I I 200 years - 2000 years Mi s s i o n ma t t e r s mo r e a nd mo r e~<\ ~t~ OCTOBER 1992 at~ 'I'\~ ~~ ~}'·''-.; WHERE DOES MISSION GO FROM HERE? F MISSION STATEMENTS Lesslie N ewbigin ...... Karl Heinz Valter...... Peter Cotterell ...... Cover picture: Michael Taylor ...... Mother and child from Alec Balfe-Mitchell...... Cedro, on the Litoral · Peter Barber ...... of Paranii Hilde Sayers...... E Birgit Karlsson ...... Denton Lotz ...... Ian Brown ...... David Lewis ...... Charles Olsen ...... SERAMPORE - THEN AND NOW A by Dhirendra Sahu ...... NEW AREAS OF WORK Time fo r Church; the new EMS Action teams...... A young minister with vision ...... FUND FOR THE FUTURE Albania and Indonesia ...... T Multilateral visits ...... SOCIAL CONCERN From An Enquiry - William Carey ...... Knibb 's Monster is Alive ...... Declaration on Latin America ...... What can you do? ...... THE COST OF MISSION u From An Enquiry - William Carey ...... The Cost of Mission 1895-7 ...... Relief Fund...... A Chicken in an Offering Bag ...... When a tenth is not enough ...... IN VIEW R Bi Centenary and other news ...... CALL TO PRAYER From An Enquiry - William Carey ...... Prayer Call 200 - Peter Clark ...... The Spark - the original call ...... ■ Prayer Guide update ......

E MISSIONARY HERALD The Magazine of The Baptist Missionary Society, PO Box 49, Baptist House , 129 Broadway, Did cot, Oxon OX 11 8XA Telephone: 0235 512077 Telex: 94070435 BMSB G Fax: 0235 511265 GENERAL SECRETARY Revd Reg Harvey OVERSEAS SECRETARY Revd Angus MacNeill EDITOR Revd David Pountain DESIGN Anthony Viney Enquiries about service overseas to : Personnel Secretary. Janet Claxton COPYRIGHT 1992 Baptist Missionary Society photoset and printed by Stanley L Hunt !Printers) Ltd , Rushden, Northamptonshire s ISSN 0264-1372

October m ERALD ------,... WHERE DOES MISSION GO FROM HERE? LAST! We've arrived. The BMS is now officially 200 years old! A long time in human terms but only A one tenth of the life of the Church as a whole. Perhaps that puts it into perspective. Baptists may have been into mission for two centuries. And it is good to have a time of celebration. And·we may be proud of reminding the church worldwide of its missionary responsibilities. But we are only part of something which has been happening for nearly 2,000 years and still needs to happen today and into the future. Our cover picture this month reminds us of the young world in which we live. In Britain the 50 plus age-group is growing. But in the developing world, most people are under the age of 25. New generations of people are being born who have the right to know of God's good news in Jesus Christ. The woman pictured on this page belongs to the Akha tribe in Northern Thailand, that has had the opportunity of responding to the gospel, yet there are still many unreached people groups in the world. Elsewhere in this magazine you can read of modern-day slavery, of a BMS declaration relating to human rights in Latin America and of work amongst Brazilian favela children. They represent only part of the massive social and humanitarian problems faced by us all. That's why, 200 years after Carey offered us his statement of mission in his Enquiry and challenged the church by describing the state of the world, we ask, 'Where does mission go from here?' Several people were asked to tell us how they saw the future of mission. Each has responded in his or her own way varying from a • 'preferential option for the poor' to 'telling the Woman of the Akha tribe, Northern Thailand good news as we have always done.' They are asking questions which we must face honestly if we are to tackle mission seriously in the next few years. Let's hope these statements will generate thoughtful and prayerful discussion so that we may see more clearly God's way

forward. ■

October mERALD MA•W--r------

Serampore now

AN ABIDING OBLIGATION India}, was a typical man of the

Enlightenment. As for most of his

Lesslie Newbigin followers during the 19th century,

mission went hand in hand with

THE 200 YEARS since Carey sailed for 'civilisation'. As a missionary myself, I

India have seen the greatest expansion am embarrassed when I look back and

of Christianity in all its history. It has see how I made the same mistake. So

also seen a dramatic change in its what is our task now?

geographical distribution. Two World mission is an abiding

centuries ago Christianity was primarily obligation and privilege for the Church

a European religion; today (statistically everywhere. The whole world is

speaking} it is primarily African. The involved in what God has done in total share of the world's people who Jesus Christ. The great agencies of SERAMPC acknowledge Jesus as Lord has foreign missions, which are now

remained steady, but in the old perplexed about their future role, have Christendom Christianity is in steep a unique responsibility to bring to bear THEN A!' decline. their long experience of cross-cultural by Dhirendra Sahu The century in which Carey was mission on this most difficult of all ERHAPS HISTORY would nurtured was also the century of what mission-fields - the contemporary have taken a different turn if its leading thinkers called 'modern' world, which is now not Pcarey, Marshman and Ward 'Enlightenment' or 'The Age of Reason'. western but global. For this they are had been granted permission for entry by the East India Company Looking back we recognise this as a well-placed to enlist the co-operation but it was in the providence of major change in human of missionaries with overseas God that Serampore, theri. a Danish Colony, was to be the consciousness, in fact the conversion experience and church people from the cradle of modern Protestant of the intellectual leadership of Europe 'Third World' to illuminate with the Mission. to a new faith, one which removed the Gospel this 'modern' world which was The arrival of Carey to India on 11 November 1793 is usually Gospel from public life, leaving it only so sure that it had the light but is now marked as the beginning of ■ the private world of home and chapel. stumbling in darkness. modern missions. Although This powerful ideology, which has Carey stood in a succession of many other pioneers, he is neutered the churches in Europe, is generally known as the 'father of now, under the name of Lesslie Newbigin is a former missionary modern missions'. His work represents a turning point, 'modernisation', the dominant force in and bishop of the Church of South India in marking the entry of the English most of the world. Missionaries have Madras. He later taught in the Selly Oak speaking world on a large scale been among the foremost agents of Colleges. Now 'retired' in Birmingham he into missionary enterprise. Carey was persuaded by Marshman and modernisation. Carey himself (in has set his mind to communicating the Ward, on their arrival in India in contrast to his earlier predecessors in gospel to modern world culture. 1799, to join them at Serampore

October II] ERALD because they realised that this was and partly on identification with Indian leadership to missionary in the best way to ensure their safety. Vedantic spirituality. It is a the faculty of theology in Serampore College was genuine element in Hinduism but Serampore College started in the founded in 1818 with 37 students related more to a minority than early 1970s with 1:6, then in the of whom 19 were Christians. In to masses. early 1980s it became 7:2 and 1991 there were about 2,750 The religion of the mass is a now it is 8:0. students in the Arts, Science and religion of the. village square, In the changed situation in Commerce faculty and 68 street, home, pilgrimage, folk­ India, the challenge is to continue students in the Department of tales and a religion of castes. It is to carry out the vision of the Theology. The students of also a peasant religion rooted in founders of Serampore College theology are being trained for harsh realities of agricultural life. for witness and service. It is not ministry in India. Admission to It demands the essential task of an easy task to maintain an the Arts faculty has always been education in engendering the inherited structure. There is also under constant pressure to admit ability to see ourselves in a wider the need to provide facilities for more students, which is difficult. context. The capacity to under­ training people to face the With the revival of the stand the other is an essential part realities of the Indian situation. v Serampore charter in 1915 and of theological education. Serampore has passed through the system of collegiate affiliation Linked with theological some three years of uncertainties associated with it, Serampore has education is the question of but the situation has now been exerted a far-reaching influence poverty and disparity. The church brought under control by the upon the development of must seek to train its ministry so Council with the appointment of theological education in India. that the needs of both city and Dr J T K Daniel as Principal in The senate of Serampore records village are adequately met. It is a 1990. He is the 19th principal I show that more than 10,000 reality of India that the 425 since its foundation in 1818. He is i million people out of 850 million a mature academician with 25 I live below the poverty line. For years' experience as professor of them to get more than one meal a mathematics and chaplain of day is a luxury. Madras Christian College. Under ~RE- his leadership the College looks There are two lndias. One which watches Wimbledon on forward to a period of new vision colour TV and talks about in theological education. transcendental meditation and the In the BiCentenary year of the JD NOW Baptist Missionary Society, whilst other portrayed and made known by Mother Teresa, full of buzzing not trying to catalogue the mosquitoes. triumphs and achievements of the students have been conferred with Serampore Trio it is right to Alongside this is the question various degrees in theology since record that they were truly men of disparity among ministers in 1915. In the late 1980s, with a of God, committed to a cause. the Church. The artificial view to provide an informed Many things have been added or distinction between ministers on understanding of Christian faith altered in accordance with the the basis of educational to the laity, the Senate has changing situation to carry out qualifications and hierarchy initiated the programme of their vision, but the path they laid within ministry still exists in the Christian studies without any down is the one which we still Church and creates unhealthy prejudice to caste, colour or need to tread. Their faith was disparity among ministers as well creed. For the first time, the against the stream and was tested as blurring the sense of vocation. non-Christians of India will have by fire, but they never failed in an opportunity to know the Serampore College has been in their efforts seeking neither power Christian faith through an the vanguard of theological nor glory for themselves. They academic programme and education in India by pioneering were ahead of their time! So through external studies. the training of people for amidst the perplexities and Linked with theological leadership in the community. The challenges of today, the need is to • education is the practical question missionaries were pioneers in the discern the will of God for His field of evangelism, education and of preparation for ministry in the world, to 'expect great things social reform. In view of the world. The majority of the Indian from Him and to attempt great contribution of the missionaries, population are Hindus and to things for Him' thus expressing work as a minister islo address an admiration for this side of that will in action ■ daily the pastoral issues that Christian witness is absolutely emerge in a multi-faith society. necessary. Dhlrendra Sahu is a lecturer in theology The impression that Hinduism is _ · 1n due course the leadership at Serampore. He returned to India in July a mystical religion rests partly on has changed from missionary to efter further studies, with the help of a experience of its ascetic traditions national. For example, the ratio of BMS scholarship, in Oxford.

October mERALD TIME FOR CHURCH by Deborah Lovell member of the Action Team which visited El Salvador in July

'IT'S 5.15 - WE'LL have to go traffic lights. We give him a little Three hours later, we have now, or we'll be late for the change, and his face bursts into a changed our minds. It certainly is 5.30 service.' grin. 'Gracias!' a problem! The sun is beating Nothing unusual about that call The road gets progressively down on us, and our feet are to hurry up, you might think But worse, ending up as pure bumps. tired. It is getting steep - we it is quarter past five in the Hang on tight, or you might fall wonder how the woman in front morning, and the service is not out of the jeep - the bar fell off of us manages with that heavy due to start until this evening! the back the other day, so be basket of tortillas balanced on her Still, we will have to hurry. We careful! head? Not to mention the woman have a one hour drive to start We grind to a halt as we reach who is carrying a baby! Even with, before we begin our walk. a herd of cows meandering along. with our hands free, we keep At least there is not too much They are in no hurry, and pay no slipping. traffic on the road, although there attention to our horn. They must We stop for a break at the are plenty of people already have grown used to the sound of 'Volcano Community'. It is so going about their work. I notice a tooting, as the Salvadorans beautiful and peaceful up here, it man with a pig on a lead - I constantly blast their horns. is difficult to imagine all the wonder if he's taking it to At 6.20 we arrive at the church fighting that went on right in this market? We pass a dead dog in from which we are going to set very place during the civil war the street, being devoured by off. We feel guilty about being which has just ended. But the ■ vultures. late. But our friends are not too people who live here cannot The vultures are not the only bothered about the time. Some forget the war. They welcome this ones having breakfast. At the side others are even less punctual, and international delegation that has of the road there are already a it is 7.15 by the time we actually descended on them. They tell us few cafes open, where people can depart. about themselves. buy their rice and kidney beans, Away we go, off to our 'All we need is a school .. . salty cheese, fried banana and worship service. The reason we and a road. Please tell the people cream, the traditional breakfast in have to leave so early is that we in your country about us . .. .' El Salvador. Not at this time in have to climb a mountain first to We are offered a drink, handed the morning, thank you! get to the community. No prob­ to us in a dried melon skin. We A small boy runs up to the car lem for these four fit members of gulp it down thirstily. It certainly window when we stop at the the British Action Team ... tastes better than the water plus

October D] ERALD ------•·•·•• purification tablet that we have been drinking. All too soon it's time to move on again. It is getting even hotter now. A small group from the Volcano Community has joined us, and they proudly point out the building which they use as a school. It consists of some bamboo poles, holding up a leaf roof. It yields some shelter from MORE OPEN DOORS we have people to go through them in the sun, but now we understand the name of Jesus Christ. Many Baptist why school is closed when it rains. Karl Heinz Walter churches in the former eastern bloc Up and up we go. When we are calling : 'Come over and help us!' feel that we can go no further, we TWO HUNDRED YEARS ago the call for Many others, without a Baptist beg our Salvadoran friends to let us rest. They laugh with us. A mission focused on countries overseas. identity, are responding. Para-churches few disappear, and return with Today this call has to concentrate not have more flexibility and often more some oranges and pineapples only on the 'heathen' world overseas money than official Baptist which they have picked. Fruit has never tasted so good! but on Europe as well. organisations. Ironically they are very 'We have just died, and this is New open doors, new frontiers, new much supported by Baptist churches. heaven!' one of my companions says. challenges, new mission-fields, these We need to take a new step forward We start up a discussion are words often heard referring to and support our churches all over about faith which can move Europe. Indeed we are entering into a Europe to take the opportunity of the mountains ... Off again - and at last we have new era and the BMS has already hour. There are so many empty souls, arrived! It is only 3.30pm, so we taken steps with the engagement in not only in the east. The great have plenty of time to rest and some European countries. commission is telling us to go into all eat the meal which has been prepared for us before the service With the mission to Albania, BMS the world and this includes Europe. If begins. together with other Baptist mission we are not able to do so, maybe we

About 15 people from this agencies and the European Baptist have to ask members of the 'mission­ mountain-top community join with us for the service. It is a Federation, are not only starting a fields' around the world to come now simple act of worship, focused programme in a country without a and help us evangelise Europe! upon the words of Jesus, 'I am the bread of life,' life for all. The Baptist church but a totally new way of last song is a Spanish version of co-operation. This is very promising 'When I needed a neighbour'. and the officials in Albania with whom How true it is that 'the creed and the colour and the name don't we are in contact appreciate very much matter'. Christ is there. that all the Baptists want to work

It is dark by the time we finish, unitedly under one roof. Karl Heinz Wa lter is General Secretary, and we crawl into the house where we have been invited to Europe has more open doors than European Baptist 'Federation. spend the night on the floor. It is only 7.30pm, but we are exhausted and ready to sleep. We are too tired to care that our bodies are sweaty and muddy. not to think about the journey with ten or 15 Christians. There might be about 20 people back down which we will have to Especially when you need to sleeping in this room, which also face tomorrow. It's hard to work on the land every day in acts as a stable, but neither the believe that the people we have order to eat. But the people on other people nor the chickens come with make a trip like this the mountain are so encouraged pecking at our feet will keep us every week. Imagine giving up by the visit that it must be awake. two days to walk to a community worthwhile. I wouldn't have As we drift off to sleep, we try where you can share fellowship missed it for anything. ■

October [l]ERALD Nil,■------A YOUNG MINISTER WITH --- VISION Pastor Adonias The poor North-East of Brazil is an area of new work for the BMS. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit some of the churches.

ASTOR Adonias da Silva runs the Evangelical Centre Ror the Support of Minors (children under the age of 18). It is based at Calvario Baptist Church near to the favela (shanty town) of Edson Querois on the outskirts of Fortaleza in north-east Brazil. Children from the favela attend school either in the morning or daughter had a bad eye problem. the afternoon but they are often He promised to give some help disadvantaged. Their schooling from the project towards the cost has been interrupted and they are of treatment. often behind other children of the He showed me two II same age. So the Centre is also photographs of the same boy but open in the morning and taken two years apart. It was hard afternoon. Afternoon school­ to recognise it as the same children attend the Centre in the person. The tired, undernourished morning and the morning look had changed to that of a children in the afternoon. There normal 12-13 year old. they are helped with their One 16-year-old boy from a homework, fed and have an poor favela home is now one of opportunity to play games. the helpers. He is a fine Christian On the day I visited Pastor who helps to lead services in Adonias was called into his office church, playing his guitar and to speak with a father whose singing.

October [I] ERALD Left: One of the Jave/a girls enjoying her time at the centre Right: Group being helped with their homework Below: Playing games is part of the therapy

As well as providing facilities for the children, this church­ based project provides a laundry area for the use of mothers on the project, showers and hot water and also a tap for the collection of clean water for domestic use. Each person who is allowed to very loudly! At a favela service, told them that now I knew more use the facility has an identity held between the 'houses' one about them I could go home and card with photograph and evening Adonias played the pray more effectively for them. number. guitar and she led the singing Afterwards several people spoke Pastor Adonias is a young which everyone present joined in to me including Dona Helena. minister with vision. He came with gusto. She asked for prayer for her from a very large church to work The children love Adonias. husband who had been baptised at Calvario which has only a Time after time a child would go but is no longer attending church. small congregation. His morning up to him and give him a kiss. Edson Querois is an upgraded service is usually for children. His chair, in the narrow street favela . The local council has given About 20 adults attend the between the houses, straddled a materials so that the old shacks evening meeting. He is supported 'stream' which constantly can be replaced. Given a century by BMS worker, Mary Parsons, changed colour and scent or two and a proper sewerage but he feels that the church needs according to what was being system it could become quite more encouragement from some discharged higher up. This, picturesque. It is, however, a of the larger churches in however, did not stop him from dangerous place and very poor. Fortaleza. teaching the children action songs In the small home opposite to An 18-year-old girl, living on and talking to them about the where I sat, through the open the edge of the favela , works hard need to obey their parents. door, I could see pictures on the on the project. She also helps to He introduced me and I spoke wall. There was a text spelled out lead services, prays and sings - of my pleasure at being there and in home-made paper letters. 'The Lord is my Shepherd,' and a KLM poster inviting people to fly to exotic places. What did this other far away world, symbolised by my presence and that of Mary Parsons mean to them? Britain must seem so remote. Yet more importantly what did it all show about the presence of Christ amongst them? 'Thank you for being with us. Thank you for spending time with us, not • just calling in for a quick visit then away.' For many of these people Christ is more real than Britain. He is present among them reaching out in love through Pastor Adonias and his small congregation.

David Pountain ■

October [[IERALD NAiiiii------

HAT'S WHAT the Fund for he Future is all about. At a me when it is tempting to look back, to wallow nostalgically in the achievements of the past, God is opening new doors of mission opportunity. He is showing us the great needs, both spiritual and material, of people today. He is making us aware of what He is doing in the world and He is challenging us to MISSION TODAY action. The BMS aims to raise £2 Peter Cotterell million as a fund which will help British Baptists to move forward into new areas of work. Here are l'M SLIGHTLY AMUSED when I'm told UK are simply too humble ... or in just two examples.

that 'targeting' particular groups of Uriah Heep's language 'too 'umble'. Indonesia people for mission is sub-Christian. We're afraid of being labelled proud or Not that Indonesia is 'new' for After all, the first Christians decided arrogant if we come right out with it: the BMS. Missionaries went to Java in 1813, then later Sumatra. that Peter should target the Jews and the Christian church is the only church After 1847 the work was handed Paul should target the Gentiles and Jesus is the only way. Mission only over to the Dutch. 1992, (Galatians 2:7). Mission without a target makes sense if we know Islam is not But now, in the BMS is being asked to support a work in is like darts without a dart board, or the way and that Judaism is not the Sumatra, the sixth largest island soccer without goal-posts. This great, way and Hinduism is not the way, nor in the world and part of modern day Indonesia. Indonesia is made growing, weeping, fighting, struggling, Buddhism, nor any other religion. As up of something like 13,500 dying world of ours needs the Good someone put it a few years ago: 'we're islands. News. And we need to take it where it's breeding a race that is too 'umble to It is a very beautiful country with high mountains, some needed. Directed. Aimed. Shotgun believe in the multiplication table'! volcanic, and deep valleys thick evangelism is (literally!) for the birds. We will have to put up with the with green tropical forests. There are also modern cities, There are more people in the world accusations on the radio and TV, the with skyscrapers, motorway today than ever before and there are shrill articles in newspapers, that systems and, alas, MacDonalds. more Christians in the world today than 'targeting' this group is anti-social, In north Sumatra are the Batak people. They have lived there for ever before and there are more immoral. As though we were using 4,000 years. The Bataks are missionaries in the world today than them as literal dartboards! We're not divided into six different groups, ever before. That's one thing to be said. sticking darts in people: we are each with its own language and customs. Our Good News is the same as it bringing good news. But I ask again : do Medan, the local capital, is big always was. Worked out in different we believe it? Enough to give up and bustling. There are lots of mosques since Indonesia is ways, heralded in a world that is rapidly ambition and comfort and peace and II mainly a Muslim country. changing, but still the same Good quiet and cosy semi-detached suburbia There are only a few Christians News. Because the heart of it is not to get out there in the world. For Jesus. in the area and there is a great need for Bible teaching. theology, but history plus prophecy: Christians from the Baptist Christ died for our sins according to the churches in Sulawesi (another island in Indonesia) want to help Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3) . So the Good and have asked the Baptist News is the same as ever: that's the Missionary Society to give them second thing to be said. support. Peter Cotterell is Principal of London The BMS has agreed to help But do we believe it? That's my Bible College and a form er missionary in support Indonesian missionaries question. I think that Christians in the Ethiopia. in this new work.

October [I] ERALD ------~-••·•• New people, new places and new challenges in mission

flour to Albania. The lorries on their way to Tirana were hijacked FUND by gunmen. In the end they let the lorries go because the head driver was so brave and would not give in. FOR At the moment there are no Baptist churches in Albania but BMS workers, Chris and Mairi Burnett are 'working on it' . DON'TBE SHIRTY! THE Chris is in Albania to co­ LOOK ordinate the work of Christians and care agencies in Albania on WHAT WE HAVE ON OFFER FUTURE behalf of the European Baptist Federation. The new LOOK T-shirts for

children have arrived! ♦ So the Fund For the Future aims to raise enough money for projects in countries like Albania They are in stunning Day-Glo and Indonesia - see our leaflet colours, with a contemporary for other areas of work - where people are asking for help. You design by a young LOOK reader. can help this work which is reaching out, in Christ's love, into Order yours from BMS stating the future. Send to BMS for your free stickers to convert yoghurt the age of the child. pots, cocoa tins and many other containers into handy collecting All the T-shirts are £4.50 boxes! ■

Albania Far left : Ever since the Second World War A group of Albania has been a communist Indonesian Christians country closed to the outside world. Now its borders are open Left : and it is moving towards a In Albania democratic form of government. more than Albania still has a long way to 70 per cent go. Food queues are still very of people common. The shops have little are Muslim variety, often only flour, some meat, cooking oil and a few fresh vegetables. Most families find it hard to make ends meet. How does MISSION FESTIVAL someone who earns only $15 m meet monthly grocery bills of SHOWING THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN ACTION $50? Even if other members of a 24 OCTOBER 1992 family earn a little there isn't much left over for other things. WATERLOOVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH, HAMPSHIRE But hunger is not just about 2 pm to S pm food. One man, a poet, when he Organisations represented will include: BMS, HM, MAF, was shown a Bible, cried! 'All my Christian Aid, FEBA Radio, Leprosy, Romania - 18 in all. life I have wanted to read the Psalms,' he said. Items by Church Music Group and Girls' Brigade and The Bible was offered by a Video Show Baptist. Baptists have been getting Light Refreshments together to send shipments of

October m ERALD iiM4MMii------

GUESS WE all get them - those days which are busy but Istraightforward until the MANY PERSONS have of late left off the use of unexpected crops up. Pick any ten people out of a West-India sugar on account of the iniquitous manner Sao Paulo favela and you'll discover that most of them are in which it is obtained. nordestinos - migrants from Brazil's impoverished and Those families who have done so, and have not drought ridden north-east. Every nordestino has a story to substituted anything else in its place, have not only tell of the fight on the land, the promise of Sao Paulo, the jour­ cleansed their hands of blood, but have made a saving ney of the first family member to find work and a home, and the to their families, some of six pence, and some of a gradual arrival of the rest of the family as money was earned to shilling a week. pay for the bus tickets. Many will tell you of the From An Enquiry by William Carey disintegration of the family in the megalopolis. The values of the ... _____ ------small, agricultural community I I' I \ often rapidly succumb to the ,I pressures of Sao Paulo. The drift I ,\ into crime and prostitution J signals one response. The proliferation of sects promising ( } healing, money and problem-free I living marks another. I - As if the poverty of favela life and the disintegration of the CAREY GOES ON to suggest using family aren't insult enough, the the money saved for the support of nordestino contends also with the world-mission. But the important prejudice of the native paulistino. Even though a modern, sky­ point to notice is that right from his scraper filled city wouldn't exist days as a pastor in Britain he had a without the sweat and low wages concern for the welfare of people in of nordestino construction workers; other parts of the world. Later he even though the rubbish wouldn't be collected three times a week; discovered, as countless other even though they couldn't eat missionaries since, that you cannot and snack out far more than their preach the good news of God's love British counterpart without the and ignore the unloving, hateful nordestino sanitation and catering things that human-beings do to workers on their pittances; the native resident of Sao Paulo each other. regards the nordestino as a Carey's campaign against the dangerous element on the fringe II Hindu practice of widow-burning, of society. sati, is well-known. He lived long Are there resonances of this in enough to learn of the freeing of British and European society? slaves in the West Indies because Cida, one of our Vila Sao Pedro Friends, told us last week of the work of people like Knibb. that nine of her cousins had come down to a small town some 200 kilometres from Sao Paulo from their village in the north-eastern state of Pernambuco. We gave her the bus fare to go on a 'fact finding mission' with the promise

October m ERALD KNIBB'S 'MONSTER' IS ALIVE AND KICKING where people are trapped into work on huge cattle farms, or on sugar cane plantations and in distilleries producing alcohol for car fuel. However, Cida's story, and others, show that just a couple of hours drive from major urban centres William Knibb' s 'monster' is alive and kicking. Slavery in Brazil is just the tiny tip of a very big international iceberg. In Pakistan, for example, five million bonded workers service its brick-kilns. In the case of Cida' s cousins, we can probably help pay the manumission money, the redemption price, to get them out of their debt-bondage slavery. But for tens of millions of Cida at home in Vila Pedro, Top: Favela scene contemporary slaves the solution Sao Paulo Bottom: Christian family in the Diadema Jave/a, Sao Paulo is not so simple, neither is it that we and a Brazilian pastor distances away. Awful work and enough to talk about international would follow a couple of days living conditions are found to be pressure or economic sanctions. later if the situation required it. the reality. But escape is made A complete rethink on global Evidently a coach had arrived impossible by debt bondage and economics would help. But there in Cida' s home area accompanied often by armed guards. is no sign of that kind of thinking by banners, loudspeakers and In 1888 Brazil became the last emerging in Brussels or even radio announcements, western nation to abolish slavery. Washington. saying that it was going to Sao Our daughters learn about God has sided decisively with Paulo where there would be jobs Princess Isabel and the famous the slave. He came in Jesus to set and money. Nine of Cida's 'Golden Law' at school. What the captive free and Jesus took cousins decided to go. They they don't learn is that slavery the office of a slave exalting it arrived in a small, interior town. has never ended in Brazil. above that of the rulers of the The job - sugar cane cutting - The United Nations Working earth. The liberation of the pays £10 a week. The rent - for Group on Contemporary Forms human being from all that binds living in a barn without side walls of Slavery heard, in May, from and oppresses is so central to the - takes £2. The meals take Anti-Slavery International that Kingdom of God. When the another slice. It's the bus fare 'no action is being taken by Third World Christian prays, that's the real trap. That costs £40 Brazilian authorities either at the 'Your Kingdom come,' there is an and it's being taken out of their federal or local level to stem these urgency in the' plea that is rarely m wages. It doesn't sound abuses.' Yet Brazil has signed UN echoed in the First World. unreasonable, except that the anti-slavery conventions. It is ironic that, as the West original fare keeps going up. It'll The Roman Catholic Church's looks with satisfaction at the be a long time before they pay Pastoral land commission reports dismemberment of the their way off the sugar-cane a 300 per cent increase in known Communist 'monster', there plantation. cases of slavery since 1990. In one continues unchallenged the form It's not an unusual story. Many area of Para state the local priest of another that proclaims are far worse. Most stories reports the murders of 53 slaves 'freedom'. But the freedom of involve principal parts of the since 1980, mainly escapees. market and choice for a few story of Cida' s cousins. Perhaps the worst examples of seems set to spell increasing Impoverished people are told a Brazilian slavery are found in the subjection for others. tale of good prospects long Amazon and Mato Grosso areas Paul Holmes ■

October [l]ERALD iitil4MNii.-,_.------

certainly cannot say that if we con_vert_

a lost world to Jesus Christ, the

question of poverty will take care of

itself. History reminds us, not only in

Latin America but in Europe, of just

how often Christianity has sided with

the wealthy few and, through capitalism

for example, helped to increase their OPTION FOR THE POOR tendency to exploit rather than respect wealth. and liberate. Is it time to be really brave and Michael Taylor And it is brave because it clearly convert our missionary strategy accepts the principal challenge and the unequivocally into an option for the THREE CHEERS for the BMS! In its top priority that confront us in 1992 - poor, in the belief that what is not good BiCentenary year it has issued a brave the crushing poverty of so much of the news for them is not the Gospel? Whilst declaration on Latin America and the world and the preferential option for the they are no more virtuous and Godly 500th anniversary of the arrival of poor. than the rest of us, it is in paying Columbus and the first Europeans. One popular perception of the BMS attention to them and responding to It is brave because it acknowledges is that it is wedded to a very different their manifest needs, whether by prayer that there are even more important priority. The principal challenge it faces or generosity or politics, that we events to take note of than the is the failure of so much of the world to unearth the pearl of great price, the beginnings of the BMS. It is brave know Christ and to follow Him, and the key to the world's salvation and, what is because it is thoroughly ecumenical, priority is to do all within its power to more, confront the true God, as poor as taking as its own words the words of put that right. It is a preferential option poor can be. our Roman Catholic sisters and not for the poor but for the lost - rich Who will be brave enough to insist brothers. and poor alike. that seeking first the Kingdom means It is brave because it recognises just We cannot neatly sidestep a tough putting first the poor, and to act how destructive and unacceptable to debate about Christian mission today accordingly? God our missionary work can be when by saying that these two options are we are unaware of our cultural perfectly compatible. Too often they superiority, our racism and our have been at odds and still are. We Michael Taylor is Director, Christian Aid.

October [I] ERALD ------...,-MM-MiMI FROMA DECLARATION ON LATIN AMERICA

N THIS BICENTENARY year of the Baptist Missionary Society we recognise that 1992 has a wider significance. I 1992, the fifth centenary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, is both a secular and a spiritual anniversary. As we take stock of the 500 years that have passed since the arrival of the first Europeans and the first Christians in the Americas, we should listen to the Latin Americans themselves, and especially to the poor. We want to see the significance of this anniversary through their eyes and transmit their vision to our partners and supporters in Britain. Although we are passing through an economic recession, for the majority of our people the standard of living has improved steadily since the Second World War. Latin America presents a very different panorama. After periods of growth for some Latin American countries, the 1980s were a decade of little growth and even decline in incomes for the region as a whole. Most countries are burdened with massive debts which are draining them of the capital needed for investment and development. The consequences are a widening gap between the rich and the poor, environmental degradation, increased crime, social conflict and falling standards of health, education and nutrition. These injustices built into the economic and political structure of Latin America have been analysed and repeatedly criticised. Agrarian reform, income and wealth taxes, and basic forms of social insurance have been advocated by reformers. All too often the doctrine of national security has been invoked to silence or eliminate those prophetic voices that have pleaded for social change. The land question is of critical, concern today in Latin America. With 460 million inhabitants, Latin America is not a densely populated continent. Yet almost 80 per cent of the population is now crowded into cities which can no longer provide the most basic services for their inhabitants. Rural areas are being emptied of their inhabitants and subsistence farming quickly replaced by mechanised, export-oriented agriculture, with the support and encouragement of governments, banks and international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In 1992 the fate of some 40 million surviving indigenous peoples of Latin America is of particular concern. Throughout Latin America the right of indigenous peoples to live as they choose on lands bequeathed to them by their ancestors is being challenged by predatory development, speculation and sheer human greed. Therefore it is understandable that for many indigenous peoples of the Americas the only reason to celebrate 1992 will be their resistance to 500 years of brutalisation and systematic destruction of their culture. We share their Mother and children at Trapia in the hope that 1992 will become the year in which their right to be ► poor north-east of Brazil

October mERALD iiM•-i-r------

◄ themselves is recognised and their cultural and political integrity will begin to be protected. There are some signs of hope to be acknowledged. Military dictatorships have been soundly rejected, even though democratic ideals, institutions and practices remain underdeveloped and elusive. In the last two decades the number of effective grassroots organisations promoting popular participation and human development has grown significantly. As western Christians we must acknowledge our own share of responsibility for the poverty and misery that afflict the majority of Latin Americans. We share with them the goal of transforming the relationships which impoverish them. In particular, we focus attention on the debt issue. It is not the only problem which Latin America has to face but it is one which directly concerns us as Christians in creditor countries. We also share the apprehension of our Latin American partners that the new trading blocs of the developed world, the Single European Market and the North American free trade area, even as they remove internal frontiers, may erect new barriers and perpetuate the unequal relationships between ourselves and Latin America. In 1992, therefore, as Christians, we are called to look critically at the world around us, to recognise the signs of the times and to strengthen, support and celebrate all that gives hope for the future. We are brought face to face with the need for conversion, Christian conversion, that calls us, among other things, to join with the poor in changing these structures to build a better world for all. In other words, we are called, with all the churches in Latin America and around the world, to renew our commitment to the "preferential option for the poor". We call on churches and individuals who support BMS to Awareness, Prayer and Action. ■ Based upon a declaration unanimously agreed by Directors of CIDSE a_J;en cies in 199 1. What can you do? AWARENESS

Several organisations offer resource material and suggestions. Among them: Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SE1 ?RT.

One World Week, address as above. Latin America Bureau, 1 Amwell Street, London EC1 R 1 UL. PRAYER

Pray. Make 12 October 1992 an occasion for reflection, confession and intercession focused on the Americas. What future for this child in Brazil? Ask for prayer letters from BMS mission in Brazil and Central

America. ACTION CUANES (Christian Urgent Action Network for Emergency Support) El Salvador, 53 Courtenay Road, Leicester LE3 9TA.

Campaign for reduction of debt, fair trading and increased aid. Contact BMS Latin American partners and missionaries.

October [I] ERALD ------<- --ii

MISSION TODAY AND TOMORROW happens, the churches are almost

certainly no longer able to do such a A lec Balfe-Mitchell thing - even if they ever were. This is a

WITH MANY THINKERS in fundamental task, and of the essence contemporary missiology I have moved of God's mission, which can be on from thinking of mission as summed up in simple phrases like something that I (or we) do - the 'struggling for justice' or 'basic human

Church having the goods required, and rights for the poor and oppressed'. the world in need of receiving them - The reason I believe this to be the and I have come to think of mission as primary calling of urban churches at something (a process, really) that God the present historical moment is is already doing. because I do not see any other

Urban mission is one part of God's organised group which might take on total mission, which I understand to be this task on behalf of all who are poor the bringing of life in all its fullness (or in a genuinely disi:,terested way. (How I salvation) to the world; and ultimately- if wish I were wrong!) However, I do such language is possible - the bringing believe that it is part of the Church's of the whole created order to glory. vocation to be truly poor.

In the urban context, the physical Finally, I am convinced that churches and social needs of poor people are must work together in God's mission, most obvious. This is not to say that regardless of doctrinal differences. they do not have spiritual and other Moreover, we should work with any and needs, but it is to recognise that the every person of good will in tackling physical needs are to the fore. the problems resulting from poverty,

By 'physical needs' I mean basic powerlessness and prejudice which are things like food and clothing, housing found in the urban context (as well as and health, education and work; and elsewhere). some 'luxuries' to give life some depth Personally, I do not believe that God and pleasure - an occasional holiday, will be particularly concerned, so to a TV, presents at Christmas and speak, that we have got our beliefs and birthdays and so on. faith statements 'right', or reached

I believe that the primary task of the agreement on matters of church churches in an urban context is to government and structure, for example; ensure that the basic needs of the poor or that God will 'judge' that we have are being met. This is obviously not the either fed, clothed, visited and helped Alec Balfe-Mitchell is minister of the same as saying that the churches the 'anonymous victim ' - or not (Matt. United Peop le's Church, Moss Side, themselves must meet them. As ii 25 :31ff) . Manchester.

Octo ber [I] ERALD ] ..p }·-- .... --- .. --f; t I T I I I I II I I '\ I 'I •I I • •I I la

THE BMS SUPPORTS WORK IN: Central Africa Republic Hungary _ Italy* Nicar Albania Belgium El Salvador India Jamaica* Sierr Angola* Brazil France lndonesiat Mozambique Sri L Bangladesh Cameroons Guyanat • ·' '. Israel* Nepal Tanz, R

\ I'

I J

I a Sil pa t

'agua Thailand t Guyana - BMS supports a Brazilian missionary couple a Leone Trinidad* Indonesia - BMS is supporting Indonesian missionaries in North Sumatra anka Zaire ania • * There are no BMS personnel in these countries at present , __,, .. f------

WENT TO CONGO in May IN RE,SPECT to contributions for defraying the 1895. I never forgot the forlorn Icouple who greeted us at expenses1 money will doubtless be wanting; and suppose Yakusu. Grenfell could only stay a few days. Mr and Mrs White the rich were to embark a portion of that wealth over were living in a grass hut and I took up quarters in the half built

which God has made them stewards1 in this important house which I was meant to go on and finish building. undertaking, perhaps there are Jew ways that would White became very ill at Christmas 1896. We had invited a turn to a better account at last. trader named Scott on a coffee plantation a few miles down river Nor ought it to be confined to the rich; if persons in to come and spend Christmas with us. When he arrived more moderate circumstances were to devote a portion1 Christmas morning White had a temperature above 106° and suppose a tenth of their annual increase to the Lord. ... nothing would reduce it. I begged Scott to go on to Stanley Falls Many of our eminent forefathers amongst the Puritans State Station and try to get the State Doctor. He agreed. followed that practice; and if that were attended to now1 White's temperature would not go down. The only thing that there would not only be enough to support the ministry helped was to give him a bath but we hadn't one! I dug a hole of the gospel at home1 and to encourage village preaching in the hut by the side of his camp bed about 12 inches deep and put in our respective neighbourhoods1 but to defray the a ground sheet in it. Then it was filled with water from the river expenses of carrying the gospel into the heathen world. and we lifted White in and from An Enquiry by William Carey bathed him. That brought his ·-:,------temperature down a couple of 1 degrees. j Grenfell heard of our plight and came up with Beedham, a \ } new missionary for Yakusu, and Cameron who was on a trip. And } then the long consultations about the future. It was felt that White ought to return to England and I WHAT IS the cost of mission? It -- - ropes', making known the should go with him, but he would be only too easy to see it overseas needs in the home wouldn't hear of it! merely in terms of money. Before churches, calling for prayer and He knew after his first long Carey began to talk about giving and organising a strong illness, when he was invalided 'defraying the expenses' of home base. home, that the Committee would not let him return to the Congo mission, and this comes towards again. By dint of persuasion he the end of the Enquiry, he had Throughout the history of the agreed to go for a trip down to a agonised long and hard over the BMS many churches and many Bolobo and then there would be whole question of world mission individuals have given a full discussion by all the staff itself. In the end giving depends sacrificially because they upon commitment to a vision. believed, with all their being, that THE COST In Carey's case commitment as Christians the Great meant going to work in India for Commission of their Lord to go the rest of his life and all the cost into all the world to preach the OF MISSION that entailed. For others, like gospel was meant not just for a John Ryland and Andrew Fuller, handful of individuals but for the 1895-7 commitment meant 'holding the Church as a whole. ■ by] R M Stephens

October m ERALD ------·-

about his future. Cameron consented to stay on at Yakusu with Beedham until arrangements could be made for the future of the work as it was felt that I ought to go home to take care of White and his wife. White couldn't face the road journey from Stanley Pool to Matadi. The railway was nearing WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? CLARIFICATION Kinshasa, so I took some carriers The growing interaction of peoples of who had come up with loads, Peter Barber different faiths arising from mass­ and went by road leaving White TO DEFINE EXHAUSTIVELY the future of and his wife to get a passage if migration demands a clarification of the possible on some railway trucks world mission in a few words is to relationship between Christianity and down to Tumba. attempt the impossible. Let me , other religions. To maintain the I became ill on the road - therefore, be highly selective and temperature 105° - and laid for a uniqueness of Christ and His salvation day in a hut unconscious. Next pinpoint six areas in particular. day I had to go on as the carriers in a spirit that is not arrogant or CO-OPERATION were restless. I got into my dismissive is no easy task. It is one in The growing spirit of inter-church co­ hammock and after several days which we will need the help of the reached Wathen. Thence on to operation at home will need to be Tumba where Pople and his wife finest theological minds we can muster. were with Pinnock. matched by a vigorous (and, at times, Alas, more tragedy. Pople had costly) determination to get rid of ADAPTATION died! Pinnock buried him. Mrs needless duplication as missionary Pople was expecting a baby. As we move into the next millennium, societies agree priorities and areas of There was no doctor and Pinnock we will need to demythologise the word had to help her in the hour of a responsibility. woman's greatest need. She died, 'Missionary'. Openings will abound for and Pinnock was left with a little INDIGENISATION the 'Layman' and the 'Professional', baby on his hands, feeding it The goal of establishing national, local short-term and long-term, overt and with condensed milk from a fountain pen filler! We were very churches which are self-supporting, covert. The mission must matter more relieved when Mrs White and self-determining and self-propagating and more, how we achieve it must Harry arrived, on a goods wagon, matter less and less. a day or two after, and Mrs will need to govern relations with White took charge of the baby. overseas believers. In the end of the

As soon as it could be day, indigenisation is cheaper, simpler, INTERACTION arranged, White and his wife, the baby and I went down in an . more relevant and more effective. As we move into the next decade, we empty goods truck to Matadi and really will need to adopt a mutuality in EVANGELISATION got passages on the old SS N iger mission to which we have, hitherto, only early in June 1897 for home. She The evangelical commitment to winning paid lip-service. We have too much to was on her outward journey and the lost which once motivated and so we went down to S Paul de learn and to receive from our overseas Loanda and then northwards maintained Christian mission ,has ' partners to allow any shred of Ill touching Banana. tended to be displaced by a benevolent One night Mrs White knocked paternalism to overshadow our concern for people's general well­ me up. 'Harry is worse,' she said. relationships with them. 'Come.' being (support for overseas aid I went to him and he turned to agencies contrasted with that for me and said slowly, 'I feel myself missionary societies is proof enough). again now. Forgive me, old man, all the bother I have been to you.' An honest exposure to the New Peter Barber is General Secretary of the I begged him not to think of it Testament's teaching on the perilous Baptist Union of Scotland and form er but in a few minutes he died. Baby Pople had died a few hours position of those not 'in Christ' is an President of the Europ ea n Baptist before. ■ urgently needed antidote. Federation.

October [I] ERALD IMWii

not committed the 'crime' of 'spiritual

abortion'? We lead people through

conversion into church membership

and expect them to be spiritually

mature 'adults', when they needed

nurturing and individual care. We have

'made' Christians but failed to make

disciples and are surprised when so THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN AND many drop out. EUROPE? 'One-to-one is the most effective

form of mission. Newly converted, Hilde Sayers 'babes' in faith, .a.re the best

THE EUROPEAN BAPTIST Women's a long way since 1948 and we have a evangelists. They are able to

Union is not a 'Missionary' long way to go yet! We are called to communicate to their peers since

Organisation. Our reason for being is to witness across the borders, trans­ everything they share is relevant and work for peace among the nations. continental, cross-cultural and their enthusiasm is so refreshing.

Where politicians create war, our international, in spite of adversities. We Imagine what must have happened in mission is to love and support each face many challenges and Lydia's home, the first convert in other, to work for better mutual opportunities right now! Europe is torn Europe, after she became a believer, understanding. John 3:16 was the to pieces, Neo-Nazism is rising after having been a worshipper of God inspiration for our 'birth' in 1948. everywhere, even in Britain, while the for a long time prior to her 'conversion'!

In the aftermath of World War 11, when EC is trying to build a united Europe! I am convinced she did not just invite many cities lay in ruins and we By the end of 1992 the borders will fall her household to the river to hear the considered each other as enemies for a free market and in a crisis apostle. She would have told them from

situation ,we turn away refugees! her own lips what she experienced,

. With William Carey I say, 'Expect what she had found, what made her

Great Things from God, Attempt Great heart overflow and her mouth bubble

Things for God!' I wish I could equally over.

truthfully quote Johann Gerhard Like Lydia are we prepared to share

Oncken, founder of the Baptist God's love and compassion for the lost

movement in Germany and missionary world? Do we keep Christ holy in our

work throughout the European hearts? Are we ready to give an

Continent, 'Every Baptist a Missionary'. account of the hope that is in us? Do

He and the early Baptists were able to we love one another as Christ has rather than brothers and sisters in relate their Christian faith to loved us? Does the world see that we

God's family, a few godly women contemporary society. Baptists today are His disciples? realised that we are called to love one seem far from 'Every Baptist a Empowered by divine love and another and not kill. Prayer and support Missionary'. A vast number could not compassion - the Holy Spirit being the are needed instead of atrocities and tell the difference between a state driving force - our work for Christ will hostility, involving everybody, not only church and a free church. Are Baptists not be in vain but will have an impact in the women. laclsin,g BaptisH dentity? the world.

If ever we needed to commit Our mission is not only spreading the ourselves to prayer and work for good news and establishing churches. Hilde Sayers is President of the European peace, this is the time! We have come How many churches in the West have Baptist Wom en's Union.

October m ERALD Cost of A Chicken in Mission an Offering THE SMALL NICARAGUA Baptist Convention has set Bag up a relief programme to IN THE VILLAGES in the help what it calls the north of India it is the 'forgotten' victims of last women who give most. In month's earthquake. their rural situation, they do The quake, which was not have the means of cash . centred offshore, created a But this is no deterrent. tidal wave which devastated They simply bring what they the poor communities along have as an offering. the Pacific coastline. To a Sunday service the Tomas Tellez, executive women will bring a handful secretary of the Nicaraguan of rice, morning and Baptist Convention, reported evening. During the week that more than 17,000 they save the rice, a little people lost their homes and each day, from the meagre possessions and their amount they have. They source of work. bring it ungrudgingly to 'Approximately 800 church and it is sold. houses were destroyed in Some women also raise 22 different towns and vil­ chickens. Others grow lages located alongside the papaya trees. They have a Pacific seashore,' he said. simple system which comes 'There were 20 deaths naturally to them. A woman and 400 were injured. who has five chickens puts Those most affected were one aside for God. A woman children under the age of who grows papaya trees, 15. They account for more separates one for God from than half of those who died . the beginning . 'Our relief programme is In this way, offerings are directed to help 200 families not the result of impulse, in those small towns which but are woven into the were most severely affected texture of their daily lives. It but who are not showing up is natural, even for such in the headlines and poor people. It is costly, but consequently have been well organised so that they forgotten in the help are able to give regularly. provided by the Red Cross To those of us who grab and the government. for our cash when the As soon as the BMS offering bag comes around, learned of the disaster hoping there will be a coin £2,000 from the Relief Fund or note not too large and was immediately sent to not too small - do the Nicaraguan Baptists. women of North India have 'We are very pleased and anything to say? thankful to the Lord for your spontaneous and positive response which indeed fills us with encouragement in spite of the hard trials that all our people are going through.' Following the latest grant to Nicaragua, the BMS Relief Fund, which enables the Society to respond quickly to emergency needs in various parts of the world, is now exhausted. WHEN A TENTH Inauguration of the IS NOT ENOUGH new congregation

HE IGREJA BATISTA da Cidade Satelite is situated Ln an enormous estate, or a series of estates, constructed by the government on the outskirts of Natal in north-east Brazil. It is a Baptist church with a vision to plant other congregations to meet the needs of the people who live there. They have talked about five new congregations but some think that too optimistic, at least in the near future. Already one new congregation has been opened. The inaugural service was held in the drive-in area of a rented house. So how can one, moderately­ sized Brazilian church even begin Margaret Swires out visiting on the estate ... to contemplate starting so much new work? Because mission is seen as a priority, something at the very heart of the church's being. Because a commitment to mission is linked with a commitment to give. Most of the church members, who are not at all affluent, tithe. They give a tenth of their income to the work of the church. On top of that, on at least three other occasions in the year, they are challenged to give an extra tenth. During those months the church programme concentrates on world mission, home mission in Brazil and home mission in the state. No wonder the Baptist community in Brazil is growing. Have we in Britain lost this link . . . and leading Bible study on the verandah of one of the homes between the missionary vision and committed giving? ■

October [I] ERALD ------ii■A

a dominant role, we need to claim that

religious freedom often formally

accepted. This is also a dimension for

a true Christian mission. Some of this is

done in relation to secular authorities,

but it must also be on the agenda in

ecumenical meetings when church­

MISSION IN EUROPE FACING need for peace and work for it as a leaders and theologians meet in order

FUTURE genuine dimension of the gospel. to work for Christian unity.

Birgit Karlsson Peace both within individuals and I plead for the needs of children and among us as we build states and EUROPE IS OUR HOME continent, and youth today and in the immediate societies. Europe is a part of the world. This is future, a generation whose emptiness In a situation where suffering is a the basic starting point as I think of is so alarming, turning into violence, daily burden for so many our mission mission facing the future. drugs, suicide and any form of must not overlook the necessity of Europe is a continent in rapid destruction. I don't know how to offer it, sharing material goods. This has been change effecting almost all dimensions. but I know what is needed - love. done with willingness and warm hearts To live and serve in Europe as Baptists Looking to a future Europe I dream of during the last couple of years. Our with a missionary mind and heart is our a continent where just peace is sharing must grow into a deeper given call and this challenge is reached and kept, of a population that understanding of what sharing means demanding. is ready to care for the rights of all - dividing among us resources Baptists are represented in a wider groups within it and equally ready to available. Enthusiasm is not enough, area of Europe than most Christian understand its role as a part of the compassion with those in need is not communities and we share the mission global family. I believe in the role of enough - real sharing has an even task and the Christian presence with a God's people to point out that direction deeper dimension. wide number of God's people. In many and as a certain sign of a unity across places we are tiny minorities but very Rapidly changing Europe is an open borders, as a sign of hope. This is also often with deep conviction, persons market-place where ideologies, beliefs, our mission in the world. dedicated to witness in faith and work, values are offered and tested. For We must not build walls around

Christian communities knowing costly many this openness is a new Europe but bridges between our home experiences during their spiritual experience. For a mission-minded continent and the entire world. There journey. Church it is a great challenge. We must are mission-tasks beyond Europe

I see Baptists in Europe as a living be ready to wrestle with the task of waiting for our commitment as network covering the entire continent communicating the Christian faith to Europeans in a new togetherness, with with warm impulses streaming through persons with few or no religious resources spiritual and personal that as intercessory prayers, as signs of concepts. The key is to communicate have not for a long time been freed to remembering one another, in mutual the essence of the Gospel. The take part in world-wide mission. sharing of needs and resources - a evangelist's gifts are needed but also We are linked together with all God's people together facing the future and the experience of well-trained Christian people, and we are particularly linked grasping its opportunities. Together we scientists able to enter into dialogue together in order to strengthen each are a great resource for God's mission, about Christianity and science. other and to serve others - our our very presence is a tool in God's Knowing that some links in our fellowship has a deep purpose. hands. European network are minorities

Some concerns are obvious. We exposed to particular difficulties in their Birgit Karlsson is General Secretary, must be serious about the desperate co-existence with larger churches with Baptist Un ion of Sweden. ■

October [I] ERALD .,, .. ______

countries that we visited, and they were participating all was the love and friendly Multilateral but also about the countries in inter-denominational behaviour of the Brazilian of my colleagues and activities also. brothers and sisters. Their Visits especially Nepal and Wales. 'In the El Salvador Baptist love for God is not just 'Although in all the four Association they have given outward show. It was so AS PART OF the countries we visited good recognition and good to see churches full BiCentenary celebrations Christians were in the assistance to their youth on the Lord's Day. Another the BMS set up a series of majority, in Trinidad I saw departments. Young people thing was their all age multilateral team visits to some kind of ethnic ratio in El Salvador are fully Sunday Schools. various partner countries. like Sri Lanka. But since aware of their mission of 'When I enquired about The teams were made up of they all spoke Eng lish they mercy and justice. finances I was told that most people from those same didn't have the same 'In El Salvador we met a of the churches are self­ countries. language problem that we youth worker from the sufficient and almost all For instance, the team have in Sri Lanka. The war Swedish Baptist Church , members give a tithe. I was going to the Caribbean and situation in Sri Lanka is Peter Otterson, who is inspired to see congre­ Central America had more similar to El Salvador involved in refugee gations of various churches members from Wales, India, or Nicaragua. rehabilitation work. He did and different social projects Angola, El Salvador, Sri 'I used this opportunity to Spanish-English translation apart from worship . Lanka, Nepal and Jamaica. study and bui ld when we visited FMLN 'I have already shared This particular tour started relationships with young guerrilla bases.' these things with many in Jamaica on 2 April where groups. I am involved in Mr A K Sarkar, from India, people here and in my the team visited several national level youth was a member of the team church and in the Bengal churches and looked at activities in Sri Lanka so to that went to Brazil. Baptist Union. Great several aspects of the study their organisational 'It was a great joy to share numbers of young people in churches' social outreach. structures and their youth and witness in my church almost all the churches In Trinidad they looked at activities is going to help my about my experiences and were so very encouraging. I the problems of ministry Baptist and National Level learning during my visit in am praying to God for a and mission within a Youth Groups. Brazil along with other revival in my country so that pluralistic society. There 'In Jamaica, Trinidad and brothers and sisters from every young person may they had the opportunity of Nicaragua they were helping different parts of the world . have a vision.' meeting the country's church related programmes 'What impressed first of president. The Central American experience appears to have been an eyeopener to members of the team. In both El Salvador and Nicaragua the churches are heavily and actively involved in politics as part of their mission to bring peace to their countries. Karl Johnson, the Jamaica representative, said that the whole 'experience was very MISSION IN THE 21 st CENTURY Only when the local church has a good in spite of the difficulties caused by the vision of Christ for the world beyond language differences. It has D enton L otz sustaining its local building would it had many positive effects on who participated .' really be able to do mission at home! C Pal itha M Ranasinghe 1. SHARING OF RESOURCES As we enter the 21 st century the from Sri Lanka said that question for the church in the West is beforehand he had the impression that the BMS Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist, whether or not we are willing to support worked only in former was asked what he would do if he were the new churches in the two-thirds British colonies. 'But when I saw the work called to be pastor of a church that world with resources. Ninety-nine per in El Salvador and was going downhill, had no vision of cent of all Christian funds are used to Nicaragua and heard what was going on in Angola evangelism, and was dying. He said support Christian causes. There must from another member of our that the first thing he would do would be a great reversal of the use of team, the Rev Kamikotalu, I changed my mind . Not only be to take an offering for foreign mission funding. Are we really prepared did I gain knowledge about missions! What did he mean by this? to support the church overseas not

O ctober ffl ERALD George Lee and young people in Sri Lanka celebrate the BMS Bi Centenary

only with missionaries but RESOURCES AND believe ... .' We need to call our by new impulses from the remarkable for indigenous mission and people to repent individually and spiritual movement of Christ in the evangelism? collectively for our lack of witness at Eastern and non-Christian countries.

home, our misuse of God's resources, From our brothers and sisters overseas

2. THE CALL TO REPENTANCE our acceptance of a mediocre faith, our we will gain a new vision of the

lack of radical commitment to the universality of Christ and His Church.

Recently 5,000 people gathered on the demands of the cross of Christ! Only a From them we will learn the real riverbank in Omsk, Siberia to celebrate repentant church at home will be able challenge of proclaiming Christ in the the baptism of 140 new believers. What to minister abroad! 21 st century and thus better be able to joy was shown in their faces. What was confront the challenges of secularism, significant to me was that our Russian 3. INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE urbanisation, materialism and the Baptist brothers and sisters did not MISSIONARY TASK resurgence of wo'rld religions. II speak so much of faith as repentance. What exciting and great challenges

They did not say, 'When I went forward, No longer is the term missionary confront the church as we enter the or when I was converted.' They all appropriate only for those evangelising next century. May God raise up a new spoke of 'When I repented.' The first of overseas. The church in the West must host of missionaries like Carey, Judson

Luther's 95 Theses is that the call of open its doors to missionaries and and Timothy Richards. Indeed, 'We've a

Christ is a call to daily repentance. evangelists from abroad. We need to story to tell to the nations!'

Mission in the 21 st century must be a be re-evangelised, re -called to a call of the Western church to its own missionary theology of repentance and Denton Lotz is General Secretary of the people to repent. Jesus said, 'Repent conversion. This will be made possible Baptist World Alliance.

October [I] ERALD IGM-f-1------~

EXCITING AND RELEVANT churches as they seek to develop

Ian Brown Christian ministries that are relevant to

BAPTISTS HAVE HAD an exhilarating urbanisation.

time in mission over the last 200 years. This concept emphasises a team

It all began with William Carey and ministry with a small number of skilled

since then our missionaries, together personnel pledged to each other and to

with others, have probed the frontiers working as a team, sharing community

in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, South accommodation, offering a role model

America, seeking to bring the gospel of which can be reproduced by the

the Lord Jesus Christ to people. national church. The team is located in

While that principle hasn't changed, an urban setting and is commissioned

the world has. And while the patterns to exercise a holistic ministry.

for missionary involvement in the past While evangelism and discipling are

were appropriate for those times, we primary functions, the team is

need to think through the gospel man­ challenged to develop with their

date in terms appropriate to our times. national colleagues, radical new

When we consider that the church dimensions in ministry, relevant to the

exists in almost every land; when we urban setting. The team brings together

consider the challenges of secular people with a deep commitment to

society, we need to hear again from Christ and skills to help young people

God as to the shape of His mission to at risk and families caught up in the

the world, through us. pain of urbanisation, and to establish

New Zealand Baptists are small in effective congregations in new urban

number, their fields of involvement are development or squatter settlements.

limited but perhaps because of our The Urban Ministry Team also

splendid isolation here in the South provides for a new generation of

Pacific we are free to dream dreams missionaries to interpret their sense of II and think of new ideas and even to put call in ways relevant to their some of them into practice! While we generation. And while they are doing

continue on with some aspects of the their work they are training young

more traditional missionary involve­ interns from New Zealand and Papua

ment, we seek to probe new frontiers. New Guinea as well! It's exciting and

Based on a strong invitation from the relevant.

national church, NZBMS has recently

developed an urban ministry team Ian Brown is Executive Secretary of the concept in Papua New Gu inea New Z ea land Baptist Union and committed to work with national Missionary Society (NZBMS).

October ffl ERALD ------••· Guilherme Carey 200 years Brazil f o r the Style f ~\~ 1 e A PACKED sports stadium in Londrina, Parana, rang to the challenge to continue Fund for the the work by Guilherme Future (William) Carey. The challenge given by BMS ALL ROUND BRITAIN missionary Avelino Ferreira churches and individuals was the climax to the are busily raising money for special presentation, which the BMS Fund for the commemorated the BMS Future. Special events have BiCentenary, at the annual been planned, sponsored assembly of the Brazilian walks, sings, slims and Baptist Convention. swims have been arranged. It was nearly 80 years Here are just one or two of after the founding of the the things people have been BMS that the first Protestant getting up to. missionaries arrived in Brazil. Carey had sighted the coast of Brazil on his voyage to India and church hall for coffee and a recorded in his journal the ► Talents chat following worship, Exercise Ernest was paraded in shorts and vest and was DURING THE PAST few weighed in at 14 stones. His weeks members of aim was to lose one and a Bishopdown Baptist Church , half stones by the end of Salisbury, have been doing May. Many of those present a 'Talents Exercise'! As a were ready to add their result they have raised names and promises to £332.50 for the BMS Fund sponsor forms. for the Future. To mark the halfway stage Participants 'borrowed ' £2 of this exercise a 'weigh-in' from Church funds and, was arranged for 29 March. indulging in their various The scales showed activities or hobbies, made 13 stones 2Ibs and further that money grow. sponsors were signed up. The photograph shows Ernest on the scales at the final 'weigh-in' on 31 May. Top: EMS Missionary group at Brazil Convention £S for Lbs The 'Master of Ceremonies, Bottom: A velino and Ana Ferreira receive 'retirement' present looks rather anxious and A DEACON of New Malden another member of the Baptist Church, Ernest church appears to be Burgess, saw a leaflet praying earnestly (no pun suggesting a sponsored intended) that the target slim as a good idea to raise might be reached. To money for charity. Because everyone's delight the he is also Chairman of the scales registered 12 stones church's missionary 6Ibs - 1lb more than the committee he decided to do target. just that to raise money for The sponsorship so the BMS Fund for the generously offered has Future. increased New Maiden's Whilst many of the contribution to the Fund for morning congregation on the Future by £500. 2 February gathered in the

Octo ber mERALD ldi&!i-1------

classified as 'non-religious' agencies' files pertaining to Albania or 'atheist'. the country's civil war were ANASTASIOS Yannoulatos The BMS now has two the target. Political analysts was enthroned as workers in Albania, Chris believe that the authors of archbishop of Tirana and All and Mairi Burnett, who are the crimes are trying to Albania in Tirana on 2 busily establishing an office destroy all material related August. The independence and work on behalf of the to human rights abuses of the Orthodox Church in European Baptist committed by the military. Albania has been Federation. recognised by Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1937, but like other Albanian religious bodies El Salvador the church's ability to function was virtually SUSPICIOUS FIRES THAT destroyed during the destroyed the archives of oppressive years of three news agencies in the Communist control. capital of San Salvador President Hoxha tried to have raised concerns about establish the country as the attacks on the press. rohn Clark speaking at the Brazilian world's on ly atheistic state. In July, the offices of the First Convention It is estimated that Salvadoran Press Agency Graduate ◄ hope that the missionaries Muslims make up about (Salpress), Associated would go there one day. 20.5 per cent of the Press and lnterPress Students The Protestant community Albanian population and Service were damaged by in Brazil is now over 25 Christians about 5.4 per fires. IN A GRADUATION service million. The Baptists, always cent. The remainder are In the three cases, the at the International Baptist to the forefront in church planting and missionary work, gladly found time in their busy programme to remember the work started by Carey. All the BMS missionaries present were invited to the platform and a special tribute was paid to Avelino and Ana Ferreira and David and Joyce Stockley, BMS missionaries retiring after a THE BREADTH OF MISSION that exists in our own land, a need that life-time of missionary work. David Lewis can only be met as we share with Between them they have completed more than 160 WHEN IT COMES to considering the others in mission to our own country. years' service. word 'mission' many of us suffer from Still others are enthusiastic for the John Clark, BMS Overseas Representative, tunnel vision. We tend to have a narrow work of mission in other countries, spoke and gave a special understanding of what mission is all working with partner churches in other slide presentation of the about and where mission should take lands to demonstrate and proclaim the beginnings, development and present day work of the place. incarnational love of God shown in His II BMS. Some of us are involved in mission in son Jesus to those who live elsewhere Other highlights of the convention included the our local church, reaching out to those in God's world. moving presentation by a in our own communities who are in We are only true to the gospel, deaf 'choir' from the 1st Church in Curitiba, and the need of the message of the gospel. We however, and to the call of Christ to be impressive re-election of may be involved in social action, or a involved in mission, as we hold all Pastor Fausto Aguiar Vasconcellos as President. member of our church's evangelism these together. It is not the case that He gained the necessary committee. we can only be involved in one aspect majority in the first round of voting - a rare event. Others of us are keen supporters of of mission at the expense of another. Home Mission, recognising the need We are called by our Saviour to

October ffl ERALD ------,-••·-

Lay Academy (IBLA), in from Sofia for entry-level Budapest, Hungary, on 10 theological studies and to August, Theodore Paul of improve his English Austria and Teodor Oprenov language. He is continuing of Bulgaria became the first his studies at Spurgeon 's persons to receive IBLA's College. certificate of studies. BMS missionary, Karen Errol Simmons, IBLA's Poole, who was evacuated acting director, explained with others from Zaire last that both students had year, is now teaching completed the requirements English at IBLA. for the certificate by participating in all three of IBLA's summer study sessions since the school opened in 1990. The certificate of studies is the recognised standard for lay training in the European Baptist Federation. Ted Paul is a lay preacher and Sunday School director in Molardgasse Baptist church, Vienna. He attended IBLA for church leadership training. 'Go even to the Oprenov came to IBLA Himalayan mountains'

catch a vision for the breadth of need that existed in other parts of the ceasing. Enthusiastic enough to dig

Christ's command to go to all peoples, world, and he longed to do something deeply into our pockets and release whether they live next door to us or in about the need. He was stirred into resources for mission. We must not be the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. action; action which led him to India, satisfied with anything less than

Indeed, each aspect of mission needs action which led to the founding of the wholehearted commitment to world the other aspects to survive and BMS 200 years ago. mission, a world which begins in our flourish, feeding on each other in order The problem with the church today is own homes and on our own doorsteps to grow. They cannot live in isolation. that there are too few who are and ends in the farthest corner of the

Let's not talk about local mission, home enthusiastic about mission and too globe, many thousands of miles away. mission and overseas mission. Rather, many who are willing to take a back Carey was an enthusiast, willing to we ought to talk about 'world mission'. seat when mission is on the agenda. stand up. And, two centuries later, the

William Carey was allegedly told to sit If we are to make any inroads into call comes to us to stand alongside down when he raised the question of the increasing population of the world, him in our concern for the world in the validitiy for Christians of his day of into our own land where fewer and which we live. Much has been Christ's command to reach into all the fewer people have any knowledge of accomplished over the last 200 years, II world with the gospel message. the gospel message, around our own but as we look to the future we see that

'Young man, sit down. You 're an churches where there is so much there is still much that is yet to be enthusiast. When God chooses to apathy and yet so much need, we must done. May God stir us into action that convert the heathen, He'll do it without all be enthusiasts. Not just some of us, His kingdom might consulting you or me.' but every one. Enthusiastic enough to come, here on earth

Carey, though, chose to ignore this demonstrate God's love in a real way. as it is in heaven. rebuke and he pressed on in his desire Enthusiastic enough to share the good to be faithful to the call of Christ. His news of Jesus by testifying to Him. David Lewis is Home Mission Officer for globe continually reminded him of the Enthusiastic enough to pray without the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

October m ERALD CALL TO PRAYER Many can do nothing but pray, and prayer is perhaps the only thing in which Christians of all denominations can cordially and unreservedly unite; but in this we may all be one, and in this the strictest unanimity ought to prevail . . . We must not be contented however with praying, without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for. from An Enquiry by William Carey

PRAYER CALL 200 that prayer power for the BMS. There THE SPARK TO PRAYER are many in our churches who wonder AS BAPTIST MISSIONARY Society how they can effectively serve world AREY'S ARGUMENTS for Chairman during this BiCentenary year mission through the BMS. A mission had been rehearsed I am asking Baptist Churches within the willingness to pray regularly and with C among his fellow ministers United Kingdom and our Partner understanding is surely one very long before the publication of the Churches overseas to join together in a important way. Enquiry. But none of his fellow Baptists time of special prayer for the BMS and So may I ask you to make sure that was quite ready to heed the call. In fact, its work. prayers for the work of the BMS and we are led to believe, John Collet The BMS was born out of prayer, its partner churches are included in Ryland, told him to sit down when he over the years its work and its church services, prayer meetings and brought the matter before a minister's missionaries have been sustained by the prayer and house groups, although I do fraternal in 1785 although John Ryland constant prayers of countless faithful know that this is already widely done. denies that his father would have acted II Christian people and now, as we Perhaps you could also set aside special in that way. prepare for mission into the next times to pray. Encourage your church But things were happening. A year century the need for prayer is as vital members to pray for BMS linked work earlier a Call to Prayer was issued by as ever. and for world mission in general in the Northamptonshire Association Over the past 200 years God has their private prayers. meeting at Nottingham. John Sutcliff, done great things through the BMS and There is so much to pray for but here minister of Olney Baptist Church, had through those who have shared in its is a prayer which may help to unite us got the idea from a book written by work. I believe that, if we are faithful, in praying. Jonathan Edwards in America. He will do even greater things ih the Evidently John Ryland Junior drafted future. the wording of a circular letter which We have all experienced the power of Peter Clark proposed prayer meetings on the first prayer in our lives. We.need to harness BMS Chairman 1992-93 Monday of every month.

October m ERALD ------,-••••·

'Let the whole interest of the diffusion among the Northamptonshire Missionary Society into being, for the Redeemer be affectionately ministers' find it in all the Call to people who came together to form the remembered, and the spread of the Prayer of 1784, suggests Dr Ernest society were those who had been Gospel to the most distant parts of the Payne. praying for years for the extension of habitable globe be the object of your The call was taken up by Christ's Kingdom. most fervent request,' he said. Warwickshire and Yorkshire Baptists, And those areas of the country which Those looking for the 'spring-head - and by the Western Association. It is quickly supported the society were the primary cause of the missionary generally agreed that this praying those same associations which had excitement in Carey's mind and its movement brought the Baptist adopted the Call to Prayer. ■

COMMITMENT TO UNREACHED

PEOPLE

It is estimated that there are 2,000

unevangelised people groups, 1,000

unevangelised cities and 30 highly

unevangelised countries. However, very

RENEWED COMMITMENT UNITED IN WORLD MISSION few Protestant missionary resources Charles Olsen An impressive feature of Korean church are being devoted to reach these AS WE CELEBRATE the BMS life is unity borne of adversity and people with the Gospel.

BiCentenary and look forward to the suffering. The church in China had a year 2000, the beginning of a new similar experience especially during the BOLD REALISTIC GOALS THAT millennium, many Baptists are renewing Cultural Revolution. STRETCH US their commitment to mission. What Ken Manley, Principal of Whitley One Baptist mission, because of the does this mean for the future? College, Melbourne, says that the great unfinished task in world

Australian Baptist commitment to world evangelisation, is increasing its A NEW COMMITMENT TO PRAY mission through our Baptist Missionary missionary force from 11 O to 200 and Several of the world's largest churches Society is the most important unifying has accepted responsibility to reach 23 are found in South Korea, including factor for the churches. unreached people groups identified in Paul Cho's 600,000 member Yoido Full But we need to be more unified if we the areas of the world where it serves. Gospel Church. Prayer is central to this are to have the oneness Jesus prayed Another Baptist mission has church. They spend all night in prayer, for: 'That they may be one, even as we discovered that most of its work is at a prayer mountain retreat prayer are one'. Through our unity the world amongst the middle class in the services take place 24 hours a day, will see the truth and validity of the developing world. They are now re­ seven days a week. Gospel. deploying their resources to minister to Almost all members are involved in the unreached poor in the restricted ministry cells of 10 to 12 people with COMMITMENT TO CARING countries of the world. the major emphasis on prayer ministry. We are to be concerned not only for We need to be ,making such As a result that church is adding the spiritual needs of the world but also decisions if we are to respond faithfully Ill 10,000 new members every month. for the physical needs of the poor. to the needs of the poor and the Systematic, concentrated believing Forty-six per cent of the world's \Jnevangelised. God has a plan for our prayer is the key. Those who are population are poor. There are 520 world. We are His co-workers in increasing their commitment to world million urban poor living in slums, 80 reaching the unreached with the Good evangelisation need to make a greater million supported by garbage, 450 News. commitment to prayer. million orphans, 100 million street kids,

Jesus said, 'Whatever you ask in my 80 million beggars, 400 million on the name, I will do it, that the Father may verge of starvation, and 100 million Charles Olsen is General Secretary of the be glorified in the Son.' have no shelter. Australian Baptist Missionary Society.

October [l]ERALD lili&AI------

are seen to do may be beyond they be encouraged when they are CALL TO reproach. weary, when there seems to be no The School for Blind Girls, run by hope, and no end to all their troubles. PRAYER the Baptist Sangha (union) is one Pray for organisations who work practical form of outreach showing love alongside the church in Zaire. For Lord Jesus, and concern to those who otherwise Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) be like the needle leading the way and as the thread we will follow. would be social outcasts, with little who are working in Zaire again, albeit hope. on a reduced programme. Thank God Congo. Sue Headlam co-ordinates health for their courage in re-entering this Lord projects in Bangladesh. There are plans difficult situation, and pray for safety in we are as empty plates waiting to be filled. for a project in schools for eye travel. screening, immunisation and help with Consider It is not what you say, such children's diseases as skin it is what they hear. problems and worms. A Toyota jeep 8-14 NOVEMBER It is not just the message, has been donated by Operation Agri to it is the meaning. help Sue in her work. She now has a Baptist House It is not what they hear, relia,ble means of travel and more it is what they see. It is not just the truth, freedom. Remember all the staff working at but the worth of what you say. Baptist House in their many functions: Church of North India. 25-31 OCTOBER offering a listening ear, managing financial and other affairs, proi:noting 11-17 OCTOBER Brazil: Rondonia, Acre and Brasilia the many and various programmes and materials BMS has to offer in the way Zaire: Upper River of creating greater awareness to cross­ This is a bustling, prosperous area, cultural mission. That in their busy­ dominated by Brasilia, the national The situation continues to give cause ness, the staff may not forget their call capital. for concern. Politically and to service both to God and to one Vincent and Sadie MacDougall, who economically, things are still unstable another. have been working with rural and people are living one day at a time. 'Room for Change,' the new World congregations in Rondemia, will soon Local currency is hard to obtain. Food Mission Link staff presentation is now be moving to a new work in Joinville in prices ri.se daily, and a sack of flour being prepared ready for the new year. the south-eastern state of Santa could cost the average two months' Remember all those involved in this, Catarina. This town has a population of salary. Such difficulties affect Yakusu particularly the staff and missionaries nearly half a million people, and there hospital which still conhnues to on home assignment who will visit is already a Baptist work there. Vincent function but with few patients and regional church groups all over the and Sadie will be involved in church reduced staffing levels. country, seeking to raise the profile of planting work in one of the industrial Missionaries from Yakusu who left world mission within the programmes suburbs. Remember them as they make Zaire twelve months ago have been and schedules of all Baptist churches. this move across thousands of miles, forced to look at their future work. Drs with all the practical and logistical Chris and Mairi Burnett are now in problems they may encounter. Albania. Susan Chalmers who taught in 15-21 NOVEMBER The Rondonia Convention now has a the nursing school at Yakusu is looking new General Secretary, Carlos Alberto at the possibility of church related work Nepal: Medical Work Ferreira Lima. Pray for him as he in Britain and Les and Jane Bromley are embarks upon this challenge, that he actively looking at one or two Christian care reaches far beyond may be mightly equipped to fulfil this possibilities linked with their call to hospital walls. Ruth Berry, a nurse at task. II missionary work. Amp Pipal Hospital, has recently been seconded to work for a month with the 18-24 OCTOBER 1-7 NOVEMBER Save the Children Fund team among Bhutanese refugees who have infiltrated Bangladesh Zaire: Community Issues into Nepal. And Jerry Clewett is currently working in the same border Great care, discretion and integrity We remember the church in Zaire as it area, seconded to the Lutheran World must be taken in proclaiming the seeks to worship and witness in this Service. He is helping to co-ordinate its gospel in Bangladesh where Christians torn country and for people and leaders rehabilitation programme. Praise God are a small minority in land dominated as they try to make a stand against that there have been these opportunities by Islam. We pray for the church injustice and oppression and suffer in to show the love of God in a practical especially Christian leaders, that all they the daily struggle for survival. May way.

October [I] ERALD Ian and Sally Smith moved house at Croatian refugees. Other Christians are the beginning of the summer. They are ministering to people in war-torn now living in Gorkha town, but still former Yugoslavia. MISSIONARY MOVEMENTS running the TB programme and Child Chris and Mairi Burnett and family Health Programme from there. Pray for are now in Albania. Apart from setting ARRIVALS John and Norma Clark frow Brazil them as they seek to help in up the Baptist office in Tirana and Jacqui Wells from Thailand establishing a Christian fellowship in co-ordinating the work of Christian Reuben Martin from In dia (vo lu11teer) Gorkha. They have already made groups in the country they hope to use Joy Knapman from Sri La11ka contact with some Nepali Christians their medical skills to look after other who had been sent out by their missionaries working in Albania. At fellowship to build a church there. present they have a ten hours; drive to DEPARTURES Political feelings still run high in this Greece for any medical needs. Border Gwen Hunter w Zaire (after holiday} country which has so recently achieved controls and visa restrictions are now Carole Whitmee w In dia 'western style' democracy. People often removed, and God is opening doors in Karen Poole to Hungary make political choices, in groups, this former officially atheist country. Chris and Alison Rudall to Nepa l following their peers. Pray for peace Karen Poole returned to Hungary in Lawrence Kelly 10 Nepal (vo lu nteer) and understanding. September to resume teaching English David and Rachel Quinney-Mee at IBLA (International Baptist Lay lO El Sal vador Academy) to students from different 22-28 NOVEMBER Eastern European countries. She is STAFF VISITS settling into new accommodation and John Passmore to Germany World Mission attempting to learn Magyar, the Angus MacNeill w Albania Hungarian language, so that she can Two centuries on from when William become more involved in the Baptist CONGRATULATIONS! Carey was told to 'Sit down young fellowship in Budapest. Paullne and Ian Thomas man, sit down. You're an enthusiast,' i11 Fra11 ce 011 che safe arri val of we pray for all enthusiasts (both Evelyn Lucie 011 19 August, individuals and churches) for world 6-12 DECEMBER a sister for Rochelle and Debora/, mission. May they have courage to swim against the tide, to stand up and India: CBCNI be counted, and to take risks and attempt great things for God. Although there are few non-national We pray for other missionary workers in India now, the Council of societies and organisations that we may Baptist Churches in North India ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS all walk and work together for the (CBCN[) is concerned to promote the greater good of proclaiming Jesus as influence of the Christian church in LEGACIES Saviour and Lord. We remember_young matters of education, medical work, Mrs Doris K Kelday 28.34 people who are participating in short­ and agricultural and development work. Miss G E Mccann 1,167.94 term mission work through the BMS This is now mainly done by national Mrs E D Morgan 36,831 .75 'Action Teams'. They are now working Christians. Whilst we cannot lend our Mr AT Betts 200.00 alongside churches in France, Italy, El support in terms of sending personnel, Miss Hilda Fanny Jewers 6,000.00 Salvador and Jamaica. Pray for others we can pray and offer financial Nellie Batchelor 500.00 who will have been challenged by last assistance to these churches. William H Moore 385.10 month's LOUD tour of the UK, that Pray for all those involved in these Doris Lake 40,089.34 they too may have the courage to programmes, that Christian precepts of ED Jack 55.15 follow this challenge through. honesty, integrity, social equality and Revd E Brown 78.67 mercy may be understood and Mrs Nancy W King 500.00 implemented, and that any temptations Grace E Sutton 50.00 29 NOVEMBER­ to compromise may be cast aside. S DECEMBER Remember especially the medical GENERAL WORK .team at Palwal Hospital. Here there is Worthing: £5.00; Bath: £5.00; Cardiff: Europe now a newly qualified Christian doctor, £20.00; Aberdeen: £20.00; South East who trained at Ludhiana Medical Bicentenary Event: £10.00; Charities Trust: £9.37; Co Durham: £40.00; Described by many as the spiritual Hospital. Blantyre: £50.00; Brackley: £52.04; wilderness of the world, Europe very Aberdeen: £100.00; Gwent: £80.00; much needs prayer. Paisley: £100.00; Plymouth: ~33.60; CAF Voucher: £63.20. The Baptist humanitarian group 'My Neighbour' is working amongst

October m ERALD MON 30

BMS CALENDAR 1993 BMS PRAYER GUIDE 1993

It has plenty of room to write in all The BMS Prayer Guide gives you your engagements, large • information and mops on oil areas of BMS work and witness • the names of oil BMS missionaries photographs from around the world, • the names of BMS Portner Church leaders overseas prayers for each month and full • meditations and prayers colour illustrations too! • on invaluable opportunity to pray for the world And it's available from November. Encourage oil members of your church to buy o copy and to use it with urgency. Calendars cost £2.50 each (including postage). Order ten or more and Prayer Guides cost 9Cp each (including postage), if ordered you'll receive a 10 per cent d iscount! before November 1 , they cost BOp each! ------r------..... · Please send me ...... BMS 1993 Calendars I Please send me ...... BMS 1993 Prayer Guide(s) . I I enclose ...... (cheques made payable to BMS) I I enclose ...... (cheques made payable to BMS) Name ...... I Name ...... I Address ...... I Address ...... :...... I 0) I I ...... Post Code ...... I ...... Post Code ...... ,- Home Church ...... I Home Church ...... ------L------