Lausanne Movement Podcast

The 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection presents an extraordinary opportunity for the church to invite the world to hear the gospel and celebrate the risen Jesus. Will we seize it—or allow Easter 2033 to become business as usual?
 

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with JC2033 founder Olivier Fleury about the vision to mobilise Christians around the world for the 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus. Together, they explore why Easter 2033 cannot simply be another church celebration, but an opportunity for Christians to unite across traditions, proclaim the risen Christ, and creatively invite the world to celebrate with them.
 

Olivier also shares his own journey of calling and nearly two decades of building relationships around this vision, offering encouragement for leaders to dream big, start small, remain humble, and faithfully pursue what God has placed before them.
 

Main Points

Easter 2033 is a unique missional opportunity. The anniversary gives the church an extraordinary moment to turn outward and make the resurrection known.

JC2033 is a movement, not simply an event. The vision is for locally shaped expressions in nations, cities, neighbourhoods, churches, and homes around the world.

Unity strengthens our witness. Drawing from John 17, Olivier argues that Christian unity is not an end in itself—it serves the mission of helping the world know and believe in Jesus.

Celebration can become proclamation. Music, art, meals, public gatherings, street parties, and other creative expressions can help take the message of the resurrection beyond the walls of the church.

Every Christian has something to contribute. The vision is not dependent on famous leaders or large organisations; families, churches, and individual believers can all bring what God has placed in their hands.

Faithfulness takes time. Building trust, relationships, and collaborative movements often requires years—even decades—of perseverance.

The question is not only what will happen in 2033, but what we will do now. Olivier challenges Christians to begin praying, building relationships, imagining possibilities, and preparing their communities today.

Call to Action

What could your church, ministry, family, or community do to help the world hear that Jesus is risen?
 

Visit JC2033 to explore the vision and begin considering how you could participate. Then share this episode with a pastor, ministry leader, or Christian friend who could help you start the conversation locally.

Links & Resources

JC2033 — Learn more about the global movement preparing for the 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus.

JC2033 Mission and Values — Explore the movement’s emphasis on unity, witness, and celebration and its call for Christians to proclaim together that Christ is risen.

Then the World Will Know! by Olivier Fleury — Olivier’s first book tells the story behind the vision for JC2033 and the journey of preparing for the anniversary. The JC2033 website lists translations in more than 20 languages.

Then the World Will Believe! by Olivier Fleury — Olivier’s 2026 sequel shares further stories from around the world as relationships and initiatives develop toward 2033.

Olivier’s book offer: During the interview, Olivier invites listeners to email info@jc2033.world to request a digital copy of his first book.

 

Guest Bio

Olivier Fleury is the founder of JC2033, a global movement mobilising Christians toward unity and witness in preparation for the 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus in 2033. He previously served with Youth With A Mission, including as national leader of YWAM Switzerland, and spent more than 13 years developing Alpha across the French-speaking world. Since 2017, Olivier has devoted himself fully to developing the JC2033 vision around the world.

What if the difference between a growing ministry and a multiplying movement isn’t strategy, resources, or even opportunity—but the kind of leader at the centre of it all?

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Dr. Emanuel Prinz about what years of research into Christian movements reveal about truly fruitful leadership.

Drawing on his experience as a church planter, movement coach, researcher, and ministry consultant, Emanuel explains why movements are closely connected to the character and practices of their leaders. He explores the qualities shared by catalytic leaders, including a deep hunger for God, radical learning, perseverance, transformational disciple-making, and a willingness to empower others.

The conversation also moves beyond leadership methods and strategies to the inner life of the leader. Emanuel warns that busyness can become a significant barrier to fruitfulness and encourages leaders to cultivate abiding, solitude, silence, and an identity rooted in being loved by the Father rather than in ministry achievement.

Guest Bio
Dr. Emanuel Prinz is a researcher, consultant, coach, and trainer focused on disciple-making, church multiplication, and Christian movements.

After serving in pioneer church planting among a previously unengaged Muslim people group in North Africa, Emanuel saw hundreds of churches emerge through a multiplying movement. He later coached and trained leaders across East Africa and the Middle East and served in executive leadership within a multinational missions organisation.

Today, he works with ministry organisations around the world, helping leaders develop strategies for multiplying disciples, churches, and leaders. His research has examined approximately 170 Christian movements and the shared qualities of the leaders who catalysed them.

Links and Resources

Catalytic Leadership: https://www.catalyticleadership.info

Lausanne Podcast Action Hub: *https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual

Discover what actually catalyzes movements in Emanuel’s book, What Actually Starts Movements, available through Amazon worldwide.

 

Subscribe to his blog and podcast here.

 

Explore his research and movement consulting at www.catalyticleadership.info.

Why do so many leadership transitions fail—and what does it actually take to hand over leadership in a way that strengthens, rather than harms, the ministry?
Summary
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Steve Woodworth about one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of leadership: succession. Drawing on over 40 years of experience in Christian nonprofit leadership—and his recent transition out of a CEO role—Steve explains why so many transitions fail and how leaders can navigate them with humility, intentionality, and a deep sense of stewardship.

Guest Bio
Steve Woodworth is the founder of Masterworks, a marketing agency serving Christian ministries globally, and a trusted advisor to nonprofit leaders navigating growth and transition. With more than four decades of leadership experience, Steve has coached numerous organizations through succession and is the author of Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions, a guide to helping leaders finish well and pass leadership on faithfully.

Main Points

Many leadership transitions fail—and often unnecessarily. A lack of planning, communication, and humility can derail even the most promising successions.

Succession is a process, not an event. Healthy transitions take time, involving mentoring, shared leadership, and gradual handover.

Leaders are stewards, not owners. Leadership is entrusted for a season and must eventually be passed on.

Letting go is emotionally complex. Even prepared leaders can struggle to release control and allow others to lead differently.

Open-handed leadership builds trust. Intentionally giving away responsibility develops the next leader and strengthens the organization.

Pride is one of the greatest threats. Both outgoing and incoming leaders must walk in humility for transitions to succeed.

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a leader, board member, or mentor navigating leadership transitions. We’d also love for you to join the conversation in the Lausanne Movement Podcast space on the Lausanne Action Hub, where you can share your thoughts and engage with our podcast community—and if this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a rating or review so others can discover it too.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-making-of-a-leader-how-god-forms-character-calling-and-influence-over-a-lifetime-with-richard-clinton

https://lausanne.org/podcast/how-are-resilient-disciples-really-formed-and-why-it-matters-for-mission-rick-hill

https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-hidden-gap-in-christian-leadership-knowing-christ-vs-becoming-like-him-herman-moldez

Links & Resources

Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions — Steve Woodworth - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7GF49BK?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

https://www.masterworksagency.com — Masterworks agency website

https://www.masterworksagency.com/succession — Leadership succession resources

What if the church’s leadership crisis is really a discipleship crisis?
Summary
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Josh Benadum about why Christlike leadership begins with discipleship. Drawing from his experience in house church movements, life-on-life disciple-making, and conversations with global leaders at the Fourth Lausanne Congress, Josh invites the church to look beneath the surface of the leadership crisis and recover the slow, relational work of forming everyday believers into the likeness and mission of Jesus.

Together, Jason and Josh explore why leadership cannot be reduced to platform, gifting, or specialized roles, and why the church must invest deeply in ordinary Christians who are equipped to make disciples in their homes, workplaces, communities, and churches. This conversation is a call to recover leadership as the overflow of a life being formed by Christ, sustained through humility, guarded against hidden traps, and kept in motion for the sake of God’s mission.

Guest Bio
Josh Benadum is a pastor, disciple-maker, and ministry coach based in Orlando, Florida. He and his wife, Meri, serve with Acacia House Churches and are involved in developing and encouraging house church and microchurch movements. Josh also works with Brave Future, a global collective that connects house church and microchurch movements for mutual encouragement, learning, and collaboration. He is the author of A Life That Leads, a book focused on pursuing Christ and impacting others through everyday discipleship and intentional relationships.

Main Points

The leadership crisis is a discipleship crisis. The church does not simply need more gifted leaders; it needs deeply formed disciples whose leadership flows from life with Jesus.

Christlike leadership begins with formation. Christian leadership is not primarily about role, platform, or skill, but about becoming the kind of person who lives and leads in the way of Christ.

Every day, believers must be equipped for mission. The future of the church’s witness depends on ordinary Christians who see their lives as part of the Great Commission.

Life-on-life discipleship is essential. Mentoring, apprenticeship, and intentional relationships are central to forming leaders who can endure and multiply.

Churches must make time for disciple-making. If leaders believe in forming others, they must prioritize personal investment over simply maintaining programmes or platforms.

Hidden traps can undermine long-term fruitfulness. Spiritual pride, legalism, mission drift, materialism, and bitterness can slowly take leaders off course.

Christlike leaders stay in motion. Faithful leadership means continuing to grow, serve, disciple, and follow Jesus until the end.

Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a pastor, mentor, disciple-maker, or emerging leader in your life. We’d also love for you to join the conversation in the Lausanne Movement Podcast space on the Lausanne Action Hub, where you can share your reflections and engage with our podcast community. And if this conversation helped you, please consider leaving a rating or review so others can discover the podcast too.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-making-of-a-leader-how-god-forms-character-calling-and-influence-over-a-lifetime-with-richard-clinton

https://lausanne.org/podcast/how-are-resilient-disciples-really-formed-and-why-it-matters-for-mission-rick-hill

https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-whole-life-mentorship-an-interview-with-ole-magnus-olasfrud

Links & Resources

https://alifethatleads.com/ — Josh Benadum’s book and resources on Christlike leadership and disciple-making

https://www.bravefuture.org/ — A global learning community focused on microchurch and disciple-making movements

https://www.100movements.org/books/a-life-that-leads-josh-benadum — Publisher page for A Life That Leads

The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman

The Radical Disciple by John Stott

Discipling in a Multicultural World by Ajith Fernando

How can the global church speak about sexuality with both biblical conviction and the compassion of Christ?

Summary
In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Vaughan Roberts about why sexuality has become one of the most pressing mission conversations facing the global church. Drawing on Scripture, pastoral experience, and his own personal story, Vaughan helps listeners reflect on identity in Christ, the goodness of God’s design, the false promises of the sexual revolution, and the need for churches to speak with both grace and truth.

Guest Bio
Vaughan Roberts is Rector of St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford and President of The Proclamation Trust. He is a pastor, speaker, and author of Full of Grace and Truth: The Gospel and Sexuality in the Global Church, a short book based on his Lausanne presentation that offers a biblical and pastoral vision for engaging questions of sexuality with compassion and faithfulness.

Main Points

Sexuality is now relevant in the global mission conversation. Vaughan explains how the sexual revolution has become a major barrier for many people engaging with Christianity, and how the internet is discipling younger generations around the world.

Identity in Christ is deeper than sexual desire. Vaughan shares from his own story, distinguishing between same-sex attraction as part of his reality and Christ as his true identity.

The Bible begins with a positive vision of sexuality. Vaughan frames biblical sexuality around four truths: God is for sex, sex is for marriage, marriage is for life, and life is for Christ.

Marriage points beyond itself to Christ and the church. Human marriage is not the ultimate answer to our deepest longings; it points to the greater union between Christ and his people.

Shame and isolation make discipleship harder. Vaughan urges leaders to remember that when they speak about sexuality, they are speaking to real people in the room who need both truth and grace.

The church must be full of grace and truth. Leaders must resist both compromise and condemnation, offering courageous biblical teaching alongside the open hands of Christ.

Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a pastor, ministry leader, parent, or young adult who is seeking to engage questions of sexuality with biblical conviction and Christlike compassion. We’d also love for you to join the conversation in the Lausanne Movement Podcast space on the Lausanne Action Hub, where you can share your thoughts and engage with our podcast community—and if this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a rating or review so others can discover it too.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

Redeeming Human Identity: Exploring the Intersection of Scripture, AI, Biotechnology, Gender and Human Sexuality with Dr Carmen Imes & Dr Matthew Niermann

Restoring Biblical Sexuality — Lausanne Movement — Vaughan’s Fourth Lausanne Congress presentation on sexuality through the lens of creation, fall, and redemption.

Links & Resources

Full of Grace and Truth: The Gospel and Sexuality in the Global Church — Vaughan Roberts’ short book on the gospel and sexuality in the global church.

Living Out — Resources for Christians, churches, and leaders seeking to think biblically and pastorally about sexuality, identity, singleness, marriage, and same-sex attraction.

Restoring Biblical Sexuality – Worldwide | Living Out — A Living Out post sharing Vaughan’s Lausanne talk as a model for speaking biblically and graciously about sexuality.

St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford — The church where Vaughan serves as Rector.

Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5, Revelation 21 — Key passages Vaughan references in his biblical overview of sex, marriage, Christ, and the church.