APRIL–JUNE 2018 A MAGAZINE OF THE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE® VOLUME 65-2 CONTENTS 2 BWA WORLD 12 PERSONALITIES 12 BWA UN Rep to Receive Human 3 BWA IN ACTION Rights Award 3 BWA Executive Makes Important 13 Jamaican Baptists Install First Decisions; Pays Tribute to Billy Woman President Graham 14 Baptist Woman Takes Helm of 4 Elijah Brown – Much to Celebrate Jamaica’s Church Group 5 Jewish Rabbi Commends Baptist 15 The Baptist King BAPTIST WORLD EDITOR: Contribution to Freedom and Justice 16 A Global Advocate Eron Henry • Email: [email protected] 17 Activist Dreamer Editorial Assistant: Shannon Cowett 6 BWA Renovates 18 The Power of Compassion Published quarterly by the Baptist World Alliance, 7 BWA Regions Establish New Offices 405 North Washington Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 USA. Telephone: +1-703-790-8980; Fax: +1-703-893-5160; 7 Transform E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.bwanet.org. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at McLean, VA 22101, 7 Reevaluating Ministry in Africa and additional entry points. 8 BWA Assists in Rice Distribution 19 HAPPENINGS AROUND The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 235 Baptist conventions and unions comprising a membership of more than in Cambodia THE WORLD 47 million baptized believers and a community of 110 million. 19 War and Conflict in Central The BWA unites Baptists worldwide, leads in world evangelism, 8 Prevention is Living responds to people in need, defends human rights and promotes 9 BWA Supports Food Security African Republic theological reflection. For information on bulk orders, write to the Communications Project in Zimbabwe 20 Baptists Minister to Displaced Division, Baptist World Alliance, 405 North Washington Street, Falls 10 World Council of Churches South Sudanese Church, Virginia 22046 USA or to [email protected]. Previous volumes of Baptist World are available in microfilm from 10 Mangieri Conferred Highest 21 The “Garbage” Church University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, USA. Professional Status 22 Preventing Addiction POSTMASTER: Send change of address to BAPTIST WORLD, 11 Final Session of Baptist-Methodist 22 On the Ground in Iraq 405 North Washington Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 USA. Please give both old and new addresses and attach a Dialogue in England mailing label from an old issue. USA: Please provide nine-digit code (ZIP + 4). 11 The Power of One PRINTED IN U.S.A. • ISSN 005-5808 23 MEMORIAM BWA OFFICERS Ngwedla Paul Msiza .......................President Elijah Brown .......................General Secretary BWA EXECUTIVE STAFF Carolina Mangieri ...................Meeting Planning 24 EDITORIAL Eron Henry .........................Communications Julie Justus .......................Member Services Paul Msiza – Standing in the Gap Monica Teal ...................Finance/Administration Kathe Traynham ............Promotion and Development with Prayer Trisha Miller Manarin ......Mission, Evangelism and Justice BWA REGIONAL SECRETARIES Durosinjesu Ayanrinola ....... All Africa Baptist Fellowship Tony Peck ................ European Baptist Federation Everton Jackson ............Caribbean Baptist Fellowship Parrish Jacome ........ Union of Baptists in Latin America Vesekhoyi Tetseo ..........Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Jeremy Bell ...........North American Baptist Fellowship APRIL–JUNE 2018 | BAPTIST WORLD 1 FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY ELIJAH BROWN BWA WORLD IGNIFICANT HISTORICAL CHANGE OFTEN INVOLVES THE CONVERGENCE OF INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS INTERSECTING WITH SOCIETAL DISRUPTION. The Christian movement is in many respects an illustration of this process as Jesus’ Slife, death and resurrection unfolds in the contours of political upheaval and shifting religious expressions. Or as Paul writes in Galatians 4:4, it was, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.” “We continue to pray that we might be disciples of faith in that fullness of time and ask that the Lord will allow us to live out his fullness in our time. This Easter we prayed that we might be disciples of faith, love and courage who stand at the crossroads of pain and societal change and point to the hope of Jesus. For just Elijah Brown as Esther and Daniel chose conviction in the Schleitheim Confession calling for morning we will travel together to a cave the face of injustice and Paul and Barnabas believers baptism and the renunciation of just north of Zurich for a time of joint chose proclamation “where Christ was all violence. meditation in the very place where early not known” (Romans 15:20), Easter is a Anabaptists fled and hid during times of reminder that we are to be individuals fully Zurich is filled with many leaders of the persecution. On Tuesday we will worship submitted in word and deed to Jesus Christ. Christian faith who, during the time of in the historic Grossmunster Church in the Reformation, sought to live in the light collaboration with the Swiss Reformed The following pages feature individuals of the teachings of Scripture. Perhaps the Church and the Swiss Baptist Union in who have lived with courage and conviction most well known is Huldrych Zwingli who song, prayer and commemoration. On in light of the resurrection. These profiles helped translate the Zurich Bible, the first Thursday, there will be a unique forum to are a powerful reminder of the clouds of complete translation of the Bible into the discuss with the Swiss Reformed Church the witnesses who surround us and urge us German language, some five years before realities impacting people of faith who face to join with them in following the living Martin Luther’s Wittenberg Bible. Zwingli, persecution in many places in the world. Savior. Fortunately, through the years the after Martin Luther and John Calvin, is Baptist movement has been blessed with sometimes called “the Third Man of the From location to theme to unique such individuals. Reformation.” opportunities, this is an Annual Gathering that will seek to connect each of us to For example, I was recently in Zurich, The stories and ethos of these individuals the Lord and to each other – a dynamic Switzerland, working on preparations for will infuse this year’s BWA Annual heritage and an ongoing call to live as our 2018 BWA Annual Gathering. There, Gathering that meets in Zurich, July 2-7. If individuals whose yielded lives pursue on the banks of the Limmat River in one you have not yet made plans to be present, Kingdom impact. of the oldest sections of the city, a plaque please do so today at www.bwanet.org. reads: In addition to hearing biblical reflections from around the world, attending breakout Here were drowned in the middle of the sessions on critical issues of concern today Limmat River from a fishing platform and engaging in the business of the BWA, Felix Manz and five other Anabaptists this year’s meeting will have some important during the Reformation period between moments. To name just a few, on Sunday 1527 and 1532. The last, Hans Landis, was executed in Zurich in 1614. It is a moving experience to stand at that spot and prayerfully reflect on the actions of these early Anabaptist leaders. Manz, “This Easter we prayed that we might be disciples of faith, love who was one of the earliest martyrs of the Radical Reformation, had his hands and feet bound and met his earthly end while and courage who stand at the crossroads of pain and societal singing, “Into thine hands I commit my spirit.” His mother is reported to have change and point to the hope of Jesus.” stood on the banks of the river and yelled to him to remain steadfast in his faith. – ELIJAH BROWN Manz’s death occurred in the same year Anabaptist leaders in Switzerland penned 2 BAPTIST WORLD | APRIL–JUNE 2018 BWA IN ACTION BWA EXECUTIVE MAKES IMPORTANT DECISIONS, PAYS TRIBUTE TO BILLY GRAHAM HE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE made important decisions and accepted Graham was lauded for his impact on several recommendations at its meetings in early March. Baptist life and Christian witness on a T global level. In addition to speaking at every General Secretary Elijah Brown recommended and the Executive Committee unanimously Baptist World Congress from 1955 to 1990, affirmed that his immediate predecessor, Neville Callam, be named General Secretary Emeritus. Graham collaborated with Baptists and other The proposal is to be formally voted on by the General Council at its meeting in Zurich, Christian groups in various countries in his Switzerland, in July. evangelistic campaigns that spanned more than five decades. Callam retired as BWA General Secretary Among those attending his funeral service on director of Baptist World Aid (BWAid) and March 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the in December after serving the organization the BWAid Committee. Convened by the for 10 years. He will share the honorific title United States, were BWA General Secretary BWAid director, the forum will function as Elijah Brown, General Secretary Emeritus with Denton Lotz, BWA General Secretary a space for collaboration and consultation for 19 years, from 1988 to 2007. Denton Lotz and former Presidents Billy Kim between aid and development professionals and John Upton. and practitioners. Vesekhoyi Tetseo, elected General Those present at the Executive Committee Secretary of the Asia Pacific Baptist Brown announced he is in the process Federation in September 2017; and Jeremy meeting wrote letters of solidarity and support of creating a General Secretary Global to Baptists in Syria who have suffered much Bell, elected General Secretary of the Leadership Council comprising eminent North American Baptist Fellowship in from the ongoing civil war and conflicts in Baptist leaders of repute who will act as the Middle Eastern country. January, were formally ratified as BWA advisors to the General Secretary. Inaugural regional secretary for Asia Pacific and members of this council are former BWA North America, respectively. “I am grateful for the men and women who Presidents Billy Kim of South Korea and provide outstanding leadership to Baptists David Coffey of the United Kingdom.