One of the really helpful things that the Lausanne Global Congress does for the Global Church is to provide a moment to reflect, celebrate and imagine. The local church has many opportunities to do this, but we have very few that are truly global.
So in the spirit of honoring this moment, we need to ask ourselves the question, "What insights about His world and His work, will God show us as we reflect, celebrate and imagine in 2024?"
As an advocate for innovation in mission, my reflections about the State of the Great Commission Report will focus on that area specifically, but I would encourage you to reflect on whatever God has you working on as you navigate 2024.
It is helpful to start my reflection with the four "Alls" that the report highlights when building out the theological basis for the Great Commission: All Authority, All the Nations, All the Commands, and All the Way. Throughout the report I'm struck by how big our God is and how He is working in every place, for every person and with deep understanding of every need. What a God we serve!
As I reflect on the "Current Status" section of the report, I'm challenged by both the growth and decline of Christianity. It highlights that what is a passionate faith one day is not guaranteed tomorrow. It also shows how God is on the move and engaging where people are open and willing to listen. It is important to note that an aging world with more resources and less diversity is a place where hearts tend to be closed rather than open. And isn't this always the way it is? Dynamic solutions come as the next generation finds Jesus, has little to lose and is exposed to a world of difference that uncovers possibilities. At the meta level, this is the innovation message that I take away from the current data that is curated from over 30 sources in the report.
The most helpful innovation insights come from the "Context Shifts" section of the report. I want to challenge you to review this section carefully and identify 2-3 innovation insights that will drive your work. For me the come in the following sections:
- What is the Foundation of Trust? I recently convened a group if innovation leaders to talk about this topic. Our discussions focused on what breaks and builds trust as we lead innovation work. But the general consensus in this report and in that group is that we are living in times where it is hard to trust. That is especially true of institutional trust. So that begs the question, "How can you innovate without trust?" The answer is that it is very difficult. Trust is required for people to imagine a new future and change to meet that new moment. If we are to see innovation in the Global Church, we need a trust intervention! We need to address the dynamics that are causing people not to trust the Church, nonprofits and Christians. What could you do today to build trust among your stakeholders and beneficiaries?
- What are the Emerging Demographics? After decades of only thinking about exploding population growth, we are now looking at a very different picture. Population will still grow in Africa, but it will be leveling off (Asia) or collapsing in much of the world. Most of our innovation narrative has been built around engaging a ever growing next generation. But what happens when the largest group of people in the place you serve are 50+? What happens as families get smaller, people become more isolated and digital life overwhelms our engagement in real life? How might Africa's continued growth position it for innovation that might fuel the growth of the Global Church? What does it mean for Asia that China will grow old so quickly? Demographics will play a huge role in migration, climate, economics, politics and on and on.
- What does it Mean to be Human? There is no place that will need more nuanced innovation than the exploration of what a truly human contribution looks like in the coming years. As we watch changing thinking about sexuality, artificial life and moral absolutes, the meaning of humanity is being questioned, challenged and redefined. At the end of the day, this is an area that will require courageous innovation to keep a Biblical lens on humanity while responding to the dramatic reframing of humanness that we are watching in real time. In many ways, it seems funny to talk about innovation in this space because the Church is calling people back to something that God designed at the beginning of time. But innovation is needed in how we do the calling. It is not enough to say, "The Bible says X or Y and so you must return to its perspective." Instead we will have to say, "As you journey to understand what it means to be human, let me join you in that journey as long as you allow God's way to be our third companion." That will require some innovative approaches, products/services and programs.
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