Review of European Baptist Mission's 50th Jubilee Conference

European Baptist Mission's (EBM) 50th Jubliee Conference was held in Berlin from 30 April to 2 May. Running alongside the conference, also was the 35th Missionary Activities in South America (MASA) event.

The EBM Mission Council 2004 was concentrated within 24 hours on 29 April to 30 April due to the Jubilee celebration events. The newly elected EBM President, Dr. Helmut Rabenau, addressed the aim for the coming four years. He pointed out the importance of collaborating with all the Baptist member Unions. Other goals will be further consolidation of their financial situation and the development of structural and personnel perspectives in mission work as requested by the German Baptist Union.

The Council has appointed new missionaries to Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone. The couple Jorge Manuel Pérez Zuñiga and Paloma Ludeña Reyes from Spain will go to Equatorial Guinea. The couple Anne and Gudleik Husby from Norway will go to Sierra Leone. Furthermore, Thomas Klammt, missionary in South Africa, was appointed EBM Regional Representative for the Southern African region for the next two years.

The EBM/MASA Jubilee Conference entitled ”Heaven Touching the Earth” began on the evening 30th April. All the members gathered in the Baptist Church Berlin-Schoneberg for a worship service. Some members gave a vivid retrospective view of the past 50 years of EBM mission work in Africa, and 35 years of MASA activities in Latin America, devoting a heart of gratitude to God for guidance. An old member of MASA, Horst Borkowski, who is now 82 years old, was interviewed. He recalled the slogan "A sunshine place for a child in darkness" of early MSAS.

Dr. Helmut Rabenau concluded that God's ways in mission work can be very challenging, but in the end they will always become a blessing, and thus turn into moments when heaven is touching earth.

The second day of the conference began with a Bible study. An highlight was the common Declaration of the participants in the Jubilee Conference concerning the Berlin Conference of 1884. This declaration was prepared and read publicly by Dr. Dietmar Lütz. It pointed out that mission work based on partnership and mutual responsibility can not be reversed.

An international market place with many booths as well as a wide choice of workshops offered the opportunity to get to know the variety of missionary lives within the EBM. The workshops focused on the discussion of important subjects about world mission, for instance, the changing role of the missionary, the EBM/MASA identity, the role of women in missions or HIV-Aids and so on.

Music worship was held on the second evening to provide visions and hope for all the Baptists to gain strength for the future. On the stage, a big globe with candle-lights illustrated Jesus' command to his disciples to be the light of the world. The programme ranged from African music, mime, to a solo in song. Nearly 20 missionaries gave short testimonies.

The 2nd May, which was the last day of the conference, was used to highlight the theme of the European and African missions. Thirty churches in Berlin and the region of Brandenburg held a special mission worship service. This proved to be another opportunity for Christians from different continents and backgrounds to encourage and to strengthen each other in their common responsibility for worldwide mission.

Finally, marking the end of the conference was an open-air Sending Worship Service for dispatching Baptist missionaries. This Service was also the starting point for the campaign "How to practice a missionary life-style" launched by the German Baptist Convention. The initiative of a prayer walk from Berlin to Cottbus is meant to be a symbol for the spiritual and missionary relationship between the EBM and the German Baptist Union.

In the past 50 years, countless Africans and Latin Americans have experienced God's calling for them and received eternal life. To record this victorious history of EBM, a celebratory publication entitled ”Heaven Touching the Earth” is now published. It is available on request at the EBM office.