Sunday Snippet: The 2010 Lausanne Congress in Cape Town and an ESV Study Bible GiveAway…

This week I am interviewing Blair Carlson, Director of Cape Town 2010: the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.  I wanted to find out what it’s all about, since it’s the second world-wide event happening in Cape Town this year (and this one has to do with something even more important than soccer!)

Here we go: se7en + 1 questions…

1. In a nutshell, what is the Lausanne Congress? It’s a movement, a servant organization to prepare a “table” where people who are committed to Jesus Christ can gather and address how to effectively get the message of the Bible – the gospel message of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection —  out to people who’ve never heard.

2. Why is it being held in Cape Town?It’s being held in CT because:
   1. The African people invited us here,
   2. It’s a top-quality convention centre, and
   3. Because the southern hemisphere, Africa in particular, is where Christianity is growing at an amazing rate.

   You can see more about us at www.capetown2010.com


3. How did you and your family become involved in the Lausanne movement?I’ve had experience in putting together large-scale events, and I’m passionate about getting the word out about Jesus, so here we are!

4. How long has it taken to prepare for the Conference and what does a typical day of preparation for the Conference look like for you?Would you believe we started four years ago? It takes a long time to put on an event of this magnitude.  We’re working with a volunteer committee from around the world, each of which have taken leadership for some part of the work – Technology is under the leadership of someone in India, Program in the Middle East, Prayer in Australia, just to name a few.  I’m like the stage coach driver holding the reins, coordinating everyone to (we hope) pull together toward the goal. That means thousands of emails and hours and hours of Skype conference calls!

5. I know this is a huge conference with lots of folk from all over the world, how are you managing the logistics of getting people where they need to be and just coping with the vast numbers of people all speaking different languages, logistics in general?It takes lots of committed and talented people. A committee called Participant Selection (chaired by someone from Malaysia) has set up a structure where each part of the world has selected people from their regions to attend the Congress.  Then Participant Services, (chaired by a woman here in SA), is looking after visas, hotels, travel, etc.  It’s a lot of work when you think of nearly 5000 individuals (including volunteer stewards) coming from almost 200 countries.  We’re doing everything, spoken and written, in eight languages: English, French, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, so we’ve got translators working hard, too.

6. What has been the most fun for your family living and working in South Africa this past year?I’ll let my daughters Megan (16) and Ellie (11) answer that!  Megan says Seeing the beauty of South Africa and the diversity of people.  Ellie says:  Meeting friends, going to the beach and collecting seashells.   (Since we come from  Minnesota, the mountains and the sea are a great treat for us.)  How about challenges?  Hmm.   Maybe having to leave South Africa!  It’s been a wonderful experience for all of us.  We’re grateful to God for the privilege of being here.

7. What’s one thing our blog readers could pray for about the Congress?There are a lot of logistical matters to pray about – that people will get here and that everything will work.  But if you only pray for one thing, pray that our purpose will be fulfilled.  Our theme is “God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (II Cor 5:19).  Pray that we’ll be in awe that God has invited everyone everywhere to be reconciled to Himself, and that as a result of this Congress, everyone everywhere will have an opportunity to hear that loud and clear and become part of God’s worldwide family.


And the Se7en + 1th Question:

8. I know it is being held at the CTICC and it’s by invitation only.  So how can local people be involved? Lots of options.  The Congress will be available via the internet through something called the Global Conversation, individuals can log in to a Virtual Congress, and there are 640 GlobaLink locations being organized in 90 different countries.

Now onto the Giveaway: Our blog sponsor CBD is hosting a book table at the Conference and in honor of the Conference they are offering a fabulous GiveAway on our blog this week…

Here it is The ESV Study Bible. I don’t have to say anything about this awesome, awesome book…packed with articles, charts, cross-references, maps, illustrations… I can’t tell you how awesome this book is you will have to click on the picture if you want to know more!!!

If you would like to win this fabulous book then go ahead and enter our GiveAway. The GiveAway works in the usual way, comment before the end of this coming Sunday, 3 October 2010, and we will draw and publish the winner next week! – I won’t respond to your comments as I do on our other posts because I don’t want to be included in our own giveaway.

Our GiveAway Books are open to everyone: If you have won a GiveAway before never fear – enter away. If you live on the far side of the world – enter away. Postage takes forever from here but eventually it should get to you! Good luck and get commenting!!! Thanks especially to Blair Carlson from the Lausanne Congress for answering all those questions and to CBD for such a fabulous GiveAway!!! This Post is part of The Thirty Minute Mom’s Challenge at Steady Mom.