World Evangelization Summit Launches 8-Language Chat Room

By Ethan Cole, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 06, 2010

To mark the 100-day countdown until a historic world evangelization summit, organizers launched a global chat room in eight languages.

Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, which is a follow-up of Lausanne II in 1989, now offers The Lausanne Global Conversation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

The online conversation invites mission-minded Christians and leaders worldwide to discuss and debate pressing issues facing the global church – such as increasing hostility to Christianity, the threat of terrorism, and HIV/AIDS – in the months leading up to the event.

"Multi-lingual features enable the whole church to dialogue on a common platform," said Naomi Frizzell, director of digital media for Cape Town 2010. "We look forward to evangelicals worldwide bringing their unique experiences, insights and perspectives."

Some 4,000 select Christian leaders from 200 nations will attend the highly-anticipated missions event. Those who cannot attend in person can watch broadcasts of key addresses at the official GlobaLink sites offered in 68 nations and also share their thoughts on the website.

The upcoming conference is the third Lausanne event. The first Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization was held in 1974 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Rev. Billy Graham led the gathering of more than 2,700 evangelical leaders from 150 countries who came together to discuss world evangelization.

Lausanne II took place in Manila, Philippines, and attracted 3,600 leaders from 190 countries.

"As the 100-day countdown to the Congress (Lausanne III) approaches, I sense there is growing excitement and anticipation around the world," said Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, the international direction of the World Evangelical Alliance. "This Congress has the potential for shaping and impacting a whole new generation of leaders."

WEA has partnered with Lausanne to organize Cape Town 2010.

"Please help us by your prayers," said Lindsay Brown, international director of The Lausanne Movement. "Our goal in every aspect of the Congress is to strengthen the Church in fulfilling Christ's final command on earth, which has never been rescinded – to make disciples of all nations."