A panel discussion at the Fourth Lausanne World Congress has issued a sobering challenge to the global church: 62 percent of young people leave the church before reaching adulthood. The discussion, summarised by Allianz-Mission in its August–October 2026 magazine, brought together a new generation of leaders from across the world to explore how genuine intergenerational collaboration in mission can be built — not through structures alone, but through relationships, listening, and what participants described as "a new culture of friendship."
The panel featured voices from multiple continents. Sarah Breuel, director of the Revive Europe network, spoke about the renewal movements stirring among European students and young adults. Dr. Delphine Fanfon from Cameroon, chief executive of Me4Real International and a regional director with LeadersSource in Africa and Asia, contributed perspectives from the Global South. Jokabed Reina Solano Miselis from Panama, a catalyst for freedom and justice within the Lausanne Movement, addressed the intersection of mission and human dignity. The discussion was chaired by Lukas Kükenthal, field coordinator for Revive Europe.
A recurring theme throughout the conversation was that young people are not merely the church's future — they are its present. Panellists argued that mission organisations and congregations that fail to share real authority across generations risk losing not only young members but the missional creativity they bring. The full discussion is available on YouTube in English. The Lausanne Movement, founded in 1974 by Billy Graham and John Stott, remains one of the most influential global networks connecting evangelical mission leaders across traditions and continents.
(Originally published in German. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Allianz-Mission / Bund FeG — allianzmission.de
