Lausanne Movement Podcast

By Lausanne MovementReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Lausanne Movement Podcast episodes

May 11The Hidden Gap in Christian Leadership: Knowing Christ vs Becoming Like Christ | Herman Moldez
Why do so many leaders know Christ deeply—yet struggle to become like him?

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Herman Moldez about the often-overlooked gap between knowing Christ and becoming like him. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, Herman explores how true Christlike leadership is formed not just through knowledge and skill, but through deep inner transformation, humility, and intentional mentoring relationships.
Main Points
There is a gap between knowing and becoming. Many leaders are well-trained in Scripture but struggle to embody Christlike character because inner formation is neglected.
The journey from head to heart takes time. Transformation is not automatic—what we know does not easily translate into how we live.
Christlike leadership is formed in hidden places. Leaders are shaped not on the front stage, but in humility, anonymity, and faithful service.
Culture often shapes leaders more than Christ. Without intentional formation, churches can produce leaders driven by success, power, or influence rather than Christlike humility.
Mentoring must focus on the heart. Transformation happens through trusted relationships that ask honest, value-driven questions about motives and inner life.
Leaders need deep, honest friendships. Beyond networking, leaders must cultivate “heart-to-heart” relationships where they can be known, process pain, and grow in Christlikeness.

Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a leader or mentor in your life. We’d also love for you to join the conversation in the Lausanne Movement Podcast space on the Lausanne Action Hub, where you can share your thoughts and engage with our global community—and please consider leaving a rating or review so others can discover the podcast too.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-making-of-a-leader-how-god-forms-character-calling-and-influence-over-a-lifetime-with-richard-clinton
https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-whole-life-mentorship-an-interview-with-ole-magnus-olasfrud
https://lausanne.org/podcast/delphine-fanfon-on-leading-with-vulnerability-and-humility-lessons-from-the-african-church-reaching-the-next-generation-cultivating-identity-and-purpose-in-christ-and-moving-forward-from-failure

Links & Resources
MentorLink International — https://mentorlink.org/
IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) — https://ifesworld.org
Asian Access - https://www.a3leaders.org/
Lausanne Podcast Action Hub - https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual

Guest Bio
Pastor Herman A. Moldez Served with IVCF Philippines (IFES) for 25 years, discipling and mentoring students, and 3 terms as General Secretary. In 2003, he started the ministry of mentoring pastors and Christian leaders with MentorLink International where is part of the Global Leadership Team and in 2017 started A3 (formerly Asian Access) Philippines where peer mentoring is integrated in the two-year training of 16-18 trainees per cohort. He is also the Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Quezon City, Philippines. Aside from mentoring pastors, Pastor Herman and his wife, Mercy Moldez, former Staff Training Directress of IVCF Philippines, facilitate spiritual retreats for pastors and Christian leaders.
54 min
April 28Why Christian Leaders Fall—and What It Takes to Finish Well with Malcolm Webber
Why do gifted Christian leaders fall—and what kind of formation helps us finish well?
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Malcolm Webber about why so many Christian leaders fall—and why the answer is not simply better information, stronger gifting, or more ministry activity. Malcolm invites us back to Jesus’ way of forming leaders through union with Christ, accountable community, tested character, God-given calling, and Spirit-shaped competencies.
Main Points
Leadership failure is often a formation crisis. Malcolm argues that many leaders fall because the deep issues of their lives were never addressed.
Jesus shows us how leaders are formed. Jesus developed leaders through relationships, teaching, assignments, pressure, failure, and mission.
Union with Christ comes first. Healthy leadership begins with abiding dependence on Jesus, not gifting, platform, productivity, or ambition.
Leaders need an accountable community. Spiritual mothers and fathers, mentors, correction, nurture, and encouragement are essential for finishing well.
The 5Cs offer a framework for healthy leadership. Christ, community, character, calling, and competencies help leaders pursue holistic growth.
Finishing well requires intentional rhythms. Malcolm urges leaders to pursue personal growth, choose real accountability, practice spiritual rest, and receive wisdom from previous generations.
Call to Action
Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a pastor, ministry leader, mentor, or younger leader who is seeking to lead from a healthier place. Then take one practical step this week: name a spiritual mother, father, mentor, or trusted friend who can walk with you in honest accountability.
Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
The Making of a Leader: How God Forms Character, Calling, and Influence Over a Lifetime with Richard Clinton
The Art of Whole Life Mentorship: An Interview with Ole-Magnus Olasfrud
Leading with Vulnerability & Humility: Delphine Fanfon on African Leadership, Identity, and Purpose
Links & Resources
LeaderSource
The 5Cs of Healthy Christian Leadership
LeaderSource Resources
LeaderSource Books
5C Checkpoint
LeaderSource App
LeaderSource YouTube Channel
Malcolm’s Musings on Substack
Lausanne Action Hub
Guest Bio
Malcolm Webber is the founder and executive director of LeaderSource, an international ministry focused on developing healthy Christian leaders and strengthening churches around the world. Originally from Australia, Malcolm came to Christ in 1980 and has spent more than 35 years working alongside Christian leaders globally, with a particular focus on Christ-centered, holistic leader development. He holds a PhD in organizational leadership, has written around 50 books, and is also the Founding Pastor Emeritus of Living Faith Fellowship in Indiana, USA. Through LeaderSource, his writing, teaching, and resources, Malcolm continues to equip leaders to grow in union with Christ, accountable community, character, calling, and practical leadership capacity.
1 hr 2 min
April 13Faithfulness and Mission in a Least-Reached Nation: Lessons from Japan with Miho Buchholtz
What does it look like to lead in one of the least-reached nations on earth?

In this episode, Jason Watson speaks with Miho Buchholtz about following Jesus and serving the church in Japan, where Christians make up a very small minority and ministry often requires deep patience, humility, and long-term faithfulness. Miho reflects on her own story of depression and healing, the spiritual and cultural realities of Japan, the challenges of church planting in a secular context, and the quiet, resilient leadership needed to serve well in a place where visible fruit can come slowly.

🔗 Link to the Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual

Main Points
Miho shares how Jesus met her in a season of depression and gave her hope when her future felt closed off.
In Japan, many people carry hidden pain beneath outward stability, making grace and authenticity essential in the life of the church.
Gospel witness in Japan often grows through trust, patient relationships, and everyday faithfulness rather than quick results.
Ministering in your own culture can require relearning how to communicate, listen, and serve with humility.
Tokyo Life Church reflects a beautiful picture of mission from everywhere to everywhere, with Japanese and international believers serving together in one city.
Co-leading in ministry as a married couple can be deeply fruitful, but it also demands repentance, honesty, and the willingness to seek outside help when needed.
Faithful leadership in a least-reached context is often quiet, sacrificial, and marked more by endurance than visibility.
Younger leaders should pursue clarity of calling while remaining faithful in the local ministry God has already placed before them.
Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a ministry leader, church planter, or friend serving in a difficult context. Join us in praying for the church in Japan—that God would raise up faithful leaders, strengthen collaboration, and open new doors for the gospel.
Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
Here are three related episodes from the Lausanne Movement Podcast archive that connect closely with this conversation:
Missional Insights from East Asia: Seth Kim on Mobilizing the Next Generation, Contextualisation, and Uniting the Church for Global Mission — Seth Kim explores how churches in East Asia are reaching their cultures and nations through contextualized mission, leadership development, youth mobilization, and collaboration.
Why Mental Health Matters for the Church and Global Mission with Gladys Mwiti — Dr. Gladys Mwiti explains why mental health, trauma care, burnout, and emotional health are not side issues, but central to the church’s witness and sustainable ministry.
Least Reached Peoples: How the Gospel Restores Dignity and Transforms Communities with Dr. Mary Ho & Lisa — This episode looks at ministry among the least reached, highlighting dignity, transformation, and the ways ordinary believers can participate in God’s mission among those with little access to the gospel.
Links & Resources
Tokyo Life Church — Miho and Grant Buchholtz’s bilingual church in Tokyo.
Lausanne Diasporas Network — Miho mentions her involvement in Lausanne’s diaspora work and the importance of collaboration between Japanese and internationals in mission.
Lausanne Issue Networks — Referenced in the conversation as a place where younger leaders can better understand the needs and opportunities facing global mission today.
Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG) — Mentioned in the episode as a catalytic space for younger leaders to discern calling and grow in mission.
Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking — Miho references Buechner’s well-known idea that calling is found where deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
Scripture references mentioned in the episode: 1 Peter 5:10, Psalm 23, and John 14:6.
🔗 Link to the Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual
Bio:
Miho was born and raised in Yokohama. She became a Christian through depression she suffered in high school. Though she earned a business degree in college and has worked in the fashion industry, God completely reoriented her life to pursue full time ministry. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has been serving in her home country as a missionary with her family. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. She is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Japan Lausanne Committee. She is also an adjunct professor of ministry at Tokyo Christian University. She also serves as a Vision Time preacher on CGN Japan. Miho loves teaching the Bible and seeing people utilize their gifts to take part in God’s mission. She enjoys getting inspiration while taking a walk, drinking coffee, traveling to new places, and seeing her two daughters grow.
49 min
March 30The Making of a Leader: How God Forms Character, Calling, and Influence Over a Lifetime with Richard Clinton
What if the most important work God is doing in your leadership right now is not through you, but in you?
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Dr. Richard Clinton about how God develops leaders over time through formation, testing, experience, and response. Drawing on leadership emergence theory and decades of ministry experience, Richard explains why the years between ages 25 and 35 are especially significant for character formation, mentoring, and learning to lead for the long haul.
Main Points
Leadership is both shaped by God and developed over time; it does not appear fully formed overnight.
God is often more concerned with who a leader is becoming than with what that leader is accomplishing.
The 25–35 stage is often a crucial season of inner life growth and ministry maturing.
Four core character foundations for emerging leaders are integrity, obedience, humility, and faith.
God uses tests and checks throughout a leader’s life to strengthen character and response.
Mentors are essential for helping leaders navigate difficult seasons, avoid burnout, and finish well.
Two stabilizing truths for every leader: God is with you and God wants to help you.
Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with an emerging leader or mentor who needs encouragement for the long journey of leadership.
Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
Here are the top three related episodes I found from the Lausanne Movement Podcast archive:
The Art of Whole Life Mentorship: An Interview with Ole-Magnus Olafsrud - https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-whole-life-mentorship-an-interview-with-ole-magnus-olasfrud
Discipling Future Leaders for Global Mission: Nana Yaw Offei Awuku on Building Generational Impact & YLG 2026 - https://lausanne.org/podcast/discipling-future-leaders-for-global-mission-nana-yaw-offei-awuku-on-building-generational-impact-ylg-2026
Links & Resources
Clinton Leadership 2.0 — Richard Clinton’s website, which exists to continue the work of J. Robert Clinton and Richard Clinton by helping leaders finish well.
The Making of a Leader by J. Robert Clinton — the foundational book behind much of the conversation on leadership emergence and lifelong formation.
Connecting by Paul D. Stanley and J. Robert Clinton — a mentoring resource Richard specifically recommends in the interview.
Courses from Clinton Leadership 2.0 — Richard mentions courses and leadership development tools available through the Clinton Leadership site.
Leadership coaching with Richard Clinton — coaching resources for leaders seeking help understanding their development journey.
“The Emerging Leader” article by J. Robert Clinton — a useful complementary resource on early leadership development.
Richard Clinton Bio
Dr. Richard Clinton is a leadership mentor, pastor, and co-founder of the Clinton Leadership Network, dedicated to helping leaders understand how God develops their calling, character, and influence over a lifetime. Building on the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. J. Robert Clinton, Richard has spent more than four decades studying, teaching, and coaching leaders around the world.
He has served in a wide range of ministry roles—including church planter, pastor, professor, consultant, and leadership trainer—and has worked with leaders across cultures and contexts globally. Richard also continues to steward and expand the leadership development insights behind The Making of a Leader, equipping emerging and seasoned leaders to grow in character and finish well.
Richard continues to mentor leaders, teach on leadership formation, and provide resources through Clinton Leadership 2.0, helping a new generation discern how God is shaping their lives and leadership for long-term impact.
55 min
March 16Why Mental Health Matters for the Church and Global Mission with Dr. Gladys Mwiti
Mental health challenges affect millions of people around the world—but what if caring for the mind and emotions is not just a pastoral concern, but a critical part of the church’s mission?

Summary
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Dr. Gladys Mwiti, a Kenyan clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, and founder of Oasis Africa Wellness. Drawing from over three decades of ministry and counseling experience, Dr. Mwiti explains why mental health care is essential to God’s mission of restoring the whole person. The conversation explores how addressing trauma, burnout, and emotional health strengthens evangelism, discipleship, and Christlike leadership in the global church.
Main Points
Mental health is central to holistic mission. The gospel addresses the whole person—spiritual, emotional, relational, and social healing.
The global church faces a growing mental health crisis. Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Ignoring mental health weakens the church’s witness. Trauma, anxiety, and depression affect families, communities, and ministry leaders.
Pastors and ministry leaders often carry hidden burdens. Many leaders experience stress, burnout, and isolation while caring for others.
Burnout develops gradually. Warning signs include emotional fatigue, decreased motivation, cynicism, and social withdrawal.
Young leaders face increasing pressure. Social comparison, high expectations, and limited mentorship contribute to rising anxiety.
Healthy leadership begins with inner health. Emotionally healthy leaders are better equipped to demonstrate humility, wisdom, and compassion.
Sustainable ministry requires intentional rhythms. Rest, Sabbath practices, journaling, peer accountability, and counseling help leaders finish well.
The church can respond through community care. Congregations can train members to provide basic support and referrals through collaborative mental health ministries.

Links & Resources
Oasis Africa Wellness - https://www.oasisafricawellness.co.ke

Connect with Dr. Gladys Mwiti
LinkedIn: Oasis Africa Wellness
Email: [email protected]
Admin contact: [email protected]

Lausanne Articles by Dr. Gladys Mwiti
Turning the Church’s Attention to Mental Health - https://lausanne.org/global-analysis/turning-the-churchs-attention-to-mental-health
Task Shifting for Mental Health and Trauma: Implications for the Global Church- https://lausanne.org/gathering/task-shifting-for-mental-health-and-trauma-implications-for-the-global-church

Guest Bio
Dr. Gladys Mwiti is a Kenyan clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, and founder and CEO of Oasis Africa Center for Transformational Psychology and Trauma in Nairobi. With more than three decades of experience, she has equipped churches, leaders, and communities across Africa to respond to trauma, mental health challenges, and leadership development. Dr. Mwiti has served as chair of the Kenya Psychological Association, co-chaired the Lausanne Congress Mental Health and Trauma Advisory Group, and has written several books and articles on Christian counseling and holistic care in mission.
45 min
March 02 Are You Leading for Impact...or Just for Your Lifetime? | Ian Conolly on Building Healthy Ministries That Outlast You
What if the true measure of your leadership isn’t how far you go — but how far the mission goes after you?
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Ian Conolly explores how organisational health — rooted in servant leadership and Christlike character — determines whether ministries flourish across generations. Ian shares insights on strengthening leadership, teams, and structures so that mission impact outlasts any individual’s tenure.
🔗 Link to the Lausanne Podcast Community:
https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual
Main Points & Key Takeaways
• Impact over tenure: Leading with longevity in view reshapes priorities beyond personal legacy.
• Health as mission strategy: A healthy organisation better sustains vision, people, and Kingdom work.
• Servant leadership anchors culture: Christlike leaders shape teams by humility, clarity, and shared purpose.
• Systems support sustainability: Governance, processes, and clarity fuel organisational resilience.
• Generational thinking expands influence: Leaders think beyond seasons to generational outcomes.
📚 Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive — Related Episode
Building Healthy Ministries for Kingdom Impact: Neil Hart on Leadership and Organizational Health
Discover what it takes to build ministries that endure — including leadership as the foundation, organisational health frameworks, long-term thinking, and tools like the 9D assessment from FiftyFour.
👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/building-healthy-ministries-for-kingdom-impact-neil-hart-on-leadership-and-organizational-health
🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned
• FiftyFour (Organisational Health Tools): https://www.fiftyfour.global
• Mergon Foundation: https://mergon.co.za/
• Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual
🎧 Call to Action
If this conversation challenged or encouraged you in your leadership journey:
❤️ Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast on your favourite platform.
⭐ Leave a review to help more leaders discover this episode.
💬 Share this conversation with leaders, pastors, and ministry teams who need encouragement toward sustainable mission.
📍 Join the Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual
👤 Guest Bio: Ian Conolly
Ian Conolly is the Executive Director of the FiftyFour, an initiative founded by Mergon, Maclellan, and 3W Foundations to equip ministry leaders worldwide in building healthy, thriving organisations. Ian previously led his own consulting practice, strengthening leadership capacity and operational effectiveness across ministries. He has led the launch and growth of FiftyFour, developing organisational assessment tools and resources to help leaders navigate challenges and scale their impact. FiftyFour has been accessed by over 20,000 leaders from every country in the world. With a passion for leadership development, Ian brings expertise in team building, strategic planning, financial stewardship, and organisational transformation. He finds deep fulfilment in walking alongside ministry leaders, enabling them to maximise their impact and build sustainable, mission-driven organisations.
🌐 Find out more: https://www.fiftyfour.global/en
52 min
February 16Dr. Chris Wright on the Greatest Obstacle to God's Mission | Cape Town 2010
What if the greatest obstacle to Global Mission isn’t persecution, secularism, or other religions—but the people of God themselves?
In this prophetic message from the Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town (2010), Dr. Chris Wright delivers a call to the global Church. Drawing from the sweeping narrative of Scripture, he argues that the greatest hindrance to God’s redemptive mission is not external resistance but internal idolatry among God’s own people. He names three seductive idols—power and pride, popularity and success, and wealth and greed—and calls the Church to radical repentance marked by humility, integrity, and simplicity.
MAIN POINTS
The greatest obstacle to God’s mission is not the world, but God’s own people.
Idolatry remains the central threat to authentic Christian witness.
Three seductive idols distort and corrupt Christian mission:
Power and pride
Popularity and success
Wealth and greed
Jesus himself resisted these same temptations in the wilderness.
The Church must undergo ongoing reformation, beginning with repentance.
There is no biblical mission without biblical living.
The marks of Christlike mission are humility, integrity, and simplicity.
Before we seek to change the world, we must return to the Lord ourselves.
CALL TO ACTION
After listening, take time to pray and reflect:
Where might power, recognition, or comfort be shaping your ministry more than Christ?
What would humility, integrity, and simplicity look like in your leadership?
Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share this message with a ministry leader or team who needs this challenge.
LAUSANNE MOVEMENT PODCAST ARCHIVE
Theology and Mission: A Conversation with Dr. Chris Wright and Dr. Ivor Poobalan on The Lausanne Movement’s Theological Influence on Global Mission
https://lausanne.org/podcast/theology-and-mission-a-conversation-with-dr-chris-wright-and-dr-ivor-poobalan-on-the-lausanne-movements-theological-influence-on-global-mission
Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together: Dr. Patrick Fung on the Theme of the Fourth Lausanne Congress
https://lausanne.org/podcast/let-the-church-declare-and-display-christ-together-dr-patrick-fung-on-the-theme-of-the-fourth-lausanne-congress
Training Christlike Leaders for the Harvest
https://lausanne.org/podcast/training-christlike-leaders-for-the-harvest
GUEST BIO
Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright is a missiologist, Anglican clergyman, and theologian, and one of the leading evangelical voices on the theology of mission and Scripture. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament economic ethics from Cambridge University and has served in global theological education and leadership, including teaching at Union Biblical Seminary in India and serving as principal of All Nations Christian College in the UK. Dr. Wright currently serves as the Global Ambassador and Ministry Director of Langham Partnership International. He has written extensively on biblical theology and mission, including The Mission of God and Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. Within the Lausanne Movement, he chaired the Theology Working Group and played a pivotal role in developing the Cape Town Commitment at the Third Lausanne Congress in 2010.
25 min
February 02Antoine Rutayisire on Wounded Nations, Wounded Healers | Cape Town 2010
In this powerful talk from Cape Town 2010, Antoine Rutayishire reflects on reconciliation, healing, and the church’s role in mending nations broken by violence and division. Drawing on his experience from Rwanda’s tragic history and Christian renewal, Rutayishire reframes wounds not as weaknesses but as invitations to participate in Christ’s reconciling mission.
🔑 Main Points & Takeaways
Wounded nations are not outside God’s mission—they are part of it. Even places of deep pain can become fertile ground for gospel transformation.
Healing begins with honest engagement of both spiritual and historical wounds. The church must understand its own role in past failures to offer credible healing.
Reconciliation integrates personal and communal restoration. Spiritual wounds reflect both individual brokenness and the collective scars of society.
The “wounded healer” offers presence and empathy, not just answers. Authentic ministry flows from the experience of healing, not avoidance of pain.
Global mission must carry rhythms of justice, mercy, and restoration. Gospel witness without reconciliation is incomplete.
📚 Podcast Archive — Related Episodes
Here are links to episodes from the Lausanne Podcast Archive that relate to themes of reconciliation, mission in broken contexts, and the global Church’s role in healing:
From Genocide to Hope: Rebuilding Rwanda Through Healing and Reconciliation- https://lausanne.org/podcast/surviving-the-rwandan-genocide-josephine-munyelis-story-of-forgiveness-hope-god-on-the-move-podcast
The Ministry of Reconciliation: Bridging Divides Between Israelis and Palestinians – Salim Munayer | https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-ministry-of-reconciliation-bridging-divides-between-israelis-and-palestinians-with-salim-munayer
🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned
Related to this Talk
Rediscovering the Gospel of Reconciliation – Advance Paper by Antoine Rutayisire | https://lausanne.org/content/rediscovering-the-gospel-of-reconciliation
Lausanne Movement & Cape Town 2010 Context
The Cape Town Commitment – A foundational statement of faith and mission emerging from the 2010 Congress. | https://lausanne.org/statement/ctcommitment
Guest Bio:
Rev. Canon Dr. Antoine Rutayisire is a Rwandan Anglican minister, theologian, and survivor of the 1994 genocide, widely known for his gospel-centered preaching and leadership in healing and reconciliation in Rwanda and beyond. He has served the church as a pastor and Bible teacher, contributed to Rwanda’s National Unity and Reconciliation efforts, and speaks and writes internationally about forgiveness, peacebuilding, and Christian discipleship.
16 min
January 19Tim Keller on Why Cities Matter and How to Reach Them | Cape Town 2010
As cities continue to shape the future of culture, influence, and innovation, what does faithful gospel witness look like in an increasingly urban world?
In this Lausanne Movement Podcast archive episode, we revisit two landmark talks by Tim Keller from the Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town 2010. Keller first unpacks why cities matter so deeply for God’s mission, then offers a practical and theological framework for how the church can faithfully engage and reach them.
Key Takeaways
Why cities matter for mission: Cities are cultural, economic, and spiritual centers where global influence is formed.
God’s heart for people: In cities, there is ‘more image of God per square inch than anywhere else in the world’.
The church must follow the people: Urbanisation is accelerating faster than the church’s presence.
Contextualised churches are essential: Effective urban ministry requires cultural sensitivity, patience, and adaptability.
Faith and vocation must connect: Urban discipleship integrates faith with everyday work and public life.
From churches to movements: Lasting impact comes through cooperation, prayer, justice, evangelism, and citywide gospel movements.
Hope grounded in the gospel: Christ’s righteousness empowers believers to serve, pray for, and sacrificially love their cities.
Call to Action
If this episode encouraged or challenged you:
Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast for more voices shaping global mission.
Share this episode with church leaders, planters, and those passionate about cities.
Explore Lausanne’s resources on cities, church planting, and urban mission at lausanne.org.
About This Episode
This episode is part of the Lausanne Movement Archive, featuring historic messages from key moments in the global mission movement. These two talks were originally delivered by Tim Keller at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town (2010).
Links & Resources
Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Cape Town 2010)
https://lausanne.org/cape-town-2010-the-third-lausanne-congress-on-world-evangelization
Lausanne Issue Networks:
Cities - https://lausanne.org/network/cities
Church Planting - https://lausanne.org/network/church-planting
Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
https://lausanne.org/podcast-series/lausanne-movement
Tim Keller Bio:
Timothy Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and a widely influential pastor, theologian, and author. Alongside his wife Kathy, he helped plant Redeemer in 1989 and later co-founded Redeemer City to City, which has supported the planting of more than 1,000 churches in over 150 cities worldwide. Keller authored 31 books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, and The Meaning of Marriage.
35 min
December 15, 2025The Apologetics of Christmas & the Church’s Evangelistic Opportunity with Amy Orr-Ewing
Have we grown too familiar with the wonder of Christmas?

In this Advent conversation, Jason Watson is joined by theologian, author, and apologist Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing to explore why the incarnation is not only wondrous but reasonable—and why Christmas remains one of the church’s greatest evangelistic opportunities. From Mary’s courageous “yes” to the credibility of miracles and the cultural openness of Advent, this episode invites leaders and believers to rediscover the depth, wonder, and missional power of Christmas.
Key Takeaways
The Christmas story invites honest questions and skepticism rather than suppressing them
The incarnation is presented in Scripture as extraordinary—but grounded in evidence and eyewitness testimony
Mary’s voice in Luke’s Gospel reveals agency, consent, and profound theological insight
Early Christians reframed—not compromised—culture to proclaim Christ as the Light of the World
Advent creates unique spiritual openness marked by longing, memory, and reflection
Christmas is not just a celebration—it’s a strategic moment for gospel proclamation
Preachers and leaders are called to recover awe, not sentimentality, in telling the Christmas story
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share it with a pastor, leader, or friend preparing for Advent. Consider how you might intentionally use the Christmas season this year to invite others to encounter Jesus.
Links & Resources
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing – Website: https://www.amyorr-ewing.com/
Advocate Collective: https://www.advocate-collective.org/
Book: Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Rediscover the Wonder of Christmas - https://a.co/d/detPL9U
YouTube: Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing (apologetics resources, including an 8-part series on God and suffering) - https://www.youtube.com/@amyorr-ewing
Upcoming Book (Pre-order): Forgiveness: Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear (releasing 2026) - https://a.co/d/g0Y4maN

Guest Bio:
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker, and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian Faith. Travelling internationally, Amy is a regular speaker across university campuses, businesses, parliaments, churches, and conferences as well as on TV, radio, and podcasts. She is the author of multiple books, including ‘Where is God in All the Suffering?’ (runner-up Michael Ramsay Prize, 2023), bestselling ‘Why Trust the Bible?’ and ‘Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ.’
49 min

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