Wed Sep 25 02:25:16 UTC 2024: ## Lausanne Movement Urges Church to Embrace Digital Tools to Reach Next Generation

**Incheon, South Korea** – The Lausanne Movement, a global evangelical movement celebrating its 50th anniversary, has issued a call for the Church to fully embrace digital tools to engage with today’s youth. Dr. Michael Oh, the movement’s leader, stressed the urgent need for a strategic and intentional approach to reaching and discipling young people who are immersed in the digital world.

Speaking at the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, which brought together over 5,000 Christians from 200 countries, Dr. Oh outlined three key priorities for the movement:

* **Disciple-making in the world:** The movement is developing digital tools to facilitate collaboration and engagement among its members.
* **Disciple-maturing in the Church:** Dr. Oh emphasized that digital engagement should not be seen as a side ministry, as it represents the everyday reality of young people.
* **Increased digital engagement:** He warned against ignoring the digital landscape, which significantly shapes the lives of young people and the world at large.

“It would be to our great detriment and grave danger to ignore digital – either to ignore it foolishly, or embrace it naively,” Dr. Oh stated. “Digital is shaping what people want, what people know, and what they do. We need strategic intentionality to reach and disciple the younger generations or we will lose the future.”

The movement is committed to shaping the world of the next generation, urging Christians to actively work for positive change instead of merely lamenting the current state of affairs. “Shaping the world in 2050 can’t start in 2045. It has to start now,” Dr. Oh emphasized.

Will Graham, grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham who convened the original Lausanne Congress in 1974, echoed the call to action. He urged delegates to continue proclaiming the Gospel despite the challenges facing the world. “Now is not the time to stand down, it’s not the time to give up, it’s not the time to retreat,” he said. “Now is a time to take spiritual ground. Now is the time to stand boldly for Jesus Christ and preach Christ unashamedly in the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit.”

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