Most Important 2024 Global Missions Stories

I take a stab at identifying stories with a connection to discipling the nations.

This is not a post about trends but of actual events that occurred in 2024 that impact global missions. There are plenty of “most read religious stories” and similar articles, but I know of non that focus on discipling the nations. I did my best here, but 2024 seemed to have fewer big stories about missions than past years.

Please feel free to add your own suggestions, critiques, and comments below.

L4 in Seoul, Korea

Without a doubt, the story which took up the most attention in 2024 was the Seoul-Incheon 2024 Lausanne Gathering (L4). About 5,200 people from over 200 countries gathered in Seoul for a week-long event. The conference was shaped by a research report written before the event (The State of the Great Commission Report). In all transparency, I participated in a team which helped collect research for this report, though I felt the scope of the final report was much more about the church than the Great Commission. There was a good deal aimed at collaborative action and, during the event, The Seoul Statement was published and faced immediate criticism.

The real take away from the event was not the content, but the many relationships started and continued during the event. The South Korean hosts were spectacular. Time will tell just how impactful this gathering will be. Unlike past Lausanne global gatherings, this one had less of a central them or significant missiological contribution.

Martyrdom in Nigeria

Nigeria continues to be the site of the worst martyrdom in the world. Islamic militant groups like Boko Haram and various Fulani factions are aggressively targeting Christians, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and kidnappings. Over 3 million people are in internally displaced. Despite the dire situation, local Christians are passionately sharing the gospel in the north, predominately through indigenous missions efforts. Nigeria, a nation poised to become of the largest in the world by population, is crucial for the future of the global missions movement.

The Sudan Civil War

The war in Sudan has moved millions of Sudanese refugees into Egypt. 8 to 10 million have moved into Cairo, stressing the local infrastructure. The disaster has provided access to otherwise inaccessible tribes and there is an effort to plant churches among these refugees. Considering the difficulty in living and working in Sudan, this provides a unique open door for the gospel.

Other conflicts could be included in this list, notably, the war on Israel by Hamas, and the Ukraine/Russia conflict. These both have a big impact on discipling the nations but the scope if larger than just 2024.

The Return of Trump, Populism and De-Globalization

I am not sure how to describe the effect that Trump’s decisive election win will have on the global Great Commission, but it will most certainly have one. It is one more sign of de-globalization in the face of rising populism in the US and internationally. Globalization has been a key in advancing evangelical missions over the past 40 or so years. As we move into a less global, and more regionalized world, the ability obtain visas, travel freely, use a standard currency, and other “Pax America” benefits are waning. This has the potential of affecting not only North American missionaries, but anybody sent across national borders. I expect a 2025 story will be about limited immigration, both in the US and Western Europe. This will affect access to unreached people groups.

Haiti - A Failed Nation

Haiti marched further toward despair in 2024. In May, Jude Montis, and Davy and Natlie Lloyd from Missions in Hait, were killed by a gang. Violent gangs control large swaths of the nation. Kenya sent peacekeepers in the summer, but issues continue.

Haiti is a destination for many short-term teams from US churches. I imagine that the number being sent there now are significantly in decline. Missiologically, there is a need for serious soul searching about the lack of transformation despite a significant investment in this troubled nation. Is Haiti reached? What is the role of a foreign mission in a place where decades of missionary work have taken place? Is Haiti another Rwanda? These are complex and challenging questions.

The Allegiance of Global South Methodism

As the largest and oldest methodist denomination, The United Methodist Church (UMC) continues to shed congregations. Most are joining the new Global Methodist Church (GMC). In 2024, a number of African Methodist denominations, numbering in the millions of people, switched their affiliation from the UMC to the GMC. This will ultimately mean that African missionaries will be sent abroad (from Africa), including to the US and Europe, in partnership with the more conservative GMC. I expect a missionary renaissance among Methodists, and these new relationships will play a part in that happening.

You might be interested in Marv Newell’s annual post, Notable Missionary Deaths in 2024.