The Beauty of the Global Church

Dear Friends,

I arrived home on Saturday night around midnight, exhausted and spent after a month on the road, from Uganda to Singapore to Indonesia to South Korea.  But despite a thirteen-hour time change and hours and hours of travel, there was a deep joy in my heart.  I experienced a phenomenal gift when I saw the global church at work in Lausanne.  It was beautiful and I will carry it in my heart for a long time.  To all those who supported and prayed for this trip, I am so grateful!

When I started the Lausanne journey a year ago, I had been discouraged by the global church and its shortcomings and failures.  But in this past year, I have met people from all around the world, from places that I've never heard of, each doing their part to make this world a better place, striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Most people I have met are not doing phenomenal things but small things, unknown to many around them, and that has been so encouraging.  Every person trying in their own sphere of influence, based on their passion and interests, to make this world a better place.  

The week at Lausanne was a precious time as it was a glimpse of the global church with 5000 people from 202 countries.  All regions of the world were intentionally included in the speaker panels.  There was also great intentionality on the part of the planners for connection and discussions, and week-long table assignments facilitated that.  The men from my own group (see picture) became dear brothers to me during the week. Together we celebrated, lamented, agreed and disagreed about the work of the global church.  

I'm still processing the week, especially as I catch up on sleep and recover from jet lag, so more will come later.  But here are some takeaway quotes from some of the speakers:

“We must seek and show the whole world the beauty of the whole body of Christ!

 Not just one tiny part. To be honest, even on the most beautiful person, if you just see their big toe or their elbow, you might think they are quite ugly!

So let’s show the whole world, the whole body of Christ!”  

— Michael Oh

“Witnessing in the workplace is woven into the DNA of the early church.”

— Julia Garschagen, Lessons from Acts: Christian Witness in the Workplace

"Yet for all our diversity, there is only one kind of Christian who is able to carry forward the Great Commission. There is only one kind of preacher or proclaimer,
one kind of pastor or church planter, one kind of mission strategist or marketplace mobilizer who is able to do the true work of evangelism anywhere in this world: someone who embraces Christlike servanthood as a way of life."

— Philip Ryken, Lessons from Acts: Christlike Servanthood

“I believe that every missional community will pay a cost no matter what. The question is: will it be the cost of staying silent while false teachings divide us, or the cost of breaking the silence with true teaching that should unite us?”

— Anne Zaki, Lessons from Acts: The Missional Community as God's New Society

“My encouragement to senior leaders in the room is this — we need you.
It is impossible for this emerging generation to fulfill the call of God without experienced leaders who are willing to be a shade over our boldness and who will intercede for our healing.”

— Sam Cooper, Missional Engagement: God's Mission Through Intergenerational Disciples

“Persecution will never kill the church, but a compromised gospel will.”

— Patrick Fung, Lessons from Acts: Persecution and Mission

“The greatest manifestation of love is suffering.”

— Farshid Fathi, Missiological Engagement: God's Mission Amidst Challenge and Adversity

“In the eyes of great and mighty God, no matter how much you bring or little you bring to the table, it’s still five loaves and three fishes. It is not how much or what you bring to the table but in whose hand you place them.”

— Jiyoung Yoo, Collaborative Action Team