Oct. 21, 2010

Sources: HCJB Global, Cape Town 2010 (written by Harold Goerzen)

"I'm there to represent the important role of media and healthcare in reaching unreached people around the world," said Pederson.

In addition, Tim Dawson, who serves as a radio trainer for HCJB Global's Latin America Region, and Duval Rueda of Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, are producing five to six radio spots daily in English and Spanish respectively. These reports include interviews and clips of the main speakers. The communications team is being led by Arnold Enns, head of COICOM (Ibero-American Confederation of Christian Communicators, Mass Media, Pastors and Leaders).

"More than 4,000 Christian leaders from 200 nations have come together to share the gospel and coordinate our efforts in how we will do that for every culture and people," Dawson said, adding that thousands more are taking part online (www.lausanne.org). "The congress is important because every culture has its own ideas, leanings and tendencies. We need to learn from each other, not only to share ideas, but also to learn how to be sensitive culturally."

While at the event, Pederson has been meeting with members of World by Radio, an initiative to make Christian broadcasts available in all of the world's major languages (each spoken by at least 1 million people). The heads of Far East Broadcasting Co., FEBA Radio, Gospel for Asia, IBRA and Trans World Radio will be present for executive meetings of World by Radio.

Pederson is also part of the event's advisory committee led by Doug Birdsall, executive chairman of the Lausanne Movement.

"I believe Cape Town 2010 will shape the tone and the strategy for evangelism and missions for the next 20 years," Pederson said. "We will be more effective in our call to reach every tribe and nation when we have placed top priority on evangelism and discipleship. And this will be even more effective as we network with others with similar callings and passions to reach the unreached around the world."

He added that HCJB Global can't nearly begin to evangelize the world by itself. "Jesus prayed that His followers would be united, so that the world might know God sent His Son. So when we come together as Christ-followers in a united passion and strategy, we will be in a position to be the answer to Jesus' prayer."

The first Lausanne Congress was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974. The second was in Manila, Philippines, in 1989 with many Lausanne-affiliated and related events and initiatives held throughout the years.