Leading Well in Times of Disruption, Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Gideon Para-Mallam, and Asia Williamson, editors. Langham Global Library (ISBN: 9781839739859) 2024.

Summary: Amid global disruptions, focuses on the qualities needed in those who lead the church’s global mission.

In the summer of 1974, I had finished my second year of college. I was a leader of my InterVarsity group. I had a growing vision of the reach of the gospel. Six months earlier I had attended Urbana ’73, InterVarsity’s triennial missions conference. That summer, I was at a month long leadership training camp. During that time, we heard exciting reports from Lausanne ’74, focused on bringing the message of Christ to every people on earth. We all had a part to play, whether through prayer, giving, or going.

Fast forward fifty years. In 1974, the focus was primarily “from the west to the rest.” Now it is “from every nation to every nation.” Formerly unreached peoples are sending people to reach others–some even to the west. In the early fall of 2024 the Fourth Lausanne Congress was held in Seoul-Incheon, South Korea. The organizers framed the following as a purpose statement for the gathering:

“The Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization aims to be catalytic in advancing the Movement’s fourfold vision—the gospel for every person, disciple-making churches for every people and place, Christ-like leaders for every church and sector, and kingdom impact in every sphere of society.“

Leading Well in Times of Disruption was written in preparation for this gathering. Critical to advancing this global mission are leaders of vision, character, and skill. But how are leaders to be developed for such an expansive vision. That is the focus of the contributions from a global array of mission leaders.

After the first section focusing on the history of Lausanne, including the critical “quiet years,” the remaining four sections focus on the four “everys” of the vision statement. “The Gospel for Every Person” includes a couple essays on leadership development and two important essays on learning from new believers and the use of digital technology. Then “Disciple-Making Churches for Every People and Place” discusses multiplication over growth, elevating women, breaking out of silos to partner, and mentoring next generation leaders.

Thirdly, “Christlike Leaders for Every Church and Sector” begins with theological training and concludes with Christlikeness in suffering, a reality of mission. Finally, Kingdom Impact in Every Sphere of Society” looks outwardly to peacebuilding and inwardly to the reality of leadership burnout. They emphasize incarnational leadership as well as the skills of expanding organizational capacity.

I observed several themes running through the sections. First, godly character is uppermost. Empowering mentorship is critical. Then, platforming important but lesser heard voices–women, Gen Z leaders, and those in “unknown movements”–follows as a matter of course.

I expected more about leading in times of disruption. For example, we are facing political, economic, and environmental disruptions with missional implications and leadership challenges. Other than addressing persecution and some general comments about public leadership, I missed discussion of the disruptive challenges leaders must meet.

Nevertheless, this collection is full of both vision and practicalities for leading mission in our time. Not only that, seeing the growth of the Lausanne Movement over the past fifty years offered a refreshing contrast to the politically captive, compromised, and xenophobic church of my country. While we have “checked out” to our great loss, God has not left himself without a witness. This book offers ample evidence of that truth.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.