Study reveals hopes for the longer term but reservations about Church’s readiness for a changing world

The Lausanne Movement has released its Global Voices Report, a wide-ranging snapshot of how Christian leaders see the state of the Church and the longer term of mission.

The study, compiled by Lausanne’s recent LIGHT department (Lausanne Insights for Global Horizons and Trends), draws on responses from 1,030 leaders in 119 countries across churches, parachurches, theological educational institutions, and the marketplace. 

Younger respondents, Gen Z and Millennials particularly, expect Christianity’s societal influence to grow and see fresh openings to advance the Great Commission.

At the identical time, many say the Church is underprepared for fast-moving cultural and technological shifts.

“When we hearken to each other, we start to see the entire body of Christ more clearly,” the report notes, framing the project as a long-term effort to pair hard data with on-the-ground experience.

Leaders all over the world pointed to a standard set of driving forces that they consider will most strongly influence the longer term of worldwide mission.

At the highest of the list was collaboration and partnership, with many emphasising that “no single denomination, organization, or region can accomplish” the Great Commission alone.

A South Asian respondent commented: “Collaboration isn’t any longer optional – it’s obedience.”

Deeper discipleship and artistic use of digital technology were identified as additional catalysts for the worldwide mission.

Leaders called for a refreshed concentration on forming mature, resilient believers who can stand firm in an age of cultural pressure, and for creative use of digital tools as a force-multiplier for evangelism, communication, and spiritual growth.

Marketplace ministry and youth engagement were two additional areas that consistently appeared across regions.

Many respondents described the workplace as some of the strategic arenas for witness, where faith and day by day life intersect.

Meanwhile, leaders spoke of a growing urgency to speculate in young people—not simply as future leaders, but as catalysts for mission today.

“Young persons are discipled by YouTube greater than by pastors. The Church must step into that gap,” a respondent stated.

Another said: “If we fail to disciple Gen Z, we lose the longer term of the Church.”

Together, these five catalysts—collaboration, discipleship, digital innovation, marketplace ministry, and youth engagement—reflect a shared vision for a church that’s younger, more connected, and more holistic in its witness to Christ

The overwhelming majority of respondents (95%) affirmed digital spaces as a bona fide mission field and urged the Church to extend its commitment and resources toward advancing the Great Commission in digital spaces —though many doubt the Church currently reflects Jesus online with authenticity and depth.

Despite that doubt, many leaders are personally stepping forward, experimenting, and finding recent ways to represent Christ in digital spaces.

Throughout most regions, greater than 85% of leaders said they’re already engaging in digital faith-sharing, with the very best engagement reported in North America (95%) and Africa (93%).

Even in East and Southeast Asia—where participation was lowest at 84%—most are still lively online.

“Digital space is the brand new village square—where people gather, argue, laugh, and learn,” shared an African leader. “If the church is absent there, then it’s absent from where life is definitely happening.”

Across regions, respondents said essentially the most trusted messengers of the gospel are bizarre Christians living their faith in day by day life.

Secondary trusted voices varied: Christian creatives were outstanding in North America and parts of Asia, while pastors ranked highest after on a regular basis believers across much of Africa and Asia.

Trust in Christianity’s public witness – measured on a 10-point scale – diverges by region: Africa 7.4; South Asia 7.1; Latin America 6.6; East/Southeast Asia 5.7; North America 4.5; Europe/Eurasia/Oceania 3.9.

Leaders also identified a mixture of external pressures and internal weaknesses as the best barriers to gospel witness today.

Among the external challenges, they pointed to the growing influence of secularisation, deepening political and social polarisation, and a widespread decline in societal trust.

Internally, many highlighted moral lapses and integrity breaches inside church leadership, which have severely undermined the Church’s credibility.

In addition, regional challenges similar to religious persecution—particularly in South Asia—and ongoing debates around gender and sexuality – in Europe, East Asia and Latin America – were cited as significant aspects shaping the church’s ability to have interaction effectively in mission.

Only 30% voiced high assurance that the worldwide Church is advancing meaningfully in fulfilling the Great Commission, and about half said the Commission is a low or non-priority for many Christians of their countries—highlighting a niche between leadership intent and grassroots engagement.

Across income levels, those in higher income groups were seen as essentially the most underserved or hardest to achieve with the Gospel.

Leaders also flagged ongoing disparities with younger and older generations, individuals with disabilities, diaspora communities, and—despite many years of emphasis—unreached and unengaged peoples.

Many leaders expressed uncertainty in regards to the Church’s ability to navigate the complex realities of today’s world.

They voiced particular concern over the Church’s readiness to have interaction thoughtfully with digital transformation and artificial intelligence, especially regarding their ethical, pastoral, and theological implications.

There was also widespread recognition that the Church often struggles to reply effectively to cultural conversations around identity, gender, and mental health, areas where compassion and biblical clarity must meet.

Respondents observed that the expansion of the Global South and the rise in migration have opened extraordinary recent doors for mission. However, there may be concern that many churches still lack the capability and cross-cultural awareness needed to have interaction these changes with intentionality and effectiveness.

“Young leaders are more aware of those global shifts, but they feel the Church is moving too slowly,” said the report.

The report calls for a Church that’s globally minded, culturally aware, and theologically grounded, able to credible witness amid rapid change.

“There is a recent hope in the longer term of the Church across the globe,” the report stated.