Lausanne Conference Sparks Momentum in Africa
In September of 2024, the Lausanne Conference (started by Billy Graham) celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Dr. Augustin Hibaile (of the Central African Republic) traveled thousands of miles to attend in Korea. The recent conference brought together 5,000 in-person attendees and another 5,000 who connected virtually, all united by a shared commitment to the Great Commission (Matthew 28).
Endorsed and supported by the Charis Alliance, Dr. Hibaile was one of only two representatives from the Central African Republic to attend the seven-day conference. He was impressed by how it united so many diverse people from around the world to strategize on spreading the gospel. "I was amazed to see how it can bring so many people together from around the world to discuss strategies to reach people in different levels of society with the Gospel of Jesus," he shared. He found common ground with attendees from various nations as they shared the same burden for the lost. Together, they discussed how to collectively pray and work towards reaching more individuals with the good news.
The conference highlighted 25 gaps that hinder churches worldwide from effectively reaching people for Jesus. With the global population at 8 billion and only an estimated 2.8 billion identifying as Christians, Hibaile emphasized that "our task is not yet completed." Some of the critical gaps identified at the conference were:
Reaching the Younger Generation: Hibaile noted a disconnect, stating, "Adults today don’t try to put our feet in their shoes to understand their problems and prepare them to take over the responsibility of the church." He stressed the need for Christian presence in politics, business, and within the church itself.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence: In the age of AI, the conference explored how churches can effectively utilize these tools to disseminate the Gospel.
Engaging with Islam: Discussions also centered on the growth of Islam, which is currently expanding more rapidly than Christianity. Hibaile stressed the urgency for evangelical churches to adapt their strategies to reach Muslim communities, advocating for collaborative efforts in every country to address this.
When Hibaile returned to the Central African Republic, he was greatly encouraged. He took the initiative to present a comprehensive report to the alliance of churches in his country. Hibaile is spearheading efforts to apply the insights gained from the conference. Looking ahead, he is helping organize an upcoming conference in Togo this August for French-speaking Africa. This gathering will encourage local leaders to discuss challenges, ethics, and theology pertinent to their regions. There will also be another conference this October in Ghana, focusing on how to effectively reach the business sector across Africa. Hibaile is actively encouraging leaders within Charis churches in Africa to participate in these conferences, recognizing the value of interdependent collaboration.
We’re so blessed to see how God is using Hibaile’s experience to serve as a catalyst for broader engagement within the Charis community across Africa!
You can learn more about the Lausanne Movement at lausanne.org.
While the Charis Alliance supports the efforts of the Lausanne Movement to foster collaboration in pursuing the Great Commission, it does not necessarily align itself with all of the movement’s official statements and actions.
