Plans for BWA Centenary Congress in England Finalised

The Baptist World Alliance's (BWA) annual General Council Meeting is now underway in Seoul, Korea. Led by Billy Kim, President of the Baptist World Alliance, Korean Baptists have welcomed hundreds of worldwide Baptist leaders. This is the first time that BWA has hosted a global general council meeting in Korea since 1990 when thousands of delegates gathered there for the 16th Baptist World Congress.

At the meeting, the historic Baptist World Centenary Congress of BWA to be held in Birmingham, England next year, has become one of the major discussion points that has been focused on by the worldwide Baptist delegates. John Sundquist, chairman of the Congress Program Committee, opened the meeting at which plans for the Congress were finalised.

Reported by Baptist World Alliance, the theme of the Centenary Congress has been approved - “Jesus Christ the living water” - representing the unchanging commitment of BWA in the past 100 years to cleanse, save, renew, restore and to refresh suffering souls through Jesus Christ the living water.

As confirmed previously, BWA again announced the list of famous worldwide speakers that are invited to attend the event. They include former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter as well as Rick Warren, the author of the best selling books: 'The Purpose Driven Life' and 'The Purpose Driven Church'.

There will be a total of 11 bible study sessions aimed at exploring the biblical dimensions of Jesus Christ, the Living Water fully with the aid of a Bible study booklet, which will be prepared by Craig Keener, Professor of New Testament at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania, USA. The messages will be delivered by a host of famous Pastors from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean in 5 languages - Spanish, Russian, German, Korean and English.

For the worship session, the British worship theme will be led by worship leaders from Nagaland, Mexico, Ghana, the United States and England so that the praises can be carried through all kinds of cultures. So far, more than 40 choirs and numerous musical groups have already been contacted to participate in the Congress meetings. The congress is central to prayer, and Nancy Johnson, prayer coordinator has been set up in the vital position to oversee it.

David Coffey, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said “the fire is lit and the flames are spreading” as the British Baptists are preparing for the congress which in now less than a year away.

Janice Dando, Chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee, emphasised British churches will connect with overseas churches for support, encouragement and mission.

BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz was impressed by the work of British Baptists. He said, “This Centenary Congress will indeed be a significant watershed experience for Baptists as we enter a new century of living, praying and working together in the BWA.”

Most importantly, a five-year Living Water Evangelism and Leadership program will be launched at the Congress to equip and empower worldwide evangelists and Baptist lay people to share the gospel of Jesus Christ the Living Water.

The BWA was established when thousands of global Baptists gathered in 1905 in London. At that time there were 7 million baptised believers, today there are 46 million baptised believers representing a worshiping community of more than 110 million. The Centenary Congress is expected to draw more than 13,000 Baptists from all over the world.

On the land where the first Baptists were found, it is very meaningful for global Baptists to come back to England and find their roots in the Gospel, particularly in the light of the declining trend in traditional churches nowadays.

BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz emphasised, "This BWA Centennial is an opportunity for all Baptists to gain inspiration from the past and renew our commitment to reaching the world for Christ in the new century. God has blessed us for 100 years, but we must seek the new path for Baptists to be an effective witness in the 21st Century. I believe the Congress will provide us this challenge."

“This Congress will be a launch pad for evangelism of the BWA,” expected Billy Kim, President of the BWA.