2005 is a special year in the history of Baptists. A century ago, on 17th July 1905, in London, Southern Baptist and British Baptist leaders met and together with many others from around the world, formed the Baptist World Alliance. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, the BWA Centenary Congress is going to be held on 27th-31st July in Birmingham, England.
BWA Day is widely observed in Eastern Europe, India and Australia. While the BWA Day this Sunday originated as a time to pray for fellow Baptist believers around the world and especially persecuted Christians, this year the BWA also calls on prayer for the funds needed for the Centenary Congress in July.
Currently, churches in developed countries are particularly encouraged to support scholarships for participants from developing nations who would otherwise be unable to attend the Congress.
Revd David Coffey, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said, "This year’s Baptist World Alliance Day enables us to focus on the Baptist World Congress which is now only six months away and I encourage all churches to increase their praying for the spiritual success of this global gathering."
He continued, "I also hope we will respond generously to this year’s theme of Help change my life by sponsoring a younger Baptist leader from another country as a delegate to the Congress."
The Revd Dr Denton Lotz, general secretary of the BWA, said, "We’re asking all Baptist churches to pray and give opportunities for overseas students and parties of young people to come to the Congress."
"But the main focus is to pray around the world, to pray for missionaries, to pray for our brothers and sisters."
The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 211 Baptist unions and conventions comprising a membership of more than 47 million baptised believers, with a total community of approximately 110 million people. More than 15,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the BWA Centenary Congress.