(dated 7/9/2010)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Forty days from today The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization begins in Cape Town!
You are of course familiar with the biblical significance of the number 40 and I’d like to encourage you to focus your prayers these next 40 days asking God to pour out his blessings on the Congress. Please also join me in committing to fast one day a week between now and the Congress as together we seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance.
Much is happening as we prepare for Cape Town 2010 (CT2010). I hope you’ll be as encouraged to read the following as I am to report it to you.
Growing Anticipation; Rising Expectations
Forty days from today The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization begins in Cape Town!
You are of course familiar with the biblical significance of the number 40 and I’d like to encourage you to focus your prayers these next 40 days asking God to pour out his blessings on the Congress. Please also join me in committing to fast one day a week between now and the Congress as together we seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance.
Much is happening as we prepare for Cape Town 2010 (CT2010). I hope you’ll be as encouraged to read the following as I am to report it to you.
Growing Anticipation; Rising Expectations
Though 91-year-old Rev. Billy Graham is unable to attend the Congress, he has made arrangements to send two of his grandsons on his behalf. Moreover his personal administrative assistant will serve with the Congress staff.
Christianity Today has just published an article on CT2010 in the magazine's September edition which they entitled, “The Most Diverse Gathering Ever".
The leader of The Lausanne Movement in China recently wrote: “More and more brothers and sisters are praying for the Lausanne Congress, and vigorously raising funds for pastors from China and from less developed neighboring countries. I often hear pastors say that Lausanne is a special gift from God for China. Thank you.”
A donor for the Congress recently wrote: “What happens at this Congress will reverberate throughout the worldwide Body of Christ for decades to come. There is no other event like it. There may not be another gathering of this magnitude in the next 20 years. The Lausanne Congress in Manila in 1989 was a fantastic experience for us. It was our first meeting with John Stott and we were exposed to many other key leaders in the worldwide Body of Christ."
CT2010 Preparation
The CT2010 Programme has been meticulously planned over the course of the last three years, under the direction of Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt. More than 20 consultations were held around the world and hundreds of leaders gave input on themes, speakers and programme design.
The Advance Papers written by the CT2010 Speakers and Presenters are available online at www.lausanne.org/prepare. Please prepare for the Congress thoroughly by reading and responding to these papers through the Lausanne Global Conversation.
Additionally make the book of Ephesians, our text for the Congress, part of your Bible study in the coming weeks and review The Lausanne Covenant, the foundational document of The Lausanne Movement (www.lausanne.org/covenant).
Fund Raising Goals
With just 40 days to go, we need to raise the final US$4 million to ensure that the Congress is fully funded. We anticipate that US$700,000 will be given by churches and Christian organizations in the U.S. Another US$2 million will be raised from among foundations and individuals in North America. US$12 million has already been raised through registration fees and generous gifts and pledges from sources around the world. We project that the remaining US$1.5 million will come from individuals and churches across the globe. Please be praying for us and with us that God will supply this need.
If you would like to make a gift, you may do so in one of three ways:
Christianity Today has just published an article on CT2010 in the magazine's September edition which they entitled, “The Most Diverse Gathering Ever".
The leader of The Lausanne Movement in China recently wrote: “More and more brothers and sisters are praying for the Lausanne Congress, and vigorously raising funds for pastors from China and from less developed neighboring countries. I often hear pastors say that Lausanne is a special gift from God for China. Thank you.”
A donor for the Congress recently wrote: “What happens at this Congress will reverberate throughout the worldwide Body of Christ for decades to come. There is no other event like it. There may not be another gathering of this magnitude in the next 20 years. The Lausanne Congress in Manila in 1989 was a fantastic experience for us. It was our first meeting with John Stott and we were exposed to many other key leaders in the worldwide Body of Christ."
CT2010 Preparation
The CT2010 Programme has been meticulously planned over the course of the last three years, under the direction of Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt. More than 20 consultations were held around the world and hundreds of leaders gave input on themes, speakers and programme design.
The Advance Papers written by the CT2010 Speakers and Presenters are available online at www.lausanne.org/prepare. Please prepare for the Congress thoroughly by reading and responding to these papers through the Lausanne Global Conversation.
Additionally make the book of Ephesians, our text for the Congress, part of your Bible study in the coming weeks and review The Lausanne Covenant, the foundational document of The Lausanne Movement (www.lausanne.org/covenant).
Fund Raising Goals
With just 40 days to go, we need to raise the final US$4 million to ensure that the Congress is fully funded. We anticipate that US$700,000 will be given by churches and Christian organizations in the U.S. Another US$2 million will be raised from among foundations and individuals in North America. US$12 million has already been raised through registration fees and generous gifts and pledges from sources around the world. We project that the remaining US$1.5 million will come from individuals and churches across the globe. Please be praying for us and with us that God will supply this need.
If you would like to make a gift, you may do so in one of three ways:
· Wire Transfer to Lausanne Bank Account in South Africa
Bank: ABSA
Account name: The Lausanne III 2010 World Congress Trust
Account number: 406 897 8047
Swift code: ABSA ZA JJ
· Mail your check to Lausanne Accounting Office in U.S.A.
Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization
Mr. Mark Larsen, Director of Accounting
P.O. Box 9020
San Dimas, CA 91773
Visas
Please pray for the many CT2010 Onsite Participants who are currently applying for their South African visas, that they would gain favor with Embassy officials. Processing visas is one of the greatest challenges in the final stages of preparing for an international gathering. If you have not done so already, please determine whether or not you need a visa and if so, make sure you apply for your visa this week.
Special Guests and Observers
In addition to the 4200 registered participants from 190 countries, we will welcome 350 special guests from mission organizations, seminaries, and churches. These guests will also include observers representing the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
In order to serve the needs of the 4500 onsite participants, guests and observers and the many more leaders participating through the GlobaLink and Lausanne Global Conversation, we will be joined by a team of 1200 staff members, stewards, production specialists, and members of the media.
Strategic Gatherings
Prior to the Congress, many participants are meeting to prepare together in one or two day regional or national consultations. Many others are meeting through a series of four global conference calls hosted by Lausanne Movement leadership. The upcoming calls are 8th September, 22nd September, and 6th October, if you are interested in joining us.
During CT2010, working meetings will be held for all of the regional groups and many of the national groups to plan for implementation and contextualization of Congress priorities. Fellowship gatherings following the evening plenary sessions will offer people from each region an opportunity to network together.
Additionally, “affinity group” gatherings will be convened each evening for Congress participants in each of the following categories: pastors, mission leaders, scholars and academics, and younger leaders.
What’s Next?
The most frequently asked question of Lausanne Movement leadership these days is, “What is next for Lausanne after the Congress?” In an upcoming CT2010 update, we’ll preview some of the plans being developed for 2011 and 2012 follow-on activities and discuss the vision for the future of The Lausanne Movement.
Thank you again for your partnership in the gospel and in the work of world evangelization. With just 40 days until the Congress opening ceremonies, let’s join together in praying that God will meet us in Cape Town, and let’s beseech Him to bless His people with a gift – a gift of His presence and a gift of unity and vision. I believe we are about to experience something great in our time – something that will bring glory to God, strength to the Church, and hope to our world.
God’s best to you.
Yours in Christ,
Doug Birdsall
Executive Chairman
The Lausanne Movement
www.lausanne.org and www.capetown2010.com
