The Lausanne Movement on the State of the Great Commission

The Lausanne Movement recently released a report on ‘the state of the great commission’.

According to the website:

‘In anticipation of the Fourth Lausanne Congress in September 2024, the State of the Great Commission Report brings together over 150 key strategic thinkers as contributing authors, matched with the best global data to understand where the greatest gaps and opportunities are for the Great Commission’s fulfilment.

‘The report seeks to guide us through the current state and future trajectory of global missions up to 2050, delving deep into ten crucial questions that will shape the church and global missions between now and 2050.’

The portal for accessing the report is here.

There are three main sections to the report:

• Current status

• Context shifts

• Regional considerations

In the second of those sections – context shifts – the report considers ten key questions that will impact the church’s mission:

What is Polycentric Christianity?

Christianity is a dynamic and living faith which has experienced notable global shifts in the last 100 years, and including the growth of Christianity in the Global South, the rise of Pentecostalism, and the continued addition of denominations, leading to the question, ‘What is Polycentric Christianity?’

What is the Source of Hope?

The Christian gospel is a message of hope for all. However, it is not the only promoted avenue of ‘hope’ in our contemporary world. From competing world religions to secular ambitions and pleasures, the world is continually asking, ‘What is the source of hope?’

What is the Foundation of Trust?

The validity of the gospel message is independent of individuals or institutions; however, when those who share the good news are not trusted, the gospel is questioned. Globally, there is a perceived rise in distrust that is dynamically shaping cultures, as the world asks, ‘What is the foundation of trust?’ 

What Are the Emerging Demographics?

Looking forward to 2050, major economic and population demographic changes promise to shape global culture. As the church faithfully lives out the great commission in a contextualized way, it must ask, ‘What are the effects of the new emerging demographics?’ 

What is Community?

For a growing number of individuals in the world, where they call home, what home looks like, and who their neighbors are is dramatically changing. These fundamental shifts in place and populations bring forth the fundamental question, ‘What is community?’ 

What is Fair and Just?

As Scripture teaches, all humans are made in the image of God and are worthy. Yet, globally, not all humans are treated equally. With an increasing consciousness of discrimination, the world and the church continue to ask, ‘What is fair and just?’

What is Sustainable?

The preceding century has seen a rise of more products, more people, more energy, more debt, more work, and more expectations. This burden of more has led the world and the church to begin to ask, ‘What is sustainable?’

What Does it Mean to Be Human?

Rapid technological advancements and the redefinition of human sexual identity are challenging previously held beliefs regarding human distinctiveness. These shifts are driving this generation’s defining question, ‘What does it mean to be human?’

What is a Digital Life?

Between the third and fourth Lausanne global congress, digital technology has fundamentally changed the world. For most of the world, with notable exceptions, the internet, screens, social media, virtual work, shape large portions of life, leading to the question, ‘What is a digital life?’

What is Ministry in a Digital Age?

The majority of the world now lives in a digital age. Connections, influence, and ideas originate just as much, if not more, from digital media than personal relationships. As the church aims to be faithful to the Great Commission in this new digital context, ministry leaders are asking, ‘What is Ministry in a Digital Age?’

In a 28-minute video here, Matthew Niermann, director of the report, gives an overview of the State of the Great Commission report and draws out key insights.