By eddie broussard
The Lausanne 4 Congress in Seoul was a powerful reminder of how our work as Navigators fits within the broader body of Christ and contributes to the global mission of God. Gathering 5,400 participants from 202 nations, it became clear that we are called not just to declare the Gospel but to display Christ together. Collaborating with others in the Body can strengthen us to better fulfill our Core Calling, while also helping others.
For those of us in the Navigator movement, this Congress affirmed our Core Calling and contribution to make disciples and build communities rooted in Christ. The opening day set a firm foundation with “God’s Mission Empowered by the Holy Spirit,” reminding us that all mission efforts begin and are sustained by God’s Spirit. As we reflected on passages from Acts, we were compelled to rely not on our own strength but on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Lausanne then introduced missional community as “God’s New Society,” echoing the core Navigator value of local laboring communities, where transformation is happening as we reach out to the lost with the love and truth of the Gospel. The third day was dedicated to testimonies on “Persecution and Mission.” This was a day of lament with our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith, underscoring the need for the body to uphold one another in prayer and support however possible.
The workplace, too, emerged as a crucial mission field and major emphasis at Lausanne. Jerry White’s influence over recent years helped Lausanne create the Lausanne Workplace Network, and the Workplace Track at Lausanne 4. This Track served 2500 Lausanne conventional income laborers who work and minister, reinforcing that God calls each of us to make disciples where we are—in offices, factories, schools, and beyond. One of every three participants was a CIP! The following day, the Congress centered on Christlike Servanthood, pointing to our Lord as the model for humble, sacrificial leadership.
The final day brought home the urgency of The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth. This collective mission cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires the united, interdependent work of every part of Christ’s body.
Five Ways Lausanne 4 Might Contribute to Navigators Fulfilling Our Calling
Collaboration: Michael Oh, Lausanne CEO, reminded us that “the four most dangerous words among Christians are, ‘I don’t need you,’” capturing the essence of Lausanne 4. Collaboration is not an option but a necessity for fulfilling a mission. From Bible translation partnerships producing new Bible translations in record time to successful new missional enterprises, we saw what happens when the body of Christ works together.
Ordinary people: Michael Oh shared, “God will use the 99% of the Body who are not professional Christian workers, but ordinary believers, to do most of the remaining work to fulfill the Great Commission!” This is another example of Lausanne themes that align with and affirm our Core Calling. Our Core Calling will be fulfilled by ordinary people!
Digital world: Rapid advances in technology present both a challenge and an opportunity for mission. Lausanne helped equip us to engage wisely with the digital world, including AI and transhumanism in two ways: (1) to discern how to steward AI as a tool to reach and disciple others effectively and (2) to understand how AI and transhumanism are affecting the lives of the people we are reaching and their receptivity to the Gospel.
Polycentric mission: Polycentric means “many centers.” Missions today does not have one center, but many! Missions sending today is "from everywhere to everywhere." While our Worldwide Partnership is already experiencing this, we want to more effectively enable polycentric missions sending and receiving.
Next generation: Next generation leaders helped plan and lead Lausanne 4. The Congress demonstrated the importance of passing the torch to new leaders. As Navigators, we know that intergenerational discipleship is vital for healthy movements of the Gospel. Lausanne’s example of developing the next generation of leaders might provide us with some inspiring ideas.
This Congress was a vivid picture of what it means to be part of the global body of Christ. It affirmed that our commitment to generational disciplemaking, building missional communities, the importance of laborers in the workplace, and the fundamental role of ordinary people in the advance of the Gospel are not only Navigator values, but are Kingdom values that are championed by the global Lausanne movement.
Here are a few reflections from Navigator attendees of Lausanne 4:
“Lausanne 4 was a powerful reminder that our mission is intertwined with the broader body of Christ. The vision of ‘The Gospel for Every Person’ and fostering Christ-like, Spirit-led leaders challenged me to see discipleship as a holistic, lifelong journey. I was moved by the call to form authentic, intergenerational mentoring relationships, grounded in prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Our historical strengths as Navigators—particularly generational discipleship, missional communities, and serving ordinary people—were echoed throughout many sessions, underscoring how our focus on nurturing deep, resilient faith aligns with global mission strategies. Engaging with diverse leaders gave me a renewed passion to collaborate and grow together, embracing both the joy and trials of discipleship. Our shared stories, experiences, and vision can breathe life into global mission efforts as we stand together for God’s Kingdom.” – Viloane Ko, Singapore
“Lausanne 4’s emphasis on humility, collaboration, and intentionality struck a chord with me. Integrating these values means fostering stronger partnerships both within The Navigators and with the wider global Church. The call to ‘display Christ together’ challenges us to deepen our efforts, equipping every believer—from laypeople to leaders—to live out their faith intentionally. Our core practices, such as one-on-one discipleship, small group ministry, and the disciplined study of Scripture, were recognized as valuable tools for raising mature disciples. This affirmation strengthens our resolve to continue engaging relationally and contextually while embracing new strategies like digital disciplemaking. As we step into more collaborations, particularly with those focused on unreached people groups, we can extend our reach by combining our established methods with fresh, interdependent partnerships in the body of Christ.” – Michael Ogundele, Nigeria
