On Oct. 16-25, Christian leaders from 200 countries will meet in South Africa for the highly anticipated Cape Town 2010 conference — the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization — and Biola University is offering the opportunity for Southern California residents to participate Oct. 22-23. Through the simulcast, attendees can attend the conference via video and participate in a discussion with Biola professors in Sutherland Auditorium at Biola.

The Lausanne Movement’s third global gathering — the first being in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974, the second occurring in Manila, Philippines in 1989 — is younger and more ethnically diverse than ever, and through the use of technology, will make its Cape Town proceedings available to participants across the world.

The event, one of few in Southern California, is meant to “re-stimulate the spirit of Lausanne represented in the Lausanne Covenant: to promote unity, humbleness in service, and a call to action for global evangelization,” and was originally convened by Billy Graham.

Friday, Oct. 22, will feature video clips from Cape Town speakers and discussion on the theme, “The Truth of Christ in a Pluralistic, Globalized World.” Biola professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Garry DeWeese, will be keynote speaker Friday evening and Saturday. The simulcast event on Saturday will also feature other Biola professors and local and international ministry leaders who will discuss the strategic themes identified by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. Topics of discussion will include “Megacities and Urban Ministries,” “The Broken World” and “Reaching the Unreached.”

Tickets can be purchased at biola.edu for $10 for conference attendance only and $25 for conference attendance plus dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday. Press passes available upon request, as well as interviews with speakers.