Three people from the CGK have been invited to a major conference of the Lausanne Movement attend in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. More than five thousand Christians from around the world will gather, both physically and virtually, to pray and reflect on God's global mission. Ahead of the conference, missionary consultant Petra de Jong-Heins, one of the invitees, shares her expectations.
What are we going to bring and what are we coming to get? It sounds so flat, if not spiritual. And it is also sometimes hard to say in advance, what something new will bring you or what you have to give there. But still, I want to express something of tentative expectation or hope.
What may we 'bring' there from the CGK
I think it's important, that there are people with solid evangelical theological background (because that is what Reformed theology falls into worldwide: the gospel is central) and roots in traditional churches. We as theologians from the CGK can contribute to this theological deepening.
But it is also an opportunity for the CGK to serve the global body of Christ and the global missionary movement with the experiences from the Netherlands. Exchange on the breadth, length, depth and height of the love of God, to speak with Paul's words from Ephesians 3:18-19. A conference like Lausanne gives the unique opportunity to hear from all continents how God is at work in His world. And we from the CGK get to tell that piece too: about the difficulties, but also about the hope that is within us.
As a Dutch delegation (so not just as CGK), we consciously and unconsciously take the Dutch context with us to Seoul. Especially in a context of church decline, secularisation and post-Christianity, we need each other as Christians. This is true not only at the individual level, but also between denominations and Christian organisations. It is good if we know each other, so that we know how to find each other and work together. From Lausanne's years of research, it appears that many churches and Christian organisations work in their own 'bubble', with the danger that we all try to reinvent the wheel ourselves. Unity is something Christ calls us to. That is a challenge in times of polarisation, but how wonderful it is, when we are encouraged to do so from the world church and allowed to shape it from our different positions.
What do we hope to 'pick up' there for the CGK?
First of all, the conference gives a global perspective. This is important for the CGK. We are not a denomination in itself, but part of the global church. What is happening there? What is God doing in this world, on different continents, in different countries? In doing so, I hope to see, experience and learn more about God's love and the fullness of God.
I hope for 'missionary broadening': that we may take many new ideas, best practices and materials back to the Netherlands to elaborate on each in our own place in the CGK and hope that we may be blessed with new contacts to spar with not only during the conference, but also afterwards about (world) evangelisation, mission and diaconate.
And that we will be surprised with maybe more or different. More revenue, other revenue, that which we did not expect, but which we do need. A full missionary suitcase to take back home, with which we may again be a blessing in the CGK and beyond.
