In September 2024, the Lausanne Movement celebrated 50 years since the first Lausanne in 1974 when Billy Graham and John Stott declared the necessity that “the whole church take the whole gospel to the whole world.” This years’ Lausanne IV gathering in Seoul, Korea was attended by about 5,000 delegates. I was invited to attend but instead decided to participate virtually and receive reports from friends who were on site in Korea.
Some of the important words, phrases and nuances included: collaboration, togetherness, polycentric missions (many centers-from everywhere to everywhere), accelerating global mission together, Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together, and more – BUT something else caught my attention more than anything else.
During the optional track session, 2,400 out of the 5,000 chose to attend the Marketplace Track entitled, “For those who are involved or interested in Workplace Ministry, Business as Mission, Tentmaking and Academic Ministry & Educators Network (AMEN).” The tracks were not available to the virtual participants, so I saw the outline only, but I found it exhilarating to see so much interest, a mega-development in 35 years since the track had only 72 participants in 1989.
But that is not all. Several plenary speakers made reference to “ministry in the workplace”. Here are some phrases and ideas which give joy to all of us in the BAM movement.
- The gospel is most effective when it is displayed. (Michael Oh)
- Anyone, anytime, anywhere can be a disciple maker. (Dale Stephenson)
- We need to reform our mindset from being clergy dominated to an “every believer ministry. (Efraim Tendero)
- The success of the Nestorians is twofold: a) persecution, b) they lived and shared in the workplace. (Patrick Feng)
- The book of Acts demonstrates that early disciples gossiped the gospel in the workplace and wherever they went (Julia Garschagen)
- The Apostle Paul integrated his tentmaking work with his ministry.
- As co-creators with God, we are to work according to how he designed us. (Johana Ng)
- 86% of Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus do not know a Christian. We must do ministry in the workplace. (Michael Oh)
- 99% of church members spend their lives in the workplace.
- We are never to impose Jesus, but propose. Faith is not an imposition, but a proposition. (Mats Tunehag)
- The first disciples were mainly workers in various trades, and the workplace still offers a holy ground to be a “priestly presence” to witness for Jesus. (Julia Garschagen)
Larry Sharp, Director of Training, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com