Lausanne’s investment in younger leaders

The Lausanne Movement has a long history of investing in younger leaders. Recognising the importance of engaging and developing emerging voices in the global church, the Movement identified the need to focus on younger leaders from the early years of its existence. The first Younger Leaders Gathering took place in Singapore in 1987, followed by a second gathering in Malaysia in 2006. These events aimed to mobilise and connect emerging evangelical influencers for global mission and fostered many lifelong friendships and ministry partnerships.

The most recent gathering occurred in 2016 in Jakarta, where over 1,000 young leaders and mentors from more than 140 countries came together to connect, pray, and seek guidance on God's direction for their generation in the global mission, themed ‘United in the Great Story.’ In the lead-up to the third Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG), Lausanne leadership decided to expand their efforts beyond organising events and develop an initiative focused on investing in and journeying alongside younger leaders. As a result, all participants from the 2016 gathering were invited to join the Younger Leaders Generations (YLGen), a 10-year commitment aimed at strategically partnering with young leaders and connecting them more intentionally to Lausanne's issue networks, regional resources, mentors, and to each other through peer groups.

YLGen includes various initiatives designed to support younger leaders. These initiatives provide mentorship connections, equip them through webinars on diverse topics, offer scholarships with educational partner institutions, supply biblical resources, create a sense of community through global calls, and facilitate participation in national and regional gatherings. In recent years, special projects have been developed to invite younger leaders in the cohort to apply for the Lausanne Leadership Journey and the Lausanne Emerging Theologians Initiative. All these efforts are aimed at equipping younger leaders to apply and multiply through serving better in their context, developing Christ-like character, and actively engaging in advancing global missions.

YLG Europe
As part of the efforts to have regional and national gatherings, the European Region is dedicated to bringing younger leaders from across the continent the opportunity to meet, receive teachings, share testimonies, encourage one another, and strategise together. Since 2016, we have organised annual events around Europe. Our goal is to create a forum where young leaders can find the tools and support they need to continue growing in their leadership journey and to finish their journey well. We gather young influencers from diverse fields annually to strategise, pray, reflect, and grow together. The Young Leaders Gathering (YLG) serves as a place of fellowship, encouragement, and honest community.

To ensure that young leaders receive the guidance necessary to become effective influencers and agents of transformation in their communities and nations, we emphasise the importance of mentorship. Senior leaders who are willing to share their wisdom and experience, play a vital role in this process, walking alongside younger leaders. Each year, we are fortunate to have remarkable individuals who dedicate their time to support the development of young leaders.