Australian elected new President of AsiaPacific Baptist region – calls the Church to focus on Asia

Shillong, India (APBF) -- Rev. Dr. Ross Clifford was elected as President of Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) and will also head the new Executive Committee till 2017. He has called on Christians in Australia to focus on Asia rather than the West. He stated, "Australian Christians at times appear captivated by the latest trend, church growth model or Christian speaker/author from Europe or America". He went on to say, "We need to refocus on our region which has so much to teach us and it really needs our support. It has 60% of the world's population, is the region where the Christian faith is growing the fastest, but it is still only 8% Christian. It also suffers from 70% of the world's disasters. A focus on the Asia and Pacific region is what the Australian church needs to hear."

Dr Clifford was elected at the recently concluded APBF General Council meeting during the 8th Asia Pacific Baptist Congress held at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia from 4-8 Sept. 2012. He succeeded Rev. Dr. Chu Wood Ping of Hong Kong. He is currently the Principal of Morling Theological College in New South Wales, Australia. He is also the former President of the Baptist Union of Australia and currently one of the Vice-Presidents of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).

Ross Clifford joined Morling College after twelve years of pastoral ministry. Before he entered the ministry he practiced law in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. He is a graduate of the Australian College of Theology, University of Sydney, as well as Morling College. He is the author/co-author of over ten books including Leading Lawyers' Case for the Resurrection, Apologetic Preaching & Teaching for the Church & the Marketplace and is a contributor to books such as A Spectator's Guide to World Views. His most recent book was released in early 2012, The Cross is Not Enough – Living as Witnesses to the Resurrection (Baker).

Ross has served on a number of significant inter-denominational committees including being President of the New South Wales Council of Churches and Chair of the Australian Lausanne Committee. In particular, Ross is known for his work and writing in the areas of theology, apologetics and ethics. Ross is married to Beverley, and they have two children, Briony and Joel. In 2010 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for his Christian service.

The Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) is a regional organization of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), representing close to 30,000 local churches, 59 Conventions in 21 Countries with over 5 Million baptized members across the Asia Pacific region. APBF seeks to promote of unity among Asia Pacific's Baptists with a mission to impart inspiration, promote spirit of fellowship, service and cooperation through mission and evangelism, relief & development, peace network, leadership development, theological education, information sharing and networking.