"What a week this has been!" wrote Doug Birdsall, Executive Chair of The Lausanne Movement. "Over the past seven days the unity, diversity, and vitality of the worldwide Church have been on dramatic display in Cape Town." And it has been quite a week! What stands out for me is the
rich diversity of the global Christianity community. While in Europe, North America, and Australia -- western continents - we have seen a sharp decline in Christianity, in the majority south and east we see a dramatic incline! And these nations bring such a rich diversity to Christ's body. Their exuberant worship, their passion, their enthusiasm, their mission focus -- are inspiring, to say the least. As we leave Cape Town 2010, the question remains how in the next decade the churches in the west will forge partnerships with the church in the east and south to see the realisation of the great commission.
Over Sunday dinner I had a spirited discussion with an American pastor who has served in the Dominican Republic for the past 30 years. He shared how the church in the DR is a sending church today -- sending missionaries to the USA, Africa, the Carribean, Europe and other places in the world. This is just one of many stories coming out of Lausanne 2010. Churches, which previously were in receiving countries, are now in sending countries. This huge global shift will truly change the face of Christianity in the years to come. This 2010 congress held in Cape Town, in a country where the Church of Jesus Christ is vibrant and growing, is a testimony to the changing face of Christendom.
This changing face of the church raises the issue of partnerships. There is a South African proverb which says, "One hand cannnot wash itself. It takes both hands to do a good job."
A good example of the power of partnerships has been Misson Africa. Prior to Lausanne 2010 indigenous pastors and evangelists in Africa were paired with those from other parts of the world, from 18 different countries. Partnerships were grounded securely in the fact that they all served the same Lord and Saviour, had one Holy Spirit, and were seeking the same Kingdom. Side by side, in the months leading up to the congress, these pastors and evangelists brought the message of the gospel to over 480,000. Over 58,000 people made a profession of faith or renewed commitments to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Plans are now in place for future collaborations between local churches.
But partnerships is not simply relegated to cross cultures. At this 2010 Lausanne congress there was a strong voice for Christians to forge partnerships with other Christians in local communities and cities. In fact, as Tim Keller pointed out, if churches are to reach the cities, they must be willing to work cooperatively with other churches and Christian organisations. Christians from different denominations need to band together with a common goal of reaching the world for Christ. This is a challenge for the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA). What can we do as churches to forge partnerships with other believers in our cities? A good example of such a partnership is The Geneva Push (check out www.thegenevapush.com). As the CRCA advances the goal of planting churches our partnership with The Geneva Push will only strengthen our impact for the gospel.
Another kind of partnership might be even more difficult for the CRCA. The Lausanne Congress stressed how these partnerships also need to be seen cross across gender lines. Males and females need to be released in ministry based upon their gifts and not their gender. In creation male and female were both given the full mandate. Male and female were united in their calling. When sin entered the world all of this became distorted. But in Christ male and female relationships have been restored. As Paul writes to the Galatians: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (3:28) Leslie and Chad Segraves shared how in their work in Africa they have been encouraging partnerships in ministry cross gender lines. One report came back from a couple who have partnered in ministry. The husband shared how when he went to remote villages, 30 people came to the faith. His wife also went out, and came back with the report that when she preached the gospel, more than 300 people came to the faith. The point was clear: God is using all his children - male and female - to bring to the gospel to a needy world and seeing the lost come home. How this works itself out in the CRCA needs much wisdom and prayer, but if we are going to be effective in our witness we need to affirm the gifts of both male and female -- and see these gifts released in ministry. "One hand cannnot wash itself. It takes both hands to do a good job."
We face a task unfinished. This drives us to our knees. The gospel needs to be preached and lived out so that the world may know the Lord Jesus. One of the hymns we sang at the closing ceremony stated it well:
O Father who sustained them, O Spirit Who inspired, Saviour, whose love contrained them, to toil with zeal untired. From cowardice defend us, from lethargy awake! Forth on your mission send us to labour for your sake.