Report from the Global Lausanne Catalyst Gathering – Panama

This past July, catalysts from each of Lausanne’s 28 networks gathered in Panama for a Global Catalyst Gathering. It was a privilege to represent the LCJE alongside my fellow Catalyst in Jewish Evangelism, Bodil Skjøtt, and to join leaders from around the world, including Lausanne’s Executive Director and CEO, Michael Oh.

The week was filled with impactful teaching, meaningful fellowship, and life-giving worship. One highlight was a service hosted by a local Panamanian church, where we worshiped and shared fellowship with pastors and leaders from across the region. These moments of cross-cultural worship always remind me of the vision in Revelation 7:9–10, ““I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

The theme of the gathering - Rooted. Fruitful. Growing. - was woven throughout the week. While each Lausanne network serves unique contexts, we were reminded that our mission is one: to make disciples for the sake of God’s Kingdom. What unites such diverse networks and audiences is not strategy alone but a shared spiritual alignment to Christ and His mission.

To this end, the leadership introduced Lausanne’s new Issue Network Health Framework, a strategic and spiritual tool to help networks like LCJE assess and strengthen our vitality. The framework uses imagery of growth—Roots (Purpose and Alignment), Soil (People and Relationships), Stem (Collaborative Action and Engagement), Branches (Shared Learning and Content), Leaves (Integration and Impact), and Fruit (Resilience and Sustainability)—to reflect both structure and Spirit-led growth. Within each dimension are subcategories such as spiritual vitality, leadership, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

While practical in nature, the framework ultimately serves as an invitation for each network to seek Spirit-led maturity. It does not replace the work of the Holy Spirit in our networks but instead helps us better recognize and align with how God is already actively moving in our midst.

For LCJE, I see how this framework is especially relevant. Our work often spans very different Jewish audiences and initiatives, but our health and unity as a network are essential if we are to bear lasting fruit. By applying these principles, we can ensure that our evangelism efforts remain Spirit-rooted, biblically faithful, and strategically effective in bringing the good news of Yeshua to the Jewish people no matter where or how they live out their Jewishness.

My greatest takeaway from Panama was the potential of this framework to help us grow as leaders, co-laborers, and witnesses of the gospel in our individual ministries and together as a network. As was emphasized during the conference: “When rooted in Christ and growing in unity, each dimension equips a network to reflect the whole church, bringing the whole gospel to the whole world.”

At the final evening service, all of the Catalysts shared communion and were commissioned afresh to serve the Lord. In the midst of learning, networking, and strategizing, it was a powerful reminder that our calling begins and ends with Jesus Himself. It was clear throughout the week that the Lord was honored—both in our worship and in our desire to pursue healthy, Christ-centered leadership in our networks.

I look forward to seeing how new framework will shape the work of global evangelization, but especially that of the LCJE. I encourage you to watch Lausanne’s videos online teaching on these ideas in greater depth! We return encouraged and equipped, confident that He will continue to guide our network for His glory and Kingdom purposes.