The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has announced that it's annual Baptist World Alliance Day is scheduled 6 and 7 February 2016. Just as there is an Australia Day, a Mother's Day, Father's Day, a Women's Day, a Children's Day so too there is a Baptist World Alliance Day,
Celebrated since 1927, the Baptist World Alliance Day will be on February 6 and 7, depending on which Baptists worship on Saturday or Sunday. The observance is aimed at affirming Baptist identity within the worldwide Christian family.
Baptists are encouraged to pray for each other and to commit to cooperate with Baptists globally through the Baptist World Alliance.
Resources for the Baptist World Alliance Day 2016 were prepared by Christopher Ellis, former principal of Bristol Baptist College in the United Kingdom, and a past president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Reverend Chris Ellis was a long time church pastor over some four decades and a former chair of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Worship and Spirituality.
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. Some Eastern European traditions have their Baptist ministers in classical Orthodox robes and long beards. The styles of worship are as varied as where Baptists live and serve.
The 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.
Australian Baptists
Australian Baptists are a broad church from people such as the Reverend Tim Costello AO of World Vision recognition to evangelists such as Michael Frost.
Morling is the largest seminary in Australia (NSW Baptist) of any denomination with 700 plus students – full time and part time. Led by its Principal Reverend Dr Ross Clifford AM who is highly visible in Christian apologetics, as an author and speaker. Dr Clifford is a Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance.
Rev Dr Rowland Croucher the Pastor's Pastor of John Mark Ministries is another very visible Baptist whose web site touches current and former ministers. Dr Croucher's specialities include pastor-damage and shifts in evangelical theology.
Another high profile Australian Baptist is Rev Dr Mark Tronson who served for 17 years as the Australian cricket team chaplain, then established Life After Cricket. He founded the Sports and Leisure Ministry in 1982 (re-badged in 2005 as Sports Chaplaincy Australia) and now provides respite for missionaries on the Whitsundays.
Since 2008 under Press Service International a ministry project with Christian Today Mark Tronson provides publishing opportunities for young people. As chairman of Well-Being Australia, his ministries have touched the lives of many.
There are many huge Baptist congregations across Australia. Crossways in Melbourne is massive, whereas Canberra Baptist Church has enjoyed a national influence with its list of highly distinguished Ministers. The Rev F P McMaster MBE and Dr Thorwald Lorenzen were two such personages.
Statistics
Statistically, there are more Australians attending Baptist churches each week than there are Muslims living in Australia. Baptist Care, its welfare arm is the largest provider of a number of services across the nation, including micro-financing.
The four singular historical features of Baptist theology -
- Evangelism - people of the Word
- Baptist Care - Welfare
- Soul liberty - freedom of conscience
- Fellowship - community
Australian Baptists' encourages its ministers (men and women) to be people of the Word and preaching for souls to Christ. In this it realises its personnel need to take sabbaticals for prayer, research, study, rejuvenation, holidays, recreation, social pursuits and hobbies. An holistic philosophy.
Indeed - Australian Baptists will be celebrating Baptist World Alliance Day on 6-7 February.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html