication.

I pray this movement in EOTC brings a continued spiritual revival in the nation and leadership transformation in the country.

In some cultures, names are given with a purpose and meaning as it was in the Biblical times. This is true in countries like Ethiopia and Ghana. For example, my Amahric name Miheret means mercy. My mom has a full explanation for why she called me Miheret. 
A few days ago, I helped produce a digital missions story about Comfort and her journey of discovering Jesus on her mobile phone. I met Comfort at a digital conference in 2018. Watch this incredible 7-minute story, "I am Comfort” and find out what God has done and now is doing in the life of Comfort!

Imagine thousands of people who are finding Jesus like Comfort. This is what we do to help seekers find Jesus online, grow in their faith, and train them to share the gospel with others. Comfort's story shows a full circle of digital ministry impact. Comfort now serves with our local ministry in Ghana.
We feel so honored to have you on this journey with us! God has done great things these last few years and we are so blessed to call you friends and partners.

And the following numbers show the number of visitors and indicated decisions for the last 10 years on EveryStudent.com. ​

You might be asking different questions seeing those numbers. Let me share with you one exciting example with how God is at work.Meet Kelly, a student at Mamitete Technical College, in Malawi. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis, he was browsing several websites looking for truth and hope and then came across our evangelistic website, everystudent.com, where he eventually indicated a decision for Christ.
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Soon after. Kelly was followed up by Douglas, one of our staff members, and was embraced in the leadership groups, which was meeting online. Douglas began discipling Kelly one-on-one online with an invitation to join a WhatsApp Bible Study group.

Shortly after, Kelly, now empowered to share the gospel, reached out to 21 collegemates online with a gospel presentation, with 5 of them giving their lives to Christ! Since the month of May 2020, Kelly has been ministering to 15 students on his campus virtually. 
As a result, a spiritual movement launched on the Namitete campus for the first time. This college is one of the six campuses opened digitally during our ministry Hope2020 campaign. 
When the restriction of the lockdown is eased and students are back on campus, Kelly and his team are able to meet face to face and continue to share the good news of Jesus among students. 

What will you do when everything you have worked on to achieve your goal vanishes? 

We tend to set ambitious goals and strategic plans a year or more in advance. Things were “normal” until the end of 2019. In December I got married surrounded by many I loved, with no thought of social distancing. Then everything changed drastically and rapidly. 

Faced with uncertainty, it can be tempting to continue to lead with the goals you set pre-COVID. Rather than waiting for things to go back to normal, however, you can take risks to pursue your dreams diligently with new innovative ideas. 

I believe God has blessed us with digital strategies to continue striving for our goals despite an unpredictable 2020. The primary skill required here is not being technical, but being agile. Are you willing to pivot and run ministry as a continuous experiment to reach your audience? 

We recently launched the Digital Academy 2.0 to equip you and your teams with basic digital strategy principles, tools and models. In a recent webinar, we discussed the need for innovation and digital transformation in Cru and gave a sneak peek of The Basics series as practical next steps for participants. 

Take for example, Yomi Adeyinka, our digital champion in Nigeria. Yomi is going through The Basics with his 27 co-workers, including the Great Commission Movement Nigeria’s national team leader. After watching each training video individually, they come together on WhatsApp to reflect on the content. Yomi and his team are taking on new projects as they go through The Basics. His one-sentence description for The Basics is as follows: “It’s short, clear and straight to the point with a sample and worksheet.”

Why wait? Experience it for yourself like Yomi. 

Join us in digital missions as we launch a global hackathon starting today. Watch my friend Simon Seow shares the heart behind digital missions.