Attending the Fourth Lausanne Congress in Seoul/Incheon South Korea was a wonderfully overwhelming experience. This will remain one of the most remarkable experiences I have participated in and one that I will contemplate for weeks and months to come. Over 5,200 Christian leaders representing 202 countries gathered in unity and humility at the foot of the cross to worship, to study the Word of God, and to collaborate, strategize, and envision the Gospel reaching to the ends of the earth. A personal highlight was corporate worship where multiple tribes, tongues, and nations sang together led by Keith and Kristyn Getty and the Korean Worship Band Isaiah 6tyOne. Our last collective act together as a Congress on the seventh day was to partake of communion, presided over by Korean Rev. Jaehoon Lee and the chairperson of the Japan Lausanne Committee, Masanori Kurasawa, as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and peace. Truly Revelations 7:9-10 came to life for but a brief moment.

While over 5,000 attendees gathered daily in the SungDo Convention Center, L4 became personal as we sat at table groups of six people. My little table group (table F50) represented Singapore, Malawi, Ukraine, Kenya, the US, and the Philippines. Our times of discussion and reflection together were powerful. The bond we formed is strong; the group is still sharing information and ideas via WhatsApp today.

Over the seven-day conference, some of the world’s most talented scholars and theologians exposited from the book of Acts. Topics included the church as:

• Empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel
• Missional community through Intentional Collaboration
• Addressing Persecution and Suffering in the World
• Reflecting Christ in the Workplace and Church
• Fostering Leadership Through Intergenerational Discipleship

Two speakers who stood out to me were Billy Wilson (President of Oral Roberts University) and his charge for the church to operate with conviction, flexibility, obedience, dependence, and unity. Anne Zaki (Professor, The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo), built off the metaphor of the movie The Boys in the Boat and charged the church to live in missional community where oneness brings glory to God. I thoroughly enjoyed participation in the Workplace Track with a focus on vocation as ministry. Over 20 Gap groups took place throughout the week, centered around “gaps” that impact the church’s efforts in evangelism and discipleship. Discussion in the GenZ gap group and how the church can engage and disciple this unique generation were thought-provoking and tangible.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the gracious hospitality from the Korean church, with 1,400 volunteers from churches all over South Korea who gave of their own time and expense to serve and facilitate the L4 Congress. The Korean churches prayed together, and over 200 churches preached through the book of Acts together over the year leading up to the Fourth Lausanne Congress. One senior Korean pastor said it is unprecedented for so many Korean churches to preach through the same sermon series at the same time, and a new unity has formed between Korean churches and leaders.

For 50 years, Lausanne has called the church to advance the Gospel and complete the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matt 28:19-20). The Seoul Statement and the State of the Great Commission Report released at L4 provide excellent resources for the global church as we seek to impact the world of 2050 for God’s Kingdom and glory. L4 called the Church to Declare and Display Christ Together! Michael Oh (DC Parent, Board Member, and Global Executive Director and CEO of Lausanne) powerfully reminded the Congress that the global church, the Bride of Christ, is beautiful! “We must seek and show the whole world the beauty of the whole body of Christ! Not just one tiny part. So let’s show the whole world, the whole body of Christ!”

Let the church declare and display Christ together. Today, over 3.4 billion people representing 7,400 unreached people groups will die without hearing the Gospel. The data from the Great Commission Report bears out, at status quo the church is losing ground every year. Michael Oh charged the Congress, “What if every church, every Christian school, every lay Christian, and every para-church organization felt collective responsibility for the Great Commission?” Separate and fragmented, we will not accomplish this task.

The heart of DC’s mission, to educate students who will serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action, beats in tandem with the call of Lausanne. Out of gratitude for God’s sacrifice, DC graduates practice generosity through the stewardship of their gifts and resources guided by informed action and persevering hope for the glory of God and the benefit of society and the world. I am excited for DC to partner with the global church through continued involvement with Lausanne and to see DC graduates play their part in the global church’s collective efforts to spread the Gospel. Today, DC alumni are serving God around the world.

In closing, Anne Zaki reminded the Congress the last six words in the book of Acts are … with all boldness and without hindrance. In a volatile, uncertain, and complex world, take heart Bride of Christ! The Gospel will go forth with all boldness and without hindrance!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Dan Steinfield
Head of School
Delaware County Christian School