Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Baptist churches across Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia quickly opened their doors to displaced civilians. The European Baptist Federation coordinated five million euros in humanitarian aid, directing resources to local unions and frontline congregations. Churches converted sanctuaries into shelters, provided food and logistics, and offered spiritual support. The Lausanne Movement reports that this emergency response revitalized post-pandemic ministries, demonstrating a flexible, grassroots approach to mission that integrated physical relief with gospel proclamation for refugees and locals alike.
The Lausanne Movement reports that Christians in India face increasing discrimination and violence under the current Hindu-majoritarian government. The outlet attributes this trend to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the RSS, which promote Hindutva ideology and a vision of a Hindu Rashtra. This political shift has led to anti-conversion laws in eight states and targeted attacks against minorities. The report notes that while India was founded as a secular nation with constitutional protections for religious freedom, these principles are now under strain. Christians, who contribute significantly to education and healthcare, are often falsely accused of forced conversion, resulting in social unrest and legal challenges.
The Lausanne Movement released a position paper in June 2024 regarding ministry to forcibly displaced people. Authored by the Diasporas Issue Network, the document defines groups such as refugees, asylum seekers, and climate migrants. It argues that forced displacement is a central biblical theme and calls the global church to respond with trauma-informed care. The statement emphasizes building trust, advocating for justice, and recognizing the dignity of displaced individuals as bearers of God's image. It urges Christians to move beyond charity toward relational partnership and holistic support.
The Lausanne Movement is organizing a consultation focused on diaspora missions within and beyond Oceania. This gathering brings together church leaders, scholars, and practitioners to discuss emerging migration trends in the region. The event aims to assess the impact of migration flows and explore strategic responses for the Church. Participants will examine missions involving economic migrants, students, refugees, and other displaced peoples. The initiative seeks to foster networking among Christian leaders and compile findings for future publication. The consultation intends to shape the future of diaspora ministry and world evangelization efforts in Oceania.
A Lausanne Movement report highlights the paradox of Nigeria's vibrant Christian presence alongside sustained persecution in northern and central regions. While large churches thrive in the south, extremist groups and armed herdsmen target Christians with religiously motivated violence. The article argues these attacks constitute persecution rather than general insecurity. In 2025, US officials including President Donald Trump and Bill Maher drew global attention to the crisis. However, Nigerian government officials, including Minister Mohammed Idris, deny the existence of religious persecution, attributing violence to ethnic or criminal factors instead.
Movimento Vocare, a Brazilian initiative founded in 2012, mobilizes young Christians for missionary service. Based in Maringá, Paraná, the movement holds annual congresses that connect participants with mission agencies and vocational guidance. According to the Lausanne Movement, the program has expanded to all Brazilian states, offering regional events in cities like Belém and João Pessoa. Leaders such as Analzira Nascimento and Rodrigo Gomes state that the movement unites dozens of organizations to help youth discern their calling. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between young believers and global mission opportunities, fostering unity within the Brazilian church.
The Lausanne War and Peace Cohort, partnering with the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East, is hosting a prayer series on global conflict zones. The second session, focusing on overcoming violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was facilitated by Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon. Insights were shared by local pastors regarding the realities of the conflict in the region. The group aims to foster dialogue on advocacy and prayer for peace, offering dedicated prayers for those affected by violence in the area. This initiative seeks to raise awareness and support for believers suffering in the DRC.
The Lausanne Movement has established the Academic Ministry & Educators Network (AMEN) to support Christians working in higher education. The initiative aims to connect staff and pastors ministering among scholars, fostering collaboration on joint projects and sharing effective strategies. It also seeks to link scholars, including students and administrators, with relevant academic ministries. According to the outlet, this effort responds to the isolation many Christian academics feel and addresses the need to defend biblical truth in pluralistic cultural environments. The network aligns with the Cape Town Commitment’s vision to bear witness to Christ within the academic sphere globally.
The Lausanne Movement argues that the church must address whole-person health, integrating mental, physical, and spiritual care. Citing World Health Organization data, the group highlights that 41 million people die prematurely from noncommunicable diseases annually, often linked to poverty and climate change. The organization states that stigma and a lack of biblical understanding hinder the church's response to mental health issues. To remedy this, the Lausanne Movement proposes building partnerships between seminaries and health schools, mobilizing churches for community health promotion, and conducting research. These steps aim to restore holistic well-being in vulnerable regions globally.
The Lausanne Movement highlights that an estimated $62 billion was lost to ecclesiastical crime in 2023, representing 6.6% of global Christian giving. This amount exceeds total funds given to global foreign missions that year. The organization states that lack of integrity in the church is a major hindrance to evangelization. To address this, the group aims to strengthen theological education, promote ethical discipleship, and advance good governance structures. They seek to foster collaboration among Christians to maintain high ethical standards and combat corruption within religious institutions worldwide.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Donald Wu on UnsplashGood news
The Lausanne Movement’s Global Diaspora Network held its fourth session focusing on Chinese diaspora missiology. The event featured Dr. Enoch Wan, a professor at Western Seminary and author of over 40 books on the subject. The gathering examined how Chinese communities contribute to global missions across diverse cultures. Designed for oral preference audiences, the bilingual session in Portuguese and English encouraged dialogue and shared stories. The initiative aims to deepen understanding of the role diasporas play in the global church's mission today.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Leonel Ubeda on UnsplashGood news
The Lausanne Movement identifies human migration as a defining global reality, noting that approximately 200 million people live outside their countries of origin. The organization asserts that this dispersion creates new momentum for spreading the gospel. In 2010, the Cape Town Congress designated diaspora as a strategic priority for the worldwide church. To support this mission, the group appointed a Catalyst for Diasporas and established the Global Diaspora Network. These initiatives aim to advance religious outreach through and beyond migrant communities, reflecting the belief that Christian faith has historically been shaped by human movement.
The Lausanne Movement highlights a critical shortage of qualified Christian leaders despite rapid church growth. The organization notes that many emerging leaders lack integrity training, while women, youth, and marketplace workers are frequently excluded from development programs. To address this, the group advocates for inclusive, polycentric leadership models that prioritize spiritual formation alongside practical skills. They urge churches and organizations to build cooperative networks that empower diverse segments of society. This strategic shift aims to improve global mission effectiveness and ensure sustainable spiritual transformation worldwide.
The Lausanne Movement highlights that despite having over 2.5 billion Christians and 30 million churches, millions remain without access to the gospel in their own language. The organization states that divisions and isolated ministries hinder global evangelization efforts. To address this, the group advocates for a collective impact approach, urging churches to co-labor and share resources. The movement argues that collaboration is the best strategy to overcome distrust and duplication, aiming to equip the body of Christ to accomplish God’s mission together more effectively than any single ministry could alone.
The Lausanne Movement highlights that 28 percent of the global population has not heard the name of Jesus, often residing in countries closed to traditional missionary work but open to foreign workers. The organization defines tentmakers as Christians who support themselves through secular employment while engaging in cross-cultural evangelism. However, the group states that the church currently lacks adequate training and support structures for these individuals. To address this, the Lausanne Movement urges churches to mobilize, equip, and send members as workplace missionaries. They propose developing comprehensive theological and cultural training, establishing support groups, and partnering with other mission bodies to foster effective tentmaking ministry.
The Lausanne Movement reports that while over 6 billion people have access to the full Bible and translations exist in 3,658 languages, significant challenges remain. The group states that nearly 200 million people still lack scripture in their heart language. Additionally, the organization warns of a wave of functional biblical illiteracy among Christians who rarely engage with the text. The Lausanne Movement urges churches and organizations to collaborate on strategies to improve scripture access and deepen spiritual formation through consistent engagement with the Bible.
The Lausanne Movement has introduced a new webinar series focused on protecting children-at-risk globally. The initiative aims to motivate the global church to address issues such as abuse, exploitation, and neglect. According to the outlet, the program aligns with the mandates of The Cape Town Commitment, which calls for serious engagement with children's needs. The series combines theological reflection with practical expertise to help Christian organizations strengthen their safeguarding practices. This effort highlights the growing recognition that safeguarding remains a critical but inconsistently prioritized aspect of church ministry worldwide.
The Lausanne Movement and the World Evangelical Alliance have established the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network to address the urgent crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss. Operating in 130 countries, the initiative urges Christians to view stewardship of the earth as an integral part of following Jesus. The network emphasizes that Christ’s lordship extends over all creation, making environmental care a gospel issue. Participants are encouraged to rediscover the biblical practice of Sabbath to counter modern pressures for speed. The organization aims to mobilize the global church to work together in healing the environment and resolving this existential threat to human society.
The Lausanne Disability Concerns Network is calling on Christian leaders to actively include young people with disabilities in church and organizational leadership roles. The group notes that one in seven people globally has a disability, yet many remain marginalized and excluded from ministry. The network suggests encouraging these individuals to use their gifts, providing mentorship, and placing them in decision-making positions. This initiative aims to empower believers with disabilities to serve as ministers themselves, reflecting the Cape Town Commitment’s principles and strengthening global disability leadership within the Body of Christ.
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
