In the last two editorials appearing in BWA Connect, I urged the importance of proclamation of the Gospel being done through the verbal, that is the oral/written medium, and also through social action. In this editorial, I make the claim that proclamation may also take the form of liturgical signs that have been performed in and by the church from its earliest days. Especially through baptism and the Lord's Supper, the church offers a powerful proclamation of the kingdom of God.

Christians heed the call to proclaim the Gospel when they participate in the sacred activities of baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both sacraments/ordinances are signs of what is possible when the divine/human encounter takes place. In one perspective, both represent the enacted speech of those who gratefully accept the gift they receive from God without ever meriting it.

Of course, it is now commonly and accurately said of baptism that it fulfills both declarative and instrumental functions. Baptism fulfils its declarative role as a means of proclamation of the Good News about what God has done, is doing, and will do, for all who, by faith, enter into the fellowship of the people of God. In baptism, God is at work as the believer receives baptism into the Godhead. The candidates also make an important declaration by accepting God's gracious gift in baptism. Within the gathered community of faith, these candidates, who are professing believers, bear witness to their personal faith that is part and parcel of the faith of the community. Besides this, the baptized declare the promise of faithful participation in the divine mission that Christ committed to the church.

Many who have witnessed baptism by immersion come away feeling the power of that ritual activity. There is something about the dying and rising with Christ that is powerfully communicated in the rite (Cf. Romans 6:1-11). The drama of God's salvific work achieved through Jesus Christ comes into firm focus in the act of baptism.

As in baptism, the Lord's Supper has both an instrumental and an expressive character. In its expressive function, the Holy Communion is a means of proclaiming the Good News about what God has done, is doing, and will do for all who, by God's grace, become members of the body of Christ, the church. In gathering with others in the community of faith, the baptized covenants with God and with others to participate in God's mission through the church and seals this covenant in the sacred meal.

Thankfully, today many Baptists expect that people who have not yet come to faith are among them in services of worship where the Communion is celebrated. They may not be participating by eating and drinking, but they receive the witness of the community that waits at the Lord's Table. Paul's claim comes true in their gathering: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Thankfully, most Baptists now reject views that led to the observance of the Holy Communion annually. In fact, and admirably, some Baptist churches have begun to observe the Lord's Supper even on a weekly basis.

As with verbal communication of the Gospel and with social action in expression of this Gospel, we need to hear the Spirit in order to fulfill this ministry of proclamation through the celebration of the sacraments. It is the Spirit that convicts us of sin and guides us into all truth so that we become recipients of the gift of salvation (John 16:8 & 13). Through baptism, the Spirit deals a death blow to sin and performs the life-giving miracle whereby the baptized might be described as people who are "risen with Christ." It is the Spirit who makes the risen Lord present to us in the Holy Communion. Not surprisingly, we begin the Communion service with an invocation of the Spirit. Then, assured of the forgiveness of our sin, we can join in and celebrate the feast that nourishes us for the life of the kingdom.

Let us keep on proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom through baptism and the Lord's Supper.

• BWA hosts global Christian leaders 
• Chile prepares to host 2012 BWA Annual Gathering 
• Chinese visit BWA offices 
• Baptists urged to take action on Iran pastor's behalf 
• Haitian Baptist leader released unharmed 
• Baptist leader in Haiti kidnapped   

Cuvila Tomas, elected general secretary of the Free Baptist Church in Angola, succeeding Joao Kiala Kiasissua 

Azerbaijan

Elvin Mirzayev, elected general secretary of the Evangelical Christian Baptist Union of Azerbaijan, succeeding Elnur Jaibyev 

Brazil    

Paschoal Piragin, new president of the Brazilian Baptist Convention, succeeding Josue M. Salgado

Canada

Rick Lamothe, elected president of the  Canadian National Baptist Convention, taking over from Jeff Christopherson   

Central African Republic

Zacharie Yanguema, elected general secretary of the Association of Baptist Churches of the Central African Republic, succeeding  Andre Roger Waka, who died in August 2010    

El Salvador

Mauricio Salinas, president of the Baptist Association of El Salvador, succeeding Sonia Valiente     

Finland

Peter Sjoblom, general secretary of the Finland Swedish Baptist Union, succeeding Nils E. Vikstrom 

Guyana

Stephen Gomes, elected president, succeeding Peter Changa, and Roxanne Abrams, elected general secretary, succeeding Yoland Jeune, of the Baptist Convention of Guyana    

Upa Zahranga, president, succeeding B. Hainuaia, and Chinzah (John) Hrangzuala, general secretary, succeeding Hlichhal Lalsangliana, of the Lairam Jesus Christ Baptist Church    

Dhojen Borgoary, president, succeeding Bronson Marak, and Stefen Mecemrai, general secretary, succeeding Rohendra Narzari, of the Lower Assam Baptist Union  

Gajilal Tossa, president,  succeeding Samuel Kath, of the North Bank Baptist Christian Association     

Ngaituasunga Darlong, general secretary, succeeding Rajania Kapipeng, of the Tripura Baptist Christian Union

Japan

Toshio Okumura, president of the Japan Baptist Convention, succeeding Akinori Taguchi    

Yuji Fujii, president, succeeding Sigemi Ono, of the Japan Baptist Union

Lebanon

Joseph Kazzi, president, succeeding Samuel Kharrat, of the Lebanese Baptist Convention 

Mozambique

Sozinho Guerra, president, succeeding Jeronimo Cessito, of the Baptist Convention of Mozambique

Nepal

Gagendra Khan Thakuri, president, succeeding Lal Sing Gurung, of the Nepal Baptist Church Council    

Romania

Iosif Simon, president of the Hungarian Baptist Convention of Romania, succeeding Istvan Gergely

South Africa

John Sigudla, president, succeeding Sobusa E. Ngodela, and Christopher Dikana, general secretary, succeeding Paul Msiza (a BWA vice president), of the Baptist Convention of South Africa   

Edson Magoloi, president of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa, succeeding Raymond September

Sweden

Soren Carlsvard, president of the Baptist Union of Sweden, succeeding Lars Dalesjo   

Togo

Agbatan Agossou, president, succeeding Bamerbanona Kadera, of the Togo Baptist Convention  

Uganda

Mayimba Geoffrey, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Uganda, succeeding Alex Wanyama    

Darko Siracki, general secretary of the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada, succeeding George Sommer

Ricky Creech, executive director of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, succeeding Jeffrey Haggray   

Bernard Kamutzki, moderator of the North American Baptist Conference, succeeding Dennis Dewey  

Moses C. Mbulo, president, succeeding Moses Mbulo, of the Baptist Union of Zambia