With regret, and after careful discussion and prayer, we have taken the decision to postpone the planned Lausanne / WEA Creation Care Network Conference for the Middle East & North Africa region, which was due to be held in Anafora, Egypt from April 29th – May 3rd 2020. As you will be aware, the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis is having a major impact in some countries, and is projected by the World Health Organisation to lead to epidemics in many more. Although countries directly involved in the proposed conference are not greatly affected thus far, the situation may change, and there is a public perception of risk leading many people to avoid travel and international public gatherings. We would rather take the decision to postpone pre-emptively now, than be forced to do so at the last minute.
However, we believe that this disappointment can be turned into an opportunity! We are proposing to rearrange the conference for April 14th-18th 2021 (in just over a year’s time), and are planning for it to be held in the same location in Egypt. We would encourage you to put these dates in your diary now, and we see the extra year as a time to ensure that we have significant representation from senior Christian leaders and all major Churches and Christian organisations in the region. There has never been a more vital time to consider The Gospel and Creation Care, with biblical reflection and prayer, and with the best scientific advice and practical examples. We would encourage you to take this opportunity to make sure attending this conference is in your budget for 2021, and to pray about who else you could invite to attend. Just imagine the impact if Christians across the Middle East and North Africa became known as champions of Creation Care, demonstrating the Gospel in the landscape!
PLEASE NOTE: If you have already booked for the conference and made a payment, please contact us on mena.lausanne@gmail.com. You will be given the choice of a refund or to hold your booking for next year.
If you have booked travel, please contact your agent or airline as many are allowing refunds or rebooking without charge, in the light of the Coronavirus crisis.
Please pray with us in this unexpected change, that God may turn a disappointment into a wonderful opportunity!
Yours,
Revd. Dr. Dave Bookless
Lausanne Global Catalyst for Creation Care
email: dave.bookless@arocha.org
tel.: +44 (0)7974 212713
skype: davebookless
twitter: @dave_bookless
blog: blog.arocha.org
