The Cape Town Lausanne Congress began with the sound of African drums. We were welcomed at the airport by a band of young people offering praise praise to God -- beating their drums and blowing their whistles. What a warm welcome! African hospitality. This congress is like no other gathering of Christians -- ever since the days of Christ and the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
With over 190 nations represented and more than 4000 delegates and 1100 volunteers, this Third Congress on World Evangelism in Cape Town is unique. Never before has there been such wide spread representation. We miss many of our Chinese brothers and sisters. Most of their delegates, hundreds of them, were not given permission to leave their country to attend this congress.
The theme of the congress is based on selected verses from 2 Corinthians 4 and 5. The key verses are 5:18-19: "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
In the opening ceremony we were given an overview of Christian missions from the time of Pentecost till the key meeting in Edinborough in 1910. That year spawned the great 20th century of mission work. But this overview clearly demonstrated what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay." Yes, we as believers are really jars of clay. In the past 2000 years of the church our mission efforts have been thwarted by our own weaknesses. Infighting, schisms, misplaced motives, and disunity have hindered the spread of the gospel. Yet in spite of our weaknesses Christ has been faithful to his promise to build his church.
Having this congress in Cape Town, on African soil, is a testimony to how Christ has been ushering in his kingdom. While the church in the west and north has descreased in strength and size, the church is flourishing in the east and south. In China, India, South America, and throughout Africa the church is expanding in a rapid pace. From jars of clay the gospel treasure is being poured out among some of the largest people groups in the world. All this shows that "this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Cor. 4:7)
The congress will continue to meet through 25 October in the shadows of Table Mountain in beautiful downtown Cape Town. The Lord has prepared a "table" for us here in Cape Town. As delegates we will sit around tables of six for the duration of the congress -- listening to each other, encouraging each other, and realising what our task is as a church as we move on into the 21st century. Here, around these tables, we will discern God's Word for us today. We remember the words of Solomon 2:4: "He has brought me to his banqueting table and his banner over me is love." To Him be all the glory.