Discipling Future Leaders for Global Mission: Nana Yaw Offei Awuku on Building Generational Impact & YLG 2026

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, we are joined by Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, Global Associate Director for Generations at the Lausanne Movement. Nana shares his passion for fostering generational unity in global missions and unveils key insights into the upcoming Younger Leaders Gathering in 2026. He discusses the biblical foundation for generational collaboration and his own journey from engineering to full-time ministry, providing valuable lessons for leaders of all ages.

Main Points:

• Generational Intentionality in Missions: Nana-Yaw emphasizes how engaging multiple generations can sustain and accelerate global mission efforts.
• The Younger Leaders Gathering 2026: A preview of the next global gathering designed to equip and mentor young leaders for the next decade.
• Biblical Foundations of Generational Collaboration: Nana-Yaw highlights the scriptural precedent for cross-generational teamwork in fulfilling the Great Commission.
• Personal Journey of Faith: Nana shares his personal story of faith, leadership, and God’s grace, from his heritage to his calling in the Lausanne Movement.
• Investing in Emerging Leaders: Insights on how senior leaders can support the next generation and the long-term impact this has on global missions.

Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement podcast to stay updated on future episodes, leave a review to help others find this content, and visit our website to learn more about the Younger Leaders Gathering 2026.

Links & Resources:

• Lausanne Movement website - https://lausanne.org/
• Younger Leaders Gathering 2026 Information - https://lausanne.org/gathering/ylg2026
• Lausanne Generartions - https://lausanne.org/generations

Guest Bio

Nana Yaw Offei Awuku serves as the global associate director for generations. In this role he leads the Lausanne Younger Leaders Generation initiative (YLGen). He was previously the Lausanne regional director for English, Portuguese, and Spanish-speaking Africa (EPSA) for over five years until September 2016.

Nana was on staff with Scripture Union Ghana for over 20 years till 2017 and served on the senior management team as the director for field ministries. His primary ministry foci are evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

Nana is trained professionally as a chemical engineer and organization development consultant. He graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Massachusetts, US) with an MA in evangelism and world mission, and is currently a PhD candidate with Biola University. Nana is married to Beth, and they have three children: Christy-Joy, Eben-Joy, and Laura-Joy.

We’d love your feedback to help us to improve this podcast. Thank you!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
In the Generations department now, we want to see that Generations has a strong biblical calling that we must make a missional commitment to.

(00:12):
We want to see true friendship, mutuality come across Generations in contributing to the collaborative action in global mission.
That is what Congress is all about.
A very warm welcome to the Lausanne Movement podcast. 5 00:00:35,114.999 --> 00:00:40,174.999 For those who have a passion to accelerate global mission together.

(00:40):
I'm your host, Jason Watson. 7 00:00:42,234.999 --> 00:00:49,445 And today on the podcast, we get to hear from Nana-Yaw, the Global Director of Generations for the Lausanne Movement.
During our time together, Nana shares why generational intentionality is so important for the kingdom of God.
But most excitingly, he shares about the next big event for the Lausanne movement, which is the Younger Leaders Gathering in 2026.

(01:07):
And so if you're interested in hearing more about this event, I want to encourage you to grab your headphones and let's dive into today's interview with Nana-Yaw.
Nana-Yaw, welcome to the podcast.
Thank you, Jason.
It's so great to have you with us. 14 00:01:26,849.999 --> 00:01:31,349.999 I've been so blessed by your presence within the Lausanne movement.

(01:31):
.999Even as we have engaged online you bring such vision and you, you speak with such authority and, and passion about Jesus and, and the generations and especially about the younger generation, which in some part I feel like I'm a part of, but I feel like I am in some part leaving that behind me as I grow older into, into my thirties. 16 00:01:54,159.999 --> 00:02:07,449.999 But I'm so blessed by your presence and I'm blessed by this moment to talk about generations and hopefully about YLJ in 2026 that you are going to announce in a couple of days time here at the Congress. 17 00:02:07,709.999 --> 00:02:12,714.999 So, one thing that I was very curious to about was just about your background. 18 00:02:13,124.999 --> 00:02:16,94.999 I know of you as a person, but I don't know your story. 19 00:02:16,534.999 --> 00:02:23,124.999 And one of the things I love about this podcast is to hear the backstory to those who are able to come and to sit with me. 20 00:02:23,604.999 --> 00:02:30,324.999 So could you share how you fell in love with Jesus and how you fell in love with his mission? Thank you, Jason. 21 00:02:30,974.998 --> 00:02:33,574.998 You bring a gift of friendship. 22 00:02:34,459.999 --> 00:02:40,19.999 I see you cheerfully all around and I'm just grateful to know you. 23 00:02:40,159.999 --> 00:02:44,239.998 In Africa, stories are not individual stories. 24 00:02:44,929.999 --> 00:02:47,499.999 Stories are more communal. 25 00:02:47,809.999 --> 00:02:57,79.999 So I didn't know my story as an individual, I mean, and how significant that was. 26 00:02:57,279.999 --> 00:02:59,369.999 That came to me a little bit later. 27 00:03:00,209.999 --> 00:03:11,459.999 Nana has become more of my kind of Reference, it's not a name, it's much more of a title. 28 00:03:12,719.999 --> 00:03:18,539.998 Royalty, right? It has something to do with royalty in one sense. 29 00:03:19,439.999 --> 00:03:24,49.998 It has something also to do with kind of the way families are structured. 30 00:03:24,499.999 --> 00:03:29,109.899 So your granddad is your nana, your grandmom is your nana. 31 00:03:29,649.999 --> 00:03:39,939.999 And when you are named after your granddad, your grandmom, sometimes that title is transferred to you in honor of your grandparents. 32 00:03:40,479.999 --> 00:03:48,289.999 My grandfather, My dad's paternal grandfather was a chief and I was named after him. 33 00:03:48,979.999 --> 00:03:51,519.999 So his Nana was a chief title. 34 00:03:51,639.999 --> 00:04:00,59.999 And when I was named after him, I think it just came along the line that my parents generation wanting to honor their father. 35 00:04:00,299.999 --> 00:04:00,629.999 Okay. 36 00:04:00,629.999 --> 00:04:03,969.999 So that is Nana Ewukus Granda. 37 00:04:06,639.999 --> 00:04:15,329.999 In that story, remember that my My paternal granddad was a traditional chief. 38 00:04:15,629.999 --> 00:04:19,369.999 My maternal grandparent side is an interesting story. 39 00:04:20,319.999 --> 00:04:28,279.999 My maternal granddad himself was a Presbyterian evangelist. 40 00:04:28,874.999 --> 00:04:33,94.999 I hear one of the very sacrificial ones. 41 00:04:33,114.999 --> 00:05:14,205 In fact, in my story of heritage, I think he is the one who stands out with kind of a commitment to the gospel, but his direct brother, after whom my mom was named, is the one who brought the fetish idol And so even from the background, you know, of a traditional chief ancestry from a Presbyterian evangelist with a brother as a fetish. 42 00:05:15,534.999 --> 00:05:17,554.999 Mine is a story of grace. 43 00:05:18,194.999 --> 00:05:24,664.999 I didn't grow up knowing the expressions of evangelical faith. 44 00:05:24,824.999 --> 00:05:30,164.999 Um, it was much more a nominal involvement in the Presbyterian church. 45 00:05:30,684.999 --> 00:05:34,734.999 You know, so I, I, Heard all the Bible stories. 46 00:05:35,644.999 --> 00:05:41,314.998 There was nothing about a personal, as it were, relationship with Jesus. 47 00:05:41,344.999 --> 00:05:55,334.999 In fact, just before coming to this Congress, I went to my high school to look at the classroom block in which when I was in high school, year one, I would hear the scripture union people praying and singing. 48 00:05:55,334.999 --> 00:05:59,334.999 I'm like, what's wrong up there? 19th January. 49 00:05:59,629.999 --> 00:06:06,289.999 1986, at a scripture union evangelistic rally hosted in our school. 50 00:06:06,799.999 --> 00:06:11,749.999 I hear this powerful commission of the gospel. 51 00:06:13,324.999 --> 00:06:16,294.999 Leaving my heart, I mean, just exposed. 52 00:06:17,194.999 --> 00:06:25,74.999 Like, does this preacher know about hidden sins in my heart? He's speaking so much about me. 53 00:06:25,714.998 --> 00:06:30,374.999 And speaking about Jesus in a way that is very unfamiliar to me. 54 00:06:32,154.999 --> 00:06:36,524.999 It was that day, I almost remember, an afternoon rally around 4 o'clock. 55 00:06:37,354.999 --> 00:07:00,559.999 When he gave an altar call, we said, Who would want to make a personal faith commitment to this Jesus? My friends sitting around me in the high school, it was a boarding kind of boys high school, they said, No, Okuhi is not speaking about you. 56 00:07:00,599.999 --> 00:07:01,739.999 You are a good boy. 57 00:07:01,749.998 --> 00:07:02,269.999 Sit down. 58 00:07:03,489.999 --> 00:07:04,839.998 So I said, okay. 59 00:07:06,119.998 --> 00:07:13,559.999 Whilst kind of the call to repentance comes in, it just struck me that these guys don't know me. 60 00:07:14,499.999 --> 00:07:15,499.999 There is sin in my heart. 61 00:07:17,184.999 --> 00:07:19,584.999 With their eyes closed, sitting down, I just got up. 62 00:07:20,694.999 --> 00:07:23,94.999 My life has never been the same again. 63 00:07:23,95.099 --> 00:07:27,714.999 19 January 86 till today. 64 00:07:28,564.999 --> 00:07:31,784.999 I know that Jesus makes the difference. 65 00:07:31,824.999 --> 00:07:37,284.999 In fact, it was that commitment and the change it brought to my life. 66 00:07:37,314.998 --> 00:07:40,584.998 And I can't get into all the details because of your time. 67 00:07:40,585.098 --> 00:07:46,614.999 But by the time I got to senior high school, it was a broken identity. 68 00:07:46,694.999 --> 00:07:47,524.999 It was. 69 00:07:48,4.999 --> 00:07:55,184.999 Kind of a future that looked very purposeless. 70 00:07:55,594.999 --> 00:08:01,494.999 It was who I, it was the identity right found in Jesus. 71 00:08:01,564.999 --> 00:08:03,74.999 Sixteen years, I think. 72 00:08:04,734.999 --> 00:08:16,949.999 And the meaning that biblical promises brought to me personally, that made me decide at that young age, that wherever I go, God takes me, too. 73 00:08:17,59.999 --> 00:08:25,159.999 I want to come alongside children, young people, and make them know the same Jesus and His Word. 74 00:08:25,259.999 --> 00:08:39,779.999 So, you may not know, but I finished as a chemical engineer, and that is what led me to working 20 years with Scripture Union, and just coming alongside young people before Lausanne. 75 00:08:39,829.999 --> 00:08:41,869.999 So, a little bit of my story there. 76 00:08:42,69.999 --> 00:08:43,429.999 Thank you for sharing that. 77 00:08:43,479.999 --> 00:09:00,409.998 You know, it's It's been fascinating for me to hear the stories of those sitting at the table and realizing that for most of the adults who are passionate about Jesus, who have dedicated their lives for mission, that they gave their lives to Christ in those early formative years. 78 00:09:00,769.999 --> 00:09:09,340 It's, those years between 11 and 19, where they hear the gospel, maybe some of the university years, where they hear the gospel and their lives are transformed. 79 00:09:10,59.999 --> 00:09:14,186.66466667 So, so you, begin this journey with Youthful Christ. 80 00:09:14,651.66566667 --> 00:09:16,321.66566667 It's a scripture union. 81 00:09:16,411.66566667 --> 00:09:17,771.66566667 You worked with them for 20 years. 82 00:09:18,351.66566667 --> 00:09:20,991.66566667 And then you then came on into Lausanne. 83 00:09:21,241.66566667 --> 00:09:28,301.66566667 Can you explain that process of being involved in Lausanne? Senior leaders need to keep looking around. 84 00:09:28,571.66466667 --> 00:09:36,481.66566667 Not only for leaders in kind of emerged leaders in significant places, but also imagined leaders. 85 00:09:36,541.66566667 --> 00:09:41,761.66566667 My story into Lausanne is also one of pure grace. 86 00:09:41,871.66566667 --> 00:09:45,391.66566667 It was in 2005 when Doug Bettsall visited Ghana. 87 00:09:46,196.66566667 --> 00:10:00,36.66466667 And I think at that time he was traveling the world looking for who would be younger leaders that Lausanne could invite into the second Younger Leaders Gathering in Kuala Lumpur, um, in 2006. 88 00:10:01,456.66566667 --> 00:10:12,926.66566667 And Doug Betzel was at the 87th Younger Leaders Gathering and was there together with my CEO, Jude Hammer, you know. 89 00:10:12,946.66566667 --> 00:10:14,946.66566667 So, the two. 90 00:10:15,316.66566667 --> 00:10:16,536.66566667 We're in that gathering. 91 00:10:16,536.66566667 --> 00:10:21,6.66566667 So as he visited Ghana, he visited his friend who was now the CEO of Scripture Union. 92 00:10:21,276.66566667 --> 00:10:25,176.66466667 Tudhama kindly invited me to be in that meeting. 93 00:10:25,286.66566667 --> 00:10:32,626.66666667 Doug says that it was from that meeting that he decided that this young man must be. 94 00:10:34,171.66566667 --> 00:10:35,121.66566667 I didn't know that. 95 00:10:36,741.66566667 --> 00:10:43,161.66566667 So when we came to 2006 YLG, he says he was keeping eyes on me. 96 00:10:43,451.66566667 --> 00:10:45,671.66566667 I didn't know that, not at all. 97 00:10:46,351.66566667 --> 00:11:02,451.66566667 So, I mean, the 2006 Younger Leaders Gathering, maybe we'll speak a little bit more about that, but just blows my heart and just opens my eye to God's mission in a completely different way, and we come back. 98 00:11:03,301.66566667 --> 00:11:06,161.66566667 I thought, well, that was a good experience. 99 00:11:06,786.66566667 --> 00:11:09,666.66566667 We had a follow up 2008 in Abuja. 100 00:11:10,756.66566667 --> 00:11:17,386.66566667 Younger leaders need to make a point to be available to serve. 101 00:11:18,666.66566667 --> 00:11:20,586.66566667 2009. 102 00:11:21,166.66566667 --> 00:11:28,581.66566667 The Ghana Selection Committee to the 2010 Congress in Cape Town was meeting the scripture union office. 103 00:11:29,351.66566667 --> 00:11:31,171.66566667 I was not part of the committee. 104 00:11:32,311.66566667 --> 00:11:40,541.66566667 It was a committee of senior leaders, chaired by the General Secretary of the Bible Society of Ghana at that time, Reverend Kofi Owusu. 105 00:11:41,721.66466667 --> 00:11:55,431.66566667 And one day they came to meet all of them kind of senior leaders, and I was working in my office, I bumped into the conference room accidentally, pulling my head back, they are meeting, and he says, Hey Nana, come. 106 00:11:56,821.66566667 --> 00:11:58,981.66566667 And in she, Nana, you hear wah. 107 00:11:59,386.66566667 --> 00:12:00,426.66566667 Meaning we need you. 108 00:12:00,973.33233333 --> 00:12:02,523.33233333 We don't have a secretary. 109 00:12:02,523.33233333 --> 00:12:03,563.33233333 Come take the notes. 110 00:12:03,973.33233333 --> 00:12:04,923.33233333 So I joined them. 111 00:12:04,973.33233333 --> 00:12:07,33.33233333 Uh, I take the notes for the first day. 112 00:12:07,553.33233333 --> 00:12:09,773.33233333 Uh, listening to some of the conversations quietly. 113 00:12:10,273.33133333 --> 00:12:12,463.33233333 And I thought that was the end. 114 00:12:12,483.33233333 --> 00:12:15,783.33233333 Reverend Kofi Owusu says, I told you we don't have a secretary. 115 00:12:15,783.33233333 --> 00:12:17,193.33233333 You are not part of the committee. 116 00:12:17,803.33233333 --> 00:12:19,383.33233333 And so I kind of go. 117 00:12:19,998.33233333 --> 00:12:23,418.33233333 One task after another, helping, taking notes. 118 00:12:23,858.33233333 --> 00:12:28,728.33133333 They kind of put me in charge of organizing the entire trip. 119 00:12:28,968.33233333 --> 00:12:35,768.33233333 Arranging flights, sending reports to the Africa Regional, I mean, team, and all that kind of thing. 120 00:12:35,908.33133333 --> 00:12:39,88.33133333 My biggest surprise was the final day. 121 00:12:39,608.33133333 --> 00:12:43,98.23233333 Now, think of it, they were selecting only two people. 122 00:12:43,528.33233333 --> 00:12:47,568.23233333 14 leaders from Ghana for 2010. 123 00:12:47,568.33233333 --> 00:12:56,448.33233333 Church heads, heads of churches, seminary presidents, key people in marketplace leadership. 124 00:12:56,658.33133333 --> 00:12:57,728.33233333 I mean, think of it. 125 00:12:58,338.33233333 --> 00:13:01,48.33233333 At that time, I think Ghana was about 28 million or so. 126 00:13:01,48.33233333 --> 00:13:01,998.33233333 Today we are 30. 127 00:13:02,788.33133333 --> 00:13:03,888.33233333 Very tight list. 128 00:13:04,118.33133333 --> 00:13:05,848.33233333 Changed over again and again. 129 00:13:05,938.33233333 --> 00:13:08,728.33233333 The final day, Jason, the chairman of the committee. 130 00:13:11,323.33233333 --> 00:13:14,493.33233333 And I say this in great appreciation. 131 00:13:14,943.33233333 --> 00:13:19,103.33233333 I kind of recorded a video for him when I got here to this Congress. 132 00:13:20,263.33233333 --> 00:13:22,833.33233333 He said to the committee, we have finished our work. 133 00:13:22,893.33233333 --> 00:13:24,43.33233333 Our list is done. 134 00:13:25,133.33233333 --> 00:13:27,173.33233333 But I've done this before. 135 00:13:27,323.33233333 --> 00:13:28,343.33233333 I'm growing old. 136 00:13:28,433.33233333 --> 00:13:30,113.33183333 I think I want to give my seat to Nanaia. 137 00:13:30,113.33183333 --> 00:13:30,453.33133333 Wow. 138 00:13:31,243.33233333 --> 00:13:32,103.33233333 It was teary. 139 00:13:32,243.33233333 --> 00:13:35,543.33133333 That's how I came to Cape Town. 140 00:13:36,493.33133333 --> 00:13:38,690.03233333 And it gave me such a huge blessing. 141 00:13:38,690.03233333 --> 00:13:44,543.33133333 Getting to know heads of churches, Christian leaders in Ghana. 142 00:13:45,173.33133333 --> 00:13:47,373.33233333 I mean, the humility. 143 00:13:47,413.33233333 --> 00:13:50,603.33233333 I, oh, mine, mine, mine, mine. 144 00:13:50,613.33233333 --> 00:13:51,823.33233333 Those who were selected. 145 00:13:53,893.33233333 --> 00:13:55,773.33233333 That's a team that really blessed me. 146 00:13:55,933.33233333 --> 00:13:59,663.33233333 One of them is Apostle Pukunyina, who now serves on the board. 147 00:13:59,843.33233333 --> 00:14:02,143.33233333 2011 is where I am coming to. 148 00:14:02,313.33233333 --> 00:14:03,903.33233333 I received an email. 149 00:14:04,453.33233333 --> 00:14:05,973.33233333 It came from Lindsay Brown. 150 00:14:06,223.33133333 --> 00:14:08,573.33133333 It was addressed to me, but I thought it was a mistake. 151 00:14:08,683.33233333 --> 00:14:12,313.33133333 Nana, Gideon Paramalam is handing over. 152 00:14:12,313.33133333 --> 00:14:16,773.33233333 At that time, we called him, we call them the International Deputy Directors now. 153 00:14:17,353.33233333 --> 00:14:18,463.33233333 Regional Director. 154 00:14:19,403.33233333 --> 00:14:21,423.33233333 Ralph Epsah is handing over. 155 00:14:22,403.33233333 --> 00:14:33,203.33233333 And the African leaders have recommended you and we are inviting you into the role of international deputy director. 156 00:14:33,333.33233333 --> 00:14:45,633.23233333 Only God knows the kind of chills, fear, and anxiety that comes to younger leaders when you are called to step into roles like that. 157 00:14:45,633.33233333 --> 00:14:48,473.23233333 I reached out to Femi Diodor Baldez. 158 00:14:48,473.33233333 --> 00:14:51,643.33233333 I was on the floor in my bedroom. 159 00:14:52,183.33233333 --> 00:14:53,63.33233333 Just broken. 160 00:14:53,493.33233333 --> 00:15:13,533.33233333 In fact, my wife came so disturbed at a point, I think by the ten days, said, Joy, this, this is a great invitation, but let me write to Lindsey Brown, and let me let him know that we are grateful, but this might not help you. 161 00:15:13,743.33233333 --> 00:15:19,113.33233333 What I didn't know is that these Lausanne leaders were going to be the greatest gifts. 162 00:15:19,233.33233333 --> 00:15:25,133.33233333 It was far later that I discovered that the 2005 story. 163 00:15:26,603.33233333 --> 00:15:43,353.33233333 Wendell Bettsall was threading through all of that because at the Congress in 2010, he chose six younger leaders, one of them to be his guest every day from different continents. 164 00:15:43,983.33233333 --> 00:15:50,353.33233333 And I think that I had the invitation from him, which again I thought was a mistake, to spend Tuesday with him. 165 00:15:50,493.33233333 --> 00:15:55,933.33233333 It was, I call it, my day of leadership transformation. 166 00:15:56,638.33233333 --> 00:16:06,108.33233333 Just a day with a Lausanne executive chair, I didn't see position, I didn't see power, just friendship. 167 00:16:06,858.33233333 --> 00:16:12,128.33233333 At the end of the day, he said, Nana, this friendship is for a long time. 168 00:16:12,998.33233333 --> 00:16:17,358.33233333 I didn't realize that all those were pathways of observation. 169 00:16:17,588.33233333 --> 00:16:29,538.33233333 And then in 2016, when the third Young Leaders Gathering was coming up, Michael O invites me to say, Nana, this is the vision. 170 00:16:29,788.33233333 --> 00:16:31,388.33233333 This is not only a gathering. 171 00:16:32,218.33233333 --> 00:16:33,528.33233333 There is a 10 year journey. 172 00:16:34,518.33233333 --> 00:16:40,218.3313333 Will you come lead that? My journey in Lausanne has been one of grace and surprises. 173 00:16:40,308.3323333 --> 00:16:50,558.3323333 You know, so, if there is a plan to read God Knew, but I say to people, for me, personally, it's just become follow. 174 00:16:51,88.3323333 --> 00:16:54,18.3323333 Me, yeah, and I've been surprised all through. 175 00:16:54,228.3323333 --> 00:16:58,428.3323333 I'm grateful to Michael for his trust and this being such a journey. 176 00:16:58,858.3323333 --> 00:17:10,918.3313333 I'd love to hear from you, you know, as I, as I reflect on your story, I can see lessons that can be learned by the younger leaders and I can see lessons that can be learned by the older leaders just in your story. 177 00:17:11,738.3313333 --> 00:17:24,478.3323333 What advice would you give to the younger leaders that perhaps have attended this gathering or are listening in on this conversation? That's I think lessons of faithfulness come to mind as I hear your story. 178 00:17:24,918.3323333 --> 00:17:43,618.3313333 But as you reflect on your own life, what lessons from your own experience could you share with some of those younger leaders listening in? If there are leaders who are born and kind of stand out as leaders, probably, and know within themselves that they are leaders. 179 00:17:44,673.3323333 --> 00:17:46,943.3323333 Probably Jason, I would not be one of them. 180 00:17:47,243.3323333 --> 00:17:53,613.3323333 I have come in my own journey to believe in scripture also experientially. 181 00:17:54,203.3323333 --> 00:18:00,373.3313333 When God says, I knew you before you were formed in your mother. 182 00:18:01,323.3323333 --> 00:18:07,503.3323333 All through my journey, I have had to surrender by faith. 183 00:18:07,503.4323333 --> 00:18:13,693.3323333 And the journey of faithfulness has been a response to faith in the promises. 184 00:18:15,348.3323333 --> 00:18:29,298.3323333 Now, even here at this Congress, I tell people, I have become deeply convinced that if God could shape a leadership heart in me, no younger leader is useless. 185 00:18:29,863.3323333 --> 00:18:39,13.3313333 That's why, and I'll speak a little bit about this, I mean, on the Lausanne leadership kind of generations graphic that we're looking at now. 186 00:18:39,313.3323333 --> 00:18:40,953.3323333 We begin with potential. 187 00:18:41,543.3323333 --> 00:18:51,603.3323333 I think that God's image in everyone is a potential seed, if nurtured well, for his purpose and for leadership. 188 00:18:53,673.3323333 --> 00:19:00,533.3323333 I would say to every younger leader who is listening here, God does not waste. 189 00:19:01,253.3323333 --> 00:19:04,243.3323333 Anything here is doing in your life. 190 00:19:04,343.3323333 --> 00:19:05,683.3323333 Now I'm 53. 191 00:19:05,693.3323333 --> 00:19:10,13.3323333 So I am in a space where I'm now reflecting over life. 192 00:19:11,373.3323333 --> 00:19:15,303.3323333 When I was at the university, I was invited to serve. 193 00:19:15,553.3313333 --> 00:19:17,433.3313333 I give my life to Christ. 194 00:19:18,173.3323333 --> 00:19:27,343.3323333 As a young person in high school, you remember that with that kind of commitment, Bobby Clinton will speak about sovereign foundations. 195 00:19:27,673.3323333 --> 00:19:28,603.3323333 I didn't know what. 196 00:19:29,148.3323333 --> 00:19:48,48.3323333 All of that was leading to at a university, I am invited to serve as a president of the, we called it a child evangelism wing, but it was actually the children ministry of the IF group on our campus. 197 00:19:48,108.3323333 --> 00:19:50,748.3323333 In Ghana we call ifes, you know? Yeah. 198 00:19:51,38.3323333 --> 00:19:51,788.3323333 So. 199 00:19:52,478.3323333 --> 00:19:54,408.3323333 I'm invited to serve as president of that. 200 00:19:54,438.3323333 --> 00:20:04,988.3323333 I get into all kinds of helping to reach children of university student, oh sorry, university faculty members from university campuses. 201 00:20:06,118.3313333 --> 00:20:07,398.3323333 I finish that. 202 00:20:07,588.3323333 --> 00:20:09,948.3323333 It's my mathematics professor. 203 00:20:10,358.3323333 --> 00:20:14,908.3323333 who recommended me to come serve as a staff of Scripture Union. 204 00:20:15,118.3323333 --> 00:20:26,458.3323333 So, see, I start with children, and then after university, from engineering to a full time parachurch mission staff. 205 00:20:27,138.3313333 --> 00:20:36,588.3323333 You're now working among high school less, you know, all across the country. 206 00:20:36,668.3323333 --> 00:20:37,218.2323333 I, you know. 207 00:20:37,918.3323333 --> 00:20:45,88.3323333 I got into a national ministry leadership position with the Scripture Union, and I do that for 20 years. 208 00:20:45,288.3323333 --> 00:20:51,728.3323333 Michael now invites me to come help pioneer YLGEN. 209 00:20:52,148.3323333 --> 00:20:53,978.3323333 My mind is younger leaders. 210 00:20:54,578.3323333 --> 00:21:01,638.3323333 You get into Lausanne, younger leaders kind of like 25 to 35, and you come to meet. 211 00:21:02,263.3323333 --> 00:21:13,323.3323333 People like Jason, who are called Younger Leaders, and are serving in all kinds of significant roles of influences. 212 00:21:13,423.3323333 --> 00:21:30,783.3323333 I think two years ago when we did a survey of the Younger Leaders in Lausanne, 52 percent of them were leading either at national executive, regional, continental level executive, global level executive. 213 00:21:31,83.3323333 --> 00:21:43,73.3323333 So, I just come to realize that the Younger Leaders that Lausanne is now speaking about, and I didn't even realize it, I mean in my own time, influences already. 214 00:21:43,478.3323333 --> 00:21:44,658.3323333 in their own place. 215 00:21:44,888.3323333 --> 00:21:51,398.3323333 So I go from children to young people, younger leaders. 216 00:21:52,368.3323333 --> 00:22:09,338.3323333 It's only recently that it came clearly to me that God was shipping a heart of generations in my life that I was not well, you know. 217 00:22:09,338.4323333 --> 00:22:17,248.3323333 And so faithfully following Jesus, I will make this promise. 218 00:22:18,493.3323333 --> 00:22:28,313.3323333 Follow me, I will, I think that that's how I have come to know how Jesus calls into leadership. 219 00:22:29,173.3323333 --> 00:22:37,363.3323333 If we can keep faith and faithfulness, fruitfulness is a blessing from him. 220 00:22:38,73.3323333 --> 00:22:39,563.3333333 We don't, we don't work that out. 221 00:22:39,773.3323333 --> 00:22:43,213.3323333 So I think we've already unpacked it just from your story. 222 00:22:44,58.3323333 --> 00:23:02,688.3313333 I'm curious to hear how you would articulate this to someone who asks, you know, it's, we are a missions movement, and you imagine missions is all about going out, right, evangelizing, helping those in need, and we have hundreds if not thousands of expressions of that within our movement. 223 00:23:03,553.3323333 --> 00:23:21,333.3323333 Why Generations? Why is Generations so important to the Lausanne movement that there's a whole department dedicated and led by you? What would you say to them? I want to say thank you to Michael, Michael O, and his obedience to the Lord. 224 00:23:22,573.3313333 --> 00:23:35,513.3323333 Until recently, the Generations department is the newest of kind of the movement function sides, you know. 225 00:23:35,553.3323333 --> 00:23:41,628.3323333 The Regional structure came first, and then the issue network structure. 226 00:23:42,248.3323333 --> 00:23:46,748.3323333 And then, under Michael's leadership, Generations. 227 00:23:48,148.3313333 --> 00:23:58,88.3313333 When Michael invited me to serve in kind of pioneering it, the mission for the department had already been set. 228 00:23:58,678.3323333 --> 00:24:02,608.3323333 Connecting influences and ideas across generations. 229 00:24:02,823.4323333 --> 00:24:18,93.3323333 And the way Michael articulated it, it was kind of like, whether in the regions, whether across the issue networks, could we have all generations? Almost like a value set for everyone. 230 00:24:18,543.3323333 --> 00:24:18,913.3323333 Yeah. 231 00:24:19,133.3313333 --> 00:24:26,823.3313333 I say to Michael that personally, his invitation gave me a gift of clarity. 232 00:24:27,603.3313333 --> 00:24:32,53.3313333 I had always known about investing in younger leaders. 233 00:24:32,848.3323333 --> 00:24:40,418.3323333 Which continues to be the strategic priority for me, for the department. 234 00:24:40,568.3323333 --> 00:24:48,598.3323333 But how do we even faithfully steward that? We're speaking a little about that in this congress. 235 00:24:49,238.3323333 --> 00:25:00,183.3323333 But I have been amazed Rather, generation to generation framing in God's big story. 236 00:25:01,543.3323333 --> 00:25:02,523.3323333 The meta narrative. 237 00:25:02,543.3323333 --> 00:25:12,313.3323333 One of the things that I'm speaking about tomorrow is, if you look at the Genesis account, he actually begins with the generations. 238 00:25:13,853.3323333 --> 00:25:15,963.3323333 Of the heavens and the earth. 239 00:25:16,573.3323333 --> 00:25:31,263.3323333 And then a narrative, ten generations, you know? You come to the center of the mission story and Matthew captures it beautifully. 240 00:25:32,243.3323333 --> 00:25:40,223.3323333 Matthew 1, 17, and he will talk about from Abraham to David. 241 00:25:41,713.3323333 --> 00:25:44,723.3313333 David to the exile. 242 00:25:45,723.3323333 --> 00:25:46,773.3313333 Exile in Babylon. 243 00:25:47,643.3313333 --> 00:25:48,283.3313333 Christ. 244 00:25:48,993.3323333 --> 00:25:50,853.3323333 Fourteen generations. 245 00:25:51,3.3323333 --> 00:25:52,683.3323333 Fourteen generations. 246 00:25:53,433.3323333 --> 00:25:57,983.3323333 Was God not keeping his generational calendar? Absolutely. 247 00:25:59,113.3323333 --> 00:26:14,843.3323333 And I I'm really grateful to God for how Lausanne, I mean, keeps faith to mission strategy that comes out of biblical reflection, I mean, that's call to Lausanne, you know. 248 00:26:15,783.3323333 --> 00:26:20,563.3323333 And it's become very clear to me, as we emphasize. 249 00:26:21,68.3323333 --> 00:26:34,148.3323333 The Great Commission, particularly from the Matthew account, which is kind of much more made popular for that, although it goes through all the Gospels. 250 00:26:35,198.3313333 --> 00:26:42,58.3323333 See, and you would receive when the Holy Spirit comes on you. 251 00:26:42,738.3323333 --> 00:26:43,638.3323333 This is Acts. 252 00:26:45,28.3313333 --> 00:26:46,768.3313333 It is the same in Matthew. 253 00:26:47,98.3313333 --> 00:26:47,848.3313333 All authority. 254 00:26:48,703.3323333 --> 00:26:52,3.3323333 in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 255 00:26:52,163.3323333 --> 00:26:53,533.3323333 Therefore, go. 256 00:26:53,863.3323333 --> 00:26:59,573.3323333 So it's just that same emphasis from his authority, his power. 257 00:27:00,463.3323333 --> 00:27:05,363.3323333 As you go, make disciples of all nations. 258 00:27:05,963.3323333 --> 00:27:26,953.3313333 And so we reflect on that and the dynamic movement of enriched people groups, disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, right? Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. 259 00:27:28,523.3313333 --> 00:27:39,268.3323333 There's plenty, and surely, I am with, always, till the very end of the age. 260 00:27:39,708.3323333 --> 00:27:42,968.3323333 See, the Great Commission has that inclusio. 261 00:27:44,768.3323333 --> 00:27:46,838.3313333 To the ends of the earth. 262 00:27:47,78.3313333 --> 00:27:51,468.3323333 Globally, geographically, ethnic to ethnic. 263 00:27:51,468.4323333 --> 00:27:59,478.3323333 That closure, till the end of the age, is a generational commission. 264 00:28:00,48.3323333 --> 00:28:02,658.3323333 Until we keep the two in balance. 265 00:28:04,268.3323333 --> 00:28:10,698.2323333 I quote Michaela, when Michaela, I mean, had me share on this passionately, Michaela Breitwaite. 266 00:28:11,78.3323333 --> 00:28:12,608.3323333 Michaela said, Wow, Nana. 267 00:28:13,158.3323333 --> 00:28:24,878.3313333 So there can be reached people, groups today, who if we don't give generational intentionality, too, will become unreached. 268 00:28:26,678.3323333 --> 00:28:34,743.2323333 And so, as we kind of put all of this together, generations is not just a fancy word. 269 00:28:35,743.3323333 --> 00:28:43,363.3323333 Word that is coming out of, I mean, any kind of Millennial or Gen Zed research. 270 00:28:44,703.3323333 --> 00:28:46,703.3323333 Strong biblical reflection. 271 00:28:47,143.3323333 --> 00:28:48,813.3323333 We'll see that a meta narrative. 272 00:28:49,343.3323333 --> 00:28:55,293.3323333 God actually promised both a son and a lamb to Abraham. 273 00:28:55,793.3323333 --> 00:28:56,623.3323333 It's consistent. 274 00:28:58,138.3323333 --> 00:29:06,814.8985 And as you were just sharing about Michaela's comments of generations who might lose Christ, you know, there's, there's so many reflections that I have of that. 275 00:29:06,994.9985 --> 00:29:22,854.9985 The one is Christianity Day has just released an article this week here while we're at the fourth Lausanne Congress about Korea and the fact that the State of the Great Commission report highlights Korea, South Korea is the second largest mission sending country in the world. 276 00:29:23,414.9985 --> 00:29:25,934.9985 But as we begin to reflect on. 277 00:29:26,364.9985 --> 00:29:31,314.9985 And this is, was written in the article as we begin to reflect on Korea's next generation. 278 00:29:31,794.9985 --> 00:29:37,204.9985 It's plateauing in terms of the faith and they're struggling to reach the next generation for Christ. 279 00:29:37,204.9985 --> 00:29:39,694.9975 And so they're sending missionaries all over the world, but. 280 00:29:40,149.9985 --> 00:29:46,9.9985 Those missionaries are aging, and there's not necessarily a next generation that's going to replace them. 281 00:29:46,469.9985 --> 00:29:53,419.9985 And it's very much connected to what you're saying in the sense of that we all, every single one of us, face this in our own nations. 282 00:29:53,709.9985 --> 00:30:06,909.9985 We can, as a generation, be passionate about Jesus, but if we're not passing that faith down to our children and to their friends and to the younger communities, we're actually missing out on the call of God to be faithful where we are. 283 00:30:07,919.9985 --> 00:30:19,794.9985 And think, think about it, Jason, as we Focus on the unreached, right? Think about the other side of it, Rolf. 284 00:30:19,854.9985 --> 00:30:24,4.9985 The so called reached who are living. 285 00:30:27,204.9985 --> 00:30:31,214.9985 And in some part of the Global North, I mean, 62%. 286 00:30:32,584.9985 --> 00:30:40,914.9985 Rolf, those we brought to church as children are living before they are 18, you know. 287 00:30:41,204.9985 --> 00:30:49,684.9985 So, I mean, was it yesterday or something like that that I was sharing with the group? The greatest commandment. 288 00:30:51,509.9985 --> 00:31:00,209.9985 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength, you know. 289 00:31:01,469.9985 --> 00:31:21,619.9985 And sometimes we fail to realize that that, the context of the Deuteronomy passage, that Jesus quoted the greatest commandment from, was all about making sure that the next generation, yeah. 290 00:31:22,150.7799671 --> 00:31:25,440.7799671 So let's talk about YLGEN. 291 00:31:26,90.7799671 --> 00:31:37,220.7789671 I would love to hear, you know, I'm sure there's people listening in who, who don't know, you know, the generations department, don't know what YLGEN means or YLG means. 292 00:31:37,510.7799671 --> 00:31:48,975.7799671 And so could you take a moment just to explain how YLGEN works? We as a movement seek to help the next generation come to know Jesus and inspire the older generation to be involved. 293 00:31:49,125.7799671 --> 00:31:50,715.7799671 That's a big question. 294 00:31:50,775.7799671 --> 00:32:02,15.7799671 Um, Lausanne is a trusted convener in the global mission space and I mean, beginning 74 when you talk about Lausanne gatherings. 295 00:32:02,625.7799671 --> 00:32:06,595.7799671 People don't come because they are members of anything. 296 00:32:06,655.7799671 --> 00:32:12,65.7799671 They are inspired by the vision of mission that Lausanne brings. 297 00:32:12,65.7799671 --> 00:32:14,395.7789671 The credibility of leaders, you know. 298 00:32:14,695.7799671 --> 00:32:17,985.7799671 The trust which we need to steward so well. 299 00:32:18,55.7799671 --> 00:32:19,755.7789671 The focus on the gospel. 300 00:32:20,555.7789671 --> 00:32:23,475.7799671 Blessings on our foundational leaders. 301 00:32:23,945.7799671 --> 00:32:27,745.7799671 And the faithfulness through the generations doing this. 302 00:32:27,905.7799671 --> 00:32:31,585.7799671 So, congresses, gatherings. 303 00:32:34,260.7799671 --> 00:32:58,260.7799671 When Michael finished as the chair of the 2006 YLG, he said in his reflection, he was like, What do we do with this high intensive investing into younger leaders in one week and what next? And it struck him that there is something about younger leaders that is a little bit different. 304 00:32:58,800.7799671 --> 00:33:13,940.7789671 His question was, what if we continued to invest in these younger leaders who came for the gathering over a journey of 10 years? That was the vision that the board affair. 305 00:33:14,860.7799671 --> 00:33:37,450.7799671 And so we went from 2006 in Jakarta, the gathering in August, and then in November, the launch Of the 10 year journey, which we now call the generation. 306 00:33:38,235.7799671 --> 00:33:54,285.6799671 You know, so normally when I'm doing an illustration and Sarah Bruel is there or any other, I would say, What we now have is kind of a synthesis of the gathering and a journey. 307 00:33:57,375.7799671 --> 00:34:08,985.7799671 What was seeded in 2016 is what has now traveled eight years. 308 00:34:09,35.7799671 --> 00:34:14,15.7799671 And I'll speak a little bit about that into the future when we come to 2026. 309 00:34:14,345.7799671 --> 00:34:19,565.7789671 But the integration of the gathering and the journey. 310 00:34:20,965.7799671 --> 00:34:26,255.7799671 Into one experience is what we kind of looking at now. 311 00:34:26,295.7799671 --> 00:34:41,175.7799671 From the 2016 kind of gathering and then into a journey, we now have about 937 younger leaders signed up from about 140 countries from around the world. 312 00:34:41,735.7799671 --> 00:34:46,235.7799671 I mean, the journeys of friendship, the stories. 313 00:34:46,785.7799671 --> 00:34:52,575.7799671 I mean, look at this Congress, you know, specifically. 314 00:34:53,400.7799671 --> 00:35:05,240.7789671 The way we began YLJEN, when you're taking a 10 year journey with younger leaders who already are in influential places, you don't come prescribing what you're going to do. 315 00:35:05,860.7799671 --> 00:35:13,440.7799671 You come much more humbly, like we do in Lausanne, listing, you know, asking the questions. 316 00:35:13,910.7799671 --> 00:35:18,985.7799671 A lot of the YLJEN initiatives, have come from listening. 317 00:35:19,735.7799671 --> 00:35:24,625.7799671 A number of these younger leaders, we need mentors. 318 00:35:25,645.7799671 --> 00:35:36,915.7799671 And so, Lausanne makes a mentoring commitment through YLGEN and blessings on many mentors from across the world. 319 00:35:36,925.7789671 --> 00:35:43,235.7799671 We have mentors from over 50 countries who have been working with these younger leaders. 320 00:35:43,355.7799671 --> 00:35:48,925.7789671 Lausanne is, by God's grace, an excellent curator. 321 00:35:49,765.7799671 --> 00:35:51,415.7799671 In missionary sources. 322 00:35:51,425.7799671 --> 00:36:03,295.7799671 So the question was, how do we bring the best of missionary sources curated for young people? So that's where our missionary sources commitment came from. 323 00:36:03,335.7799671 --> 00:36:10,955.7789671 I mean, the webiness that you hear about, I mean, all that kind of thing came from there. 324 00:36:12,225.7789671 --> 00:36:22,395.7789671 It was the missionary sources thing that made us also ask about what are younger leaders. 325 00:36:23,560.7799671 --> 00:36:25,470.7799671 In influential places. 326 00:36:25,950.7799671 --> 00:36:29,880.7799671 I came from an engineering background, thinking about their own formation. 327 00:36:30,490.7799671 --> 00:36:34,350.7799671 The first time we asked that question, 87%. 328 00:36:35,155.7799671 --> 00:36:51,725.7799671 Particularly from the majority world said, if we had some kind of theological education to inform what we are now doing, that's what led to kind of our partnering with educational institutions, evangelical around the world. 329 00:36:52,85.7799671 --> 00:36:58,405.7799671 We've had a beautiful, beautiful meeting with, I mean, college presidents, university seminary presidents here. 330 00:36:58,875.7799671 --> 00:36:59,535.7799671 Thank you. 331 00:36:59,535.7799671 --> 00:37:05,735.7799671 I want to really appreciate our educate partners, you know, and the number of people who have gone through that. 332 00:37:06,95.7799671 --> 00:37:13,575.7789671 We wanted younger leaders to be well integrated in their regions and across the networks. 333 00:37:13,915.7789671 --> 00:37:19,875.7789671 I mean, the issue, Catalyst Networks, and then also in their own kind of peer groups. 334 00:37:20,375.7789671 --> 00:37:22,775.7789671 That has multiplied. 335 00:37:23,620.7799671 --> 00:37:30,740.7799671 And resulted in kind of all the fruits of YLJ which we speak about today. 336 00:37:31,680.7799671 --> 00:37:43,990.7789671 Let me end my comment by saying, because I think you asked about that, Russ, we are coming to the end of that first quote. 337 00:37:45,710.7799671 --> 00:37:46,490.7799671 Y Gen. 338 00:37:46,490.7799671 --> 00:38:02,450.7799671 So now we Y Gen one, we are going to launch y Gen 2 1 20 26 to 2036 from YLG 20. 339 00:38:05,220.7799671 --> 00:38:12,250.7789671 Now, leaders like Jay Singh are asking, I am moving out of the younger leader category. 340 00:38:12,250.7799671 --> 00:38:34,215.6799671 Where do I belong? Well, good news for you is that not only are we looking forward to the gathering in 2026 and the 10 year journey that comes, now we're reflecting and thinking much more clearly on what our future holds. 341 00:38:34,215.8799671 --> 00:38:39,765.7799671 the journey of leadership, life leadership will look like. 342 00:38:40,225.7799671 --> 00:38:47,745.7799671 So 35 to 50 now becomes the bridge leaders category. 343 00:38:48,535.7799671 --> 00:38:51,515.7799671 So welcome to bridge leaders. 344 00:38:52,65.7789671 --> 00:38:52,935.7789671 It's good to be here. 345 00:38:55,125.7789671 --> 00:38:55,695.7799671 Thank you. 346 00:38:55,695.7799671 --> 00:38:59,545.7804671 I'll be sure to put this on the screen for those who are interested and in the show notes as well. 347 00:38:59,545.7804671 --> 00:39:00,365.7804671 So they can see this. 348 00:39:00,565.7804671 --> 00:39:01,155.7804671 Let's talk. 349 00:39:01,620.7804671 --> 00:39:05,160.7804671 About YLG 2026. 350 00:39:05,550.7804671 --> 00:39:28,382.3727145 I've been walking around the walls and one of the most common questions I've had is Is it happening? Where is it happening? How do I get involved? How do I sign up? Even some of the younger leaders who have put the studio together so that we can have this conversation, they said, there's a younger leaders generation? Like, how do I join that? You know, so let's talk to them, tell us all about it. 351 00:39:28,402.3727145 --> 00:39:29,102.3727145 I'm excited. 352 00:39:29,132.3727145 --> 00:39:30,782.3727145 This is the first I'm hearing about this. 353 00:39:30,782.3727145 --> 00:39:35,742.3717145 So we are being introduced to brand new information right in this moment. 354 00:39:35,742.3727145 --> 00:39:36,432.3727145 So please. 355 00:39:37,282.3727145 --> 00:39:56,462.3727145 I can tell you under God, and is Christ so, Tyrus, in his will, Jason, because of the intergenerational thinking, not only YLJ 2026, We are thinking about YLG 3036. 356 00:39:56,722.3727145 --> 00:39:57,682.3727145 Wow, okay. 357 00:39:57,702.3727145 --> 00:40:00,642.3727145 We are thinking about YLG 4046. 358 00:40:02,602.3727145 --> 00:40:13,152.3727145 To bring us closest to 2050, but for YLG 2026 hooray. 359 00:40:13,452.3727145 --> 00:40:19,422.3727145 I want to be a big shout to our Latin American brothers and sisters. 360 00:40:20,262.3727145 --> 00:40:25,332.3727145 The global church with its younger leaders are coming to you. 361 00:40:25,742.3727145 --> 00:40:31,82.3727145 The Lauzen leadership has affirmed that we host. 362 00:40:31,492.3727145 --> 00:40:35,432.3727145 The fourth Younger Leaders Gathering in Latin America. 363 00:40:35,762.3727145 --> 00:40:42,272.3727145 Our regional directors have done wonderfully leading us in the search. 364 00:40:42,312.3727145 --> 00:40:46,192.3717145 We've gone many places looking around. 365 00:40:47,602.3727145 --> 00:40:58,812.3727145 It seems good to the Holy Spirit and us that YLG 2026 is coming to Brazil. 366 00:40:59,902.3727145 --> 00:41:00,372.3727145 Sist. 367 00:41:00,762.3727145 --> 00:41:03,652.3727145 To 12th of December, 2026. 368 00:41:03,662.3727145 --> 00:41:08,722.3727145 So keep it in your calendars and more details will be coming. 369 00:41:08,822.3727145 --> 00:41:13,32.3717145 So we are very grateful to the Brazilian team yesterday. 370 00:41:13,32.3717145 --> 00:41:15,62.3717145 Some of the leadership met with us here. 371 00:41:15,362.3717145 --> 00:41:16,942.3717145 They are so excited. 372 00:41:17,52.3727145 --> 00:41:20,372.3727145 I want to say a big thank you to all. 373 00:41:20,422.3727145 --> 00:41:25,662.3727145 I mean, Latin American leaders, a Mexican leaders, a big shout. 374 00:41:25,672.3727145 --> 00:41:30,72.3727145 Thank you for all the, I mean, help in all this process. 375 00:41:30,377.3727145 --> 00:41:34,387.3727145 We trust there's going to be a mounting of the Lord with the younger leaders there. 376 00:41:35,477.3727145 --> 00:41:38,137.3727145 Okay, so I'm a younger leader. 377 00:41:38,537.3727145 --> 00:41:44,547.2727145 I've listened to this conversation because all I'm wanting is information about YLG 2026. 378 00:41:44,547.3727145 --> 00:41:45,547.3727145 Maybe they've even skipped. 379 00:41:46,127.3727145 --> 00:41:47,597.3717145 If you've skipped, come back. 380 00:41:48,57.3727145 --> 00:41:49,767.3727145 Go back and listen to what Nana has shared. 381 00:41:49,777.3727145 --> 00:41:50,567.3717145 It's been great. 382 00:41:51,637.3717145 --> 00:42:03,277.3727145 How can they get involved? How do you sign up? How's, what is the process going to look like in terms of being able to attend the Congress? Maybe you're even speaking to all the leaders. 383 00:42:03,277.3727145 --> 00:42:36,727.3727145 How can they get involved themselves as well? What is the process there at this Congress on Friday here? We're going to commission Michael Oh is going to pray over the younger leader team under the leadership of Justin Schell who is going to serve as the YLG director and Sabrina Who is going to be a deputy YLG director. 384 00:42:37,427.3727145 --> 00:42:40,507.3727145 They are going to lead into YLG year. 385 00:42:40,947.3727145 --> 00:42:45,352.3727145 But there is this, Younger leader team that is coming around them. 386 00:42:45,992.3727145 --> 00:42:47,492.3727145 They're going to be commissioned here. 387 00:42:47,812.3727145 --> 00:42:51,852.3727145 That's kind of the start and the launch of the official process. 388 00:42:52,422.3717145 --> 00:43:03,792.3727145 For all younger leaders who are here at this congress, there are three processes that you go through in signing up for Lausanne gatherings. 389 00:43:03,832.3727145 --> 00:43:05,582.3727145 Number one, there is nomination. 390 00:43:06,667.3727145 --> 00:43:09,107.3727145 Number two, there is application. 391 00:43:09,267.3727145 --> 00:43:10,707.3727145 Number three, selection. 392 00:43:11,217.3727145 --> 00:43:12,397.3727145 And then you get into it. 393 00:43:12,747.3727145 --> 00:43:18,767.3727145 If you are here at the Congress, all of you, you've already received nominations. 394 00:43:18,847.3717145 --> 00:43:19,797.3717145 You've gone through. 395 00:43:20,297.3727145 --> 00:43:24,667.3717145 So you will have to kind of follow up nominations with applications. 396 00:43:24,707.3727145 --> 00:43:40,37.3717145 And then you And then beyond this Congress, the full criteria with kind of the nomination process is going to be sent out to kind of the whole Lausanne database. 397 00:43:41,752.3727145 --> 00:43:52,212.3727145 Because of the carefulness of who we select, our encouragement is that when you are nominating, it's not just a younger leader you like. 398 00:43:52,982.3717145 --> 00:44:01,752.3727145 These are leaders you trust God is calling into some kind of influence in their generation. 399 00:44:01,982.3727145 --> 00:44:04,782.3727145 And we'll have a whole criteria for people to kind of respond. 400 00:44:06,267.3727145 --> 00:44:13,917.3727145 Anything else you would like to share about YLJ in 2026 or the Generations Department, things that you're excited about? There is a lot. 401 00:44:15,277.3727145 --> 00:44:23,737.3722145 One of the very cutting statements for me here at this Congress has come from Dr. 402 00:44:23,737.3722145 --> 00:44:24,987.3727145 Roland Ellis. 403 00:44:25,97.3727145 --> 00:44:29,357.3727145 He looked at younger leaders he was meeting. 404 00:44:29,397.3717145 --> 00:44:34,977.3727145 He said, my generation will not finish the Great Commission. 405 00:44:36,247.3727145 --> 00:44:36,897.3727145 We need you. 406 00:44:38,167.3727145 --> 00:44:40,217.3727145 When Lausanne speaks about young leaders. 407 00:44:41,332.3727145 --> 00:44:49,552.3727145 We are actually talking about the only way this happens is connecting across generations. 408 00:44:50,587.3727145 --> 00:44:54,287.3727145 Senior leaders will be so critical. 409 00:44:54,287.4727145 --> 00:44:59,427.3727145 Prayerful nominations for the selection. 410 00:45:00,527.3717145 --> 00:45:07,27.3727145 Younger leaders who are nominated, faithfully going through the application processes. 411 00:45:07,917.3727145 --> 00:45:12,337.3727145 But I want to say that this is actually all of us doing it. 412 00:45:14,147.3727145 --> 00:45:16,967.3727145 Every generation contributing its best. 413 00:45:16,977.3727145 --> 00:45:30,372.3727145 For the current YLJ ness who are now kind of transitioning to bridge leaders, We are inviting a number to come alongside us, mentors, you know, to make a 10 year commitment. 414 00:45:30,382.3727145 --> 00:45:33,242.3727145 Invest in where you have been investing into. 415 00:45:33,892.3727145 --> 00:45:42,722.3717145 In the Generations department now, we want to see that Generations has a strong biblical calling. 416 00:45:42,802.3717145 --> 00:45:45,502.3727145 That we must make a missional commitment to. 417 00:45:46,322.3727145 --> 00:45:52,952.3727145 We want to see true friendship, mutuality come across Generations. 418 00:45:53,342.3727145 --> 00:45:56,622.2727145 In contributing to the collaborative action. 419 00:45:57,932.3727145 --> 00:46:00,502.3727145 Mission that this Congress is all about. 420 00:46:01,62.3727145 --> 00:46:12,272.3717145 I say to Michael, Lausanne leadership, the board, every time, if we are thinking about 2050, then sustainability. 421 00:46:13,372.3727145 --> 00:46:15,562.3727145 But the whole process is important. 422 00:46:16,122.3727145 --> 00:46:26,232.3727145 Jason, that sustainability would require a very intentional focusing on our intergenerational strategy. 423 00:46:26,322.3727145 --> 00:46:26,642.3727145 Yeah. 424 00:46:27,82.3727145 --> 00:46:33,322.3737145 And, you know, as I reflect on part of our conversation, you mentioned Matthew 28 of making disciples. 425 00:46:33,802.3717145 --> 00:46:37,702.3727145 I mean, this whole process is a disciple making process. 426 00:46:37,722.3727145 --> 00:46:41,22.3727145 It's, it's not just a leadership acceleration. 427 00:46:41,32.3727145 --> 00:46:41,522.3727145 It's a. 428 00:46:42,367.3727145 --> 00:46:45,407.3727145 You're helping people grow in their walk with Jesus. 429 00:46:45,407.3727145 --> 00:46:47,267.3727145 You're helping them grow into their calling. 430 00:46:47,587.3727145 --> 00:47:00,935.537596 And it's not just a once a 10 year meeting, it's a journey for a decade that then seems to now be progressing into another decade, emulate that same process for, the next generation. 431 00:47:01,5.537596 --> 00:47:04,425.537596 And so this is for me, one of the most exciting initiatives. 432 00:47:05,205.538596 --> 00:47:06,165.538596 For the Lausanne movement. 433 00:47:06,165.538596 --> 00:47:09,255.538596 I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say that, but, uh, I do. 434 00:47:09,355.538596 --> 00:47:11,485.538596 I say it from the depth of my heart. 435 00:47:11,545.538596 --> 00:47:26,545.538596 I'm, I'm so grateful that as a member and as a part of the movement, I can say that we care for the next generation and we're, there's an intentionality in discipling the next generation of a global mission. 436 00:47:28,405.538596 --> 00:47:31,465.538596 Nana-Yaw, it's been a pleasure to have you on the podcast. 437 00:47:32,200.538596 --> 00:47:39,180.538596 I know that we could sit for hours and potentially unpack some of your thoughts and ideas. 438 00:47:39,690.538596 --> 00:47:58,552.9272787 If there was one thing that you would leave with our podcast audience, what would it be? Come follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of man, personally and for the movement and for everyone. 439 00:47:58,982.9282787 --> 00:48:05,122.9282787 I hope that we will continue faithfully following Jesus. 440 00:48:05,677.9282787 --> 00:48:15,967.9282787 I asked a younger leader in a meeting, when you are 70 years, what would you want to be said about you? The answer has never left me. 441 00:48:16,327.9282787 --> 00:48:20,77.9282787 He said, I wanna be faithful and fruitful. 442 00:48:21,257.9282787 --> 00:48:34,152.9282787 I knew that what we have been trying to get asked a call of why general was there when it's all ended, I hope that we will meet. 443 00:48:36,167.9282787 --> 00:48:40,387.9282787 And He would say to us, Faithful servants, that's all. 444 00:48:40,547.9282787 --> 00:48:41,177.9282787 Thank you for your time. 445 00:48:41,177.9282787 --> 00:48:49,267.9282787 Would you mind closing us off in prayer and just praying for those listening in? Lord Jesus, you who called us to come follow you. 446 00:48:52,77.9282787 --> 00:49:12,547.9272787 I pray that as the world goes through its changing times, I pray, Father Lord, as gross darkness seems to be rolling across the skies. 447 00:49:14,292.9282787 --> 00:49:17,402.9282787 You will strengthen your global church. 448 00:49:19,182.9282787 --> 00:49:26,662.9282787 You will strengthen each of us to know you are the one who called us to come follow you. 449 00:49:30,712.9282787 --> 00:49:36,202.9282787 May your glory rise on faithful obedience to follow you. 450 00:49:39,12.9282787 --> 00:49:51,832.9282787 I want to thank you, oh God, for younger leaders around the church, senior leaders making commitments to faithfully work with these younger leaders. 451 00:49:52,447.9282787 --> 00:49:56,777.9282787 May we know that when we are faithful, you will bless us with fruitfulness. 452 00:49:58,547.9282787 --> 00:50:02,267.9282787 I want to really thank you, oh God, for Jason and the team here. 453 00:50:03,747.9272787 --> 00:50:07,877.9282787 Younger leaders giving of their best to your service. 454 00:50:10,87.9282787 --> 00:50:11,307.9272787 May we please you. 455 00:50:14,157.9272787 --> 00:50:20,307.9282787 As you said of Christ, in him we live and for his glory we serve. 456 00:50:20,308.0282787 --> 00:50:22,617.9282787 In Jesus name. 457 00:50:22,818.0282787 --> 00:50:26,397.8282787 Up there. 458 00:50:26,397.9282787 --> 00:50:27,277.9282787 Thank you, Jason. 459 00:50:31,494.5055586 --> 00:50:34,884.5055586 But I hope that you enjoyed this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast. 460 00:50:35,244.5055586 --> 00:50:41,664.5055586 If you liked this episode, why don't you take a moment to give us a rating and review? And give us a shout out on social media. 461 00:50:42,344.5055586 --> 00:50:50,334.5055586 next week, we'll be back with another episode that we hope will inspire you to accelerate global mission within your own space. 462 00:50:51,54.5055586 --> 00:50:52,14.5055586 Until next week.