An Introduction to the Seoul Statement

As we begin this 30-day journey through the Seoul Statement, we step into a global conversation that spans generations. From the First Lausanne Congress in 1974 to the Fourth Congress in Incheon, South Korea in 2024, the Lausanne Movement has united Christians from every corner of the world in a shared commitment to see the whole church take the whole gospel to the whole world.

In this spirit, the Seoul Statement was written. It builds on the legacy of the Lausanne Covenant (1974), the Manila Manifesto (1989), and the Cape Town Commitment (2010), foundational theological documents that have shaped evangelical thought and action for decades.

Yet the Seoul Statement is also something new. It was crafted as a theological and pastoral response to the complex challenges of our rapidly changing world. With biblical depth and global insight, it helps the church engage with key issues of our time—from evangelism and discipleship to human identity, global conflict, and digital technology.

This 30-day reading plan invites you to slowly and prayerfully engage the Seoul Statement as a guide for spiritual renewal, theological reflection, and missional action. We will journey through the seven themes of the Seoul Statement:

1. The Gospel – The Story we Live and Tell
2. The Bible – The Holy Scriptures we Read and Obey
3. The Church – The People of God we Love and Build Up
4. The Human Person – The Image of God Created and Restored
5. Discipleship – Our calling to Holiness and Mission
6. The Family of Nations – The peoples in Conflict we See and Serve for Peace
7. Technology – The Accelerating Innovation we Discern and Steward

Together, these themes form a vision of what it means to be the people of God today, anchored in Scripture, centered on Christ, and sent into the world.It does not offer simple answers, but it does offer a faithful framework for wrestling with what it means to be the people of God in this generation.

May this journey draw you closer to Christ, deepen your love for the church, and renew your calling in God’s global mission.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as we begin this journey, teach us to listen, to learn, and to follow. Renew your church. Renew our hearts. For your glory and for the sake of the world. Amen.