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From the General Secretary
Fractured but ripe
As we enter a season of new beginnings, we may recall significant events that remind us of God's delight in making things new. One such event led me, last month, to visit the Richmond Hill Prison in the Caribbean's "spice island" of Grenada.
The prison, constructed as a hospital by the French in 1860, was converted into a prison after fire destroyed the original buildings. It attracted world attention when, after gaining power by a coup in 1983, the People's Revolutionary Government, under Maurice Bishop, imprisoned many opponents there, including the deputy prime minister, Bernard Coard.
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Member Bodies in Action
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| | "Living Water" purification system at the Marianao Baptist Church in Cuba (photo courtesy of Global Ministries) |
Three churches formed the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Cuba (FIBC) in 1989. It now comprises 43 churches with more than 3,700 members. It is one of four Baptist World Alliance member organizations on the Caribbean island.
FIBC engages the community with several outreach ministries, including the opening of an arts and spirituality center, a music school and a cooperative farm. It supports and promotes patio gardening to encourage self sufficiency, a "living water" project where several churches operate purification systems for their respective communities and a prison ministry.
Leadership development among FIBC members is a priority, facilitated mainly by FIBC's ecumenical seminary in the city of Matanzas on the northern shore of Cuba. The seminary reaches more than 500 students, lay and ordained, who study in intensive courses lasting one full week on campus and in extension courses in regional areas.
Antonio Santana, former FIBC president, referring to the 1992 amended constitutional change that gives greater protections to religious freedom in Cuba, said, "people now have the freedom to attend any church they want - Christian or other."
FIBC identifies four priorities to which churches are committed: the recognition of diversity while celebrating unity, service to the community in each congregation's locale, theological and biblical formation for pastors and lay leaders, and partnership with churches outside Cuba.
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Church Spotlight
Mount Carmel Baptist Church (MCBC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the United States, began in 1803. In its first 50 years, MCBC gave birth to Mount Gilead Baptist Church in 1823, Lystra Baptist Church in 1853 and University Baptist Church in 1854.
A focus on mission continues through the church's initiative and in cooperation with others. It supports Kids2Carolina, which seeks to enrich the lives of underprivileged youth through academics and character formation; the Inter Faith Council that assists and supports people in need through staff-volunteer partnerships, congregations, individuals and community coalitions; and John 3:16, a local mission caring for local people.
Members of MCBC visit, conduct worship services, support the chaplaincy and provide gifts to children of inmates at the Alamance/Orange Prison in Hillsborough in North Carolina.
In addition, the Baptist World Alliance Global Impact Church participates in the Pillow Case Dress Mission,which provides clothing for orphanages; and the Shepherd's Table, which offers meals for the community during Christmas.
"Mount Carmel Baptist Church prayerfully seeks to follow God's will and ministers to the community and the world through Christian worship, education and service," the church declares.
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BWA NEWS
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
Movements and Changes
Let us know of changes in leadership in your convention or union at the levels of president and general secretary. United StatesNancy Stanton McDaniel, elected president, Baptist General Association of Virginia, succeeding Ann Brown Rene Maciel, elected president, Baptist General Convention of Texas
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Congratulations
To Victor Rembeth of Indonesia, a member of the BWA Commission on Interfaith Relations; on receiving the Resilience Award from the government of Indonesia, on October 17
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In Sympathy
To BWA Youth Director Emmett Dunn; on the passing of his stepfather on November 13. Dunn had earlier lost his brother in June this year.
To Otniel Bunacio, president of the Baptist Union of Romania, president of the European Baptist Federation and member of the BWA General Council, the Commission on Doctrine and Christian Unity and the Commission on Social and Economic Justice; on the passing of his father, Ioan. Ioan Bunacio was a longtime pastor for more than 50 years and president of the Baptist seminary in Romania for 18 years.
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BWAID
The following are disbursements by Baptist World Aid during the month of November. Unless otherwise stated, amounts are in United States currency.
Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
IDP Resettlement 2,400.00
Kenya
Assistance to Families of Victims in the
Garissa University Attack 8,626.00
Sierra Leone
Community Based Skills Training for Youth 6,000.00
Caribbean
Jamaica
Greenhouse Project 13,000.00
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About the Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance, founded in 1905, is a fellowship of 232 conventions and unions in 121 countries and territories comprising 40 million members in 177,000 churches. Its priorities are nurturing the passion for mission and evangelism; promoting worship, fellowship and unity; responding to people in need; defending human rights and justice; and advancing relevant theological reflection.
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