Justice at the Heart of the Gospel: Freedom & Justice Panel Discussion

How is the call to justice woven into the heart of the gospel—and what does it mean for the global Church today?

In this powerful panel hosted by the Lausanne Freedom and Justice Issue Network, leaders from across continents explore how justice, peace, and liberation are not only biblical priorities but essential to evangelism, discipleship, and mission in today’s world.

Panelists

Marie Ale
Courtney Reeves
Sathish Antony
Morel Hountondji
Moderated by Christie Samuel

Key Takeaways

Justice is central to the gospel—it cannot be separated from evangelism or ignored in mission.
Younger generations long for churches to address social issues they see in daily life. Engagement, not just prayer, draws them back.
Liberation theology in Latin America emerged during dictatorship-era suffering—offering the global Church a prophetic model of siding with the oppressed.
Minority languages and identities matter deeply in mission. Honoring them is essential to true witness and reconciliation.
Workplace ministries and theology must be rooted in integrity and justice—not just within the Church, but in every sphere of society.

Watch now to explore how the global Church can live out the gospel of freedom and justice in every context—from the streets to the workplace, and from policy to personal discipleship.

00:00 Introduction to Evangelization and Peace
00:38 Panel Introduction and Global Perspectives
01:48 The Role of Justice in Evangelization
05:59 Engaging Younger Generations in the Church
08:43 Workplace Ministry and Corporate Justice
12:11 Lessons from Latin America on Liberation
15:15 Language Identity in Missions
18:14 Theological Reflections on Land and People
20:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Discussions

Issue Network Panel Discussion

As part of the Fourth Lausanne Congress, these panel discussions feature leaders from Lausanne’s global Issue Networks engaging some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing the Church today. Covering themes such as justice, integrity, orality, disability, leadership, and mission to the least-reached, each conversation offers biblical reflection, contextual insight, and collaborative vision for the whole Church to bring the whole gospel to the whole world.

Why Orality Matters: Communicating the Gospel Beyond Words | Orality Issue Network Panel Discussion

Anna Rapa, Billy Coppedge, Larry M. Dinkins & Ricki Gidoomal

24:37

Integrity Is Mission: Global Integrity and Anti-Corruption Network Panel Discussion

25:17

A Biblical Vision for Resourcing God’s Work: A Ministry Fundraising Network Panel Discussion

14:51

Reaching People on the Move: Global Mission Through Mobility Panel Discussion

Speaker's Bio

Christie Samuel

Catalyst for Freedom and Justice

Christie is the chief operations officer of Infinity Centre, which engages in empowering socially marginalized communities with quality education through a group of institutions based in South Asia. He is also part of the core team of SAMA Link, a network of mission organizations in South Asia, and is the President of the Federation of IT Industries Sri Lanka’s Education Chapter.

Christie has a special heart for the justice and empowerment of marginalized communities. He trains Christian workers on understanding the sociological needs of the community and standing with the oppressed. Prior to his educational venture, he was an IT professional for more than twenty years and was instrumental in starting corporate fellowships at various firms he has worked for globally. Christie is a contributing author for Tamil Diaspora: Intersectionality of Migration, Religion, Language and Culture.