Lausanne Movement Podcast

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.

What does it take to bring the gospel where Christ is not yet known—and remain faithful for the long haul?

Summary

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Janelle Stoops about calling, cost, perseverance, and leadership formation in frontier mission. Drawing from her years in Central Asia and her current leadership with A3, Janelle shares what she has learned about reaching unreached and unengaged people groups, preparing leaders for mission, and cultivating rhythms that sustain faithful service over time.

Main Points

Calling begins with surrendered obedience. Janelle shares how a sense of calling at age 16 eventually led her to Central Asia as a young missionary.

Frontier mission is costly and often slow. Life among unreached people requires perseverance, cultural humility, language learning, and faithful obedience when visible fruit takes time.

God is already at work among the unreached. Stories of dreams, visions, digital outreach, and spiritual hunger remind us that mission begins with joining what God is already doing.

Prayer must come before strategy. Janelle emphasizes extraordinary prayer as foundational for ministry among unreached and unengaged peoples.

Disciple-making should be relational and reproducible. The gospel spreads naturally through families, friendships, local believers, and simple practices that new disciples can carry forward.

Leadership must be formed for the long haul. Competence and charisma should never outpace character; healthy leaders need spiritual formation, rhythms of silence and solitude, and wisdom for each season of life.

 

Call to Action

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a leader, missionary, or young person discerning a call to mission. 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.

Guest Bio

Janelle Stoops serves as U.S. President of A3, bringing experience in global missions leadership, organizational strategy, and cross-cultural engagement. She previously served with her family as a church planter in Central Asia, later worked with Frontiers in strategic leadership roles, and now helps strengthen A3’s work of developing Christlike leaders for mission and multiplication. A3’s announcement of her appointment describes her as uniquely qualified to lead its U.S. ministry into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

The Making of a Leader: How God Forms Character, Calling, and Influence Over a Lifetime with Richard Clinton

The Art of Whole Life Mentorship: An Interview with Ole-Magnus Olasfrud

Training Christlike Leaders for the Harvest: Preparing Leaders in Every Nation and Every Sector of Society

 

Links & Resources

A3 — Learn more about A3’s work developing Christlike leaders who multiply churches and transform communities.

A3 Leaders — Explore stories, updates, and resources from A3’s global leadership community.

Mission Frontiers Article by Janelle Stoops — Janelle’s article on using AI tools with wisdom in nonprofit and mission contexts.

Why do so many leaders know Christ deeply—yet struggle to become like him?
 

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Herman Moldez about the often-overlooked gap between knowing Christ and becoming like him. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, Herman explores how true Christlike leadership is formed not just through knowledge and skill, but through deep inner transformation, humility, and intentional mentoring relationships.

Main Points

There is a gap between knowing and becoming. Many leaders are well-trained in Scripture but struggle to embody Christlike character because inner formation is neglected.

The journey from head to heart takes time. Transformation is not automatic—what we know does not easily translate into how we live.

Christlike leadership is formed in hidden places. Leaders are shaped not on the front stage, but in humility, anonymity, and faithful service.

Culture often shapes leaders more than Christ. Without intentional formation, churches can produce leaders driven by success, power, or influence rather than Christlike humility.

Mentoring must focus on the heart. Transformation happens through trusted relationships that ask honest, value-driven questions about motives and inner life.

Leaders need deep, honest friendships. Beyond networking, leaders must cultivate “heart-to-heart” relationships where they can be known, process pain, and grow in Christlikeness.

 

Call to Action

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a leader or mentor 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 thoughts and engage with our global community—and 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/the-art-of-whole-life-mentorship-an-interview-with-ole-magnus-olasfrud

https://lausanne.org/podcast/delphine-fanfon-on-leading-with-vulnerability-and-humility-lessons-from-the-african-church-reaching-the-next-generation-cultivating-identity-and-purpose-in-christ-and-moving-forward-from-failure

 

Links & Resources

MentorLink International — https://mentorlink.org/

IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) — https://ifesworld.org

Asian Access - https://www.a3leaders.org/ 

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

 

Guest Bio

Pastor Herman A. Moldez Served with IVCF Philippines (IFES) for 25 years, discipling and mentoring students, and 3 terms as General Secretary. In 2003, he started the ministry of mentoring pastors and Christian leaders with MentorLink International where is part of the Global Leadership Team and in 2017 started A3 (formerly Asian Access) Philippines where peer mentoring is integrated in the two-year training of 16-18 trainees per cohort. He is also the Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Quezon City, Philippines. Aside from mentoring pastors, Pastor Herman and his wife, Mercy Moldez, former Staff Training Directress of IVCF Philippines, facilitate spiritual retreats for pastors and Christian leaders.

Why do gifted Christian leaders fall—and what kind of formation helps us finish well?

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Malcolm Webber about why so many Christian leaders fall—and why the answer is not simply better information, stronger gifting, or more ministry activity. Malcolm invites us back to Jesus’ way of forming leaders through union with Christ, accountable community, tested character, God-given calling, and Spirit-shaped competencies.

Main Points

Leadership failure is often a formation crisis. Malcolm argues that many leaders fall because the deep issues of their lives were never addressed.

Jesus shows us how leaders are formed. Jesus developed leaders through relationships, teaching, assignments, pressure, failure, and mission.

Union with Christ comes first. Healthy leadership begins with abiding dependence on Jesus, not gifting, platform, productivity, or ambition.

Leaders need an accountable community. Spiritual mothers and fathers, mentors, correction, nurture, and encouragement are essential for finishing well.

The 5Cs offer a framework for healthy leadership. Christ, community, character, calling, and competencies help leaders pursue holistic growth.

Finishing well requires intentional rhythms. Malcolm urges leaders to pursue personal growth, choose real accountability, practice spiritual rest, and receive wisdom from previous generations.

Call to Action
Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a pastor, ministry leader, mentor, or younger leader who is seeking to lead from a healthier place. Then take one practical step this week: name a spiritual mother, father, mentor, or trusted friend who can walk with you in honest accountability.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

The Making of a Leader: How God Forms Character, Calling, and Influence Over a Lifetime with Richard Clinton

The Art of Whole Life Mentorship: An Interview with Ole-Magnus Olasfrud

Leading with Vulnerability & Humility: Delphine Fanfon on African Leadership, Identity, and Purpose

Links & Resources

LeaderSource

The 5Cs of Healthy Christian Leadership

LeaderSource Resources

LeaderSource Books

5C Checkpoint

LeaderSource App

LeaderSource YouTube Channel

Malcolm’s Musings on Substack

Lausanne Action Hub

Guest Bio
Malcolm Webber is the founder and executive director of LeaderSource, an international ministry focused on developing healthy Christian leaders and strengthening churches around the world. Originally from Australia, Malcolm came to Christ in 1980 and has spent more than 35 years working alongside Christian leaders globally, with a particular focus on Christ-centered, holistic leader development. He holds a PhD in organizational leadership, has written around 50 books, and is also the Founding Pastor Emeritus of Living Faith Fellowship in Indiana, USA. Through LeaderSource, his writing, teaching, and resources, Malcolm continues to equip leaders to grow in union with Christ, accountable community, character, calling, and practical leadership capacity.

What does it look like to lead in one of the least-reached nations on earth?

In this episode, Jason Watson speaks with Miho Buchholtz about following Jesus and serving the church in Japan, where Christians make up a very small minority and ministry often requires deep patience, humility, and long-term faithfulness. Miho reflects on her own story of depression and healing, the spiritual and cultural realities of Japan, the challenges of church planting in a secular context, and the quiet, resilient leadership needed to serve well in a place where visible fruit can come slowly.

 

🔗 Link to the Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual 

 

Main Points

Miho shares how Jesus met her in a season of depression and gave her hope when her future felt closed off.

In Japan, many people carry hidden pain beneath outward stability, making grace and authenticity essential in the life of the church.

Gospel witness in Japan often grows through trust, patient relationships, and everyday faithfulness rather than quick results.

Ministering in your own culture can require relearning how to communicate, listen, and serve with humility.

Tokyo Life Church reflects a beautiful picture of mission from everywhere to everywhere, with Japanese and international believers serving together in one city.

Co-leading in ministry as a married couple can be deeply fruitful, but it also demands repentance, honesty, and the willingness to seek outside help when needed.

Faithful leadership in a least-reached context is often quiet, sacrificial, and marked more by endurance than visibility.

Younger leaders should pursue clarity of calling while remaining faithful in the local ministry God has already placed before them.

Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a ministry leader, church planter, or friend serving in a difficult context. Join us in praying for the church in Japan—that God would raise up faithful leaders, strengthen collaboration, and open new doors for the gospel.

Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive
Here are three related episodes from the Lausanne Movement Podcast archive that connect closely with this conversation:

Missional Insights from East Asia: Seth Kim on Mobilizing the Next Generation, Contextualisation, and Uniting the Church for Global Mission — Seth Kim explores how churches in East Asia are reaching their cultures and nations through contextualized mission, leadership development, youth mobilization, and collaboration.

Why Mental Health Matters for the Church and Global Mission with Gladys Mwiti — Dr. Gladys Mwiti explains why mental health, trauma care, burnout, and emotional health are not side issues, but central to the church’s witness and sustainable ministry.

Least Reached Peoples: How the Gospel Restores Dignity and Transforms Communities with Dr. Mary Ho & Lisa — This episode looks at ministry among the least reached, highlighting dignity, transformation, and the ways ordinary believers can participate in God’s mission among those with little access to the gospel.

Links & Resources

Tokyo Life Church — Miho and Grant Buchholtz’s bilingual church in Tokyo.

Lausanne Diasporas Network — Miho mentions her involvement in Lausanne’s diaspora work and the importance of collaboration between Japanese and internationals in mission.

Lausanne Issue Networks — Referenced in the conversation as a place where younger leaders can better understand the needs and opportunities facing global mission today.

Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG) — Mentioned in the episode as a catalytic space for younger leaders to discern calling and grow in mission.

Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking — Miho references Buechner’s well-known idea that calling is found where deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

Scripture references mentioned in the episode: 1 Peter 5:10, Psalm 23, and John 14:6.

🔗 Link to the Lausanne Podcast Community: https://collaborate.lausanne.org/share/FF0jv_MJcqEcpuoK?utm_source=manual

Bio:

Miho was born and raised in Yokohama.  She became a Christian through depression she suffered in high school.  Though she earned a business degree in college and has worked in the fashion industry, God completely reoriented her life to pursue full time ministry.  She received her Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has been serving in her home country as a missionary with her family. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago.  She is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Japan Lausanne Committee.  She is also an adjunct professor of ministry at Tokyo Christian University. She also serves as a Vision Time preacher on CGN Japan. Miho loves teaching the Bible and seeing people utilize their gifts to take part in God’s mission.  She enjoys getting inspiration while taking a walk, drinking coffee, traveling to new places, and seeing her two daughters grow.