The latest Lausanne ‘State of the Great Commission’ briefing paints a troubling picture of the global state of religious freedom, particularly for Christians.
According to the report, state-imposed restrictions on religion have increased globally, while support for Christianity has diminished. Over 360 million Christians worldwide now face significant persecution and discrimination, with a staggering 312 million suffering extreme violence, a figure that has doubled over the past three decades.
The report highlights how persecution manifests in various forms, from softer tactics like anti-conversion, blasphemy, and apostasy laws to digital surveillance and social ostracism.
However, more extreme forms of persecution include church burnings, assaults, kidnappings, and even torture. Nations like North Korea, Somalia, and Pakistan are ranked among the worst offenders. Interestingly, the United States is now listed in the “medium” category for government restrictions and rising social hostilities, with Canada also witnessing church burnings.Despite the grim outlook, the Lausanne Congress emphasized the resilience of the persecuted church and its commitment to spreading the Gospel in the face of adversity.
The report calls for global advocacy to protect religious freedom and urges Christians to stand united against injustice.
The report, based on research from international nonprofits and Christian organizations, presents insights from 150 global missions experts.
In one essay, Victor Nakah and Ivor Poobalan wrote, “The Great Commission is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. The future is the presence of all tribes, tongues, nations, and languages worshipping the King at the end of the age.”
An essay in the Lausanne report also quoted Yaw Perbi and Sam Ngugi, who stated, “The history of the world Christian movement is the story of collaboration between local churches and mission agencies, which God has used to advance the gospel from the first century to the present.”
In another essay, Ana Lucia Bedicks, Menchit Wong, and Maggie Gathuku emphasized Africa’s crucial role in global missions, writing, “Every person thinking about missions must not only consider how Africa participates, but Africans themselves must be ready to be on the frontlines of the mission force.”
Addressing India’s growing middle class, Carl Ebenezer, Ted Esler, and James Patole described both the challenges and opportunities this group presents for spreading the gospel. They wrote, “India’s deeply caste-based social structures, combined with its secular and pluralistic context, create a significant challenge in presenting the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.” However, they also noted that many in the middle class “are not fully committed to the teachings of their religion and may be open to reconsidering their beliefs if approached in a way that addresses their experiences and needs.”
The report also highlighted the difficult circumstances faced by Christians in Pakistan, where strict blasphemy laws can lead to imprisonment or death, and Christians in cities are often relegated to low-paying jobs in sanitation.
Significantly, the report observed that every region of the world, except Europe, now sends and receives more missionaries than 50 years ago.
Missionaries increasingly come from countries where Christians are in the minority, allowing them to better relate to the communities they serve.
In another essay, Christie Samuel, Jocabed Solano, and Jenny Yang criticized the global church for often limiting its advocacy to statements rather than taking meaningful action. They called on the church to fulfill its prophetic role by denouncing injustice, freeing the oppressed, and standing against unchecked power.
The report also noted a major shift in the mission field driven by the rise of digital media. It stated, “The rise in digital media is potentially as transformative to Scripture engagement as the printing press was in Early Modern Europe.” While these tools have great potential, the authors cautioned that their use must respect the unique nature of humanity, recognizing that machines are fundamentally different from humans.