2021-2022
MINISTRY
U P DAT E
Celebrating
God’s Global Mission in Action through the
Global Baptist Family
Our Mission: NETWORKING THE
BAPTIST FAMILY TO IMPACT THE WORLD
FOR CHRIST Page 3
STRENGTHENING Worship, Fellowship & Unity
Page 6
LEADING Mission & Evangelism
Page 8
RESPONDING Aid, Relief, & Community Development
Page 10
DEFENDING Religious Freedom, Human Rights & Justice
Page 12
ADVANCING Theological Reflection & Transformational Leadership
Page 14
PARTNERSHIP Fiscal Report
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A Word from the
G E N E R A L S E C R E TA R Y
1
116
Year History
Unified Mission
128
245
Across the globe, BWA Baptists are faithfully answering God’s call. In challenging times, our BWA family is courageously and creatively serving – offering shelter and care to refugees, advocating for religious freedom, providing assistance for basic needs and economic development, equipping new leaders, and sharing the Gospel boldly. What a joy it is to reflect on how God is at work through our global partnership of Baptist sisters and brothers. With 51 million Baptists in 176,000 churches worldwide, together we can truly “impact the world for Christ.” I was greatly encouraged to gather as a global family for our 22nd Baptist World Congress last July. With more than 4,000 registrants from over 140 countries, our first virtual Congress was the most globally diverse gathering in the BWA's 116-year history. We thank God for this collective opportunity to experience worship, learning, and fellowship together. As you read this Ministry Update, please join me in celebrating how God has been at work among us and through us this past year. United by Christ’s love and guided by the Holy Spirit, may we continue to work together with bold faithfulness to God’s global mission. On Mission Together,
Rev. Elijah M. Brown, PhD General Secretary & CEO
Countries and Territories
Conventions and Unions
176,000 51,000,000
Baptist Churches
Baptists Worldwide 3
S T R EN GT H E N I N G Worship, Fellowship & Unity Centered in Jesus Christ and rooted in deep spiritual life, we strengthen our worldwide family through ongoing gatherings, pastoral presence, mutual friendships, and the cultivation of worship, fellowship, and unity.
C E L E BR ATI N G TH E
Most Globally Diverse
ALBANI A ANG OL A
GATH ERING IN BWA H I STO RY
•
•
ANT I G UA
AND BAR BU DA • AR G E NT I NA • ARMENIA • AU S T R ALI A • AU S T R I A • AZE R BAI J AN •
BAHAMAS • BAHRAIN • BANGL ADESH • BARBADOS • BEL ARUS • BELGIUM • BELIZE • BENIN • BOLIVIA • BOSNIA
22 ND B A PT IS T WO R L D CO N G R E S S Offered virtually for the first time, the “Together” Baptist World Congress included 4,600 registrants from
146 countries, over 100 hours of virtual content, and more than 350 contributors from 70 countries.
A N D H E R Z E G O V I N A • B O T S WA N A • B R A Z I L • B U L G A R I A • B U R K I N A FA S O • B U R U N D I • C A M B O D I A • C A M E R O O N •
“I'M EXCITED BY A
C A N A D A • C ENTRAL AFRIC AN REPUBL IC • C HAD • C HIL E • COLOMBIA • COSTA R I C A • C R OAT I A • C U BA • C ZEC H
FORETASTE OF WHAT
BE REPUBL IC • D E M O C R A T I C R E P U B L I C O F T H EHEAVEN C O N G OWILL • DEN M LIKE A R K •WITH DOMINICAN REPUBLIC • ECUADOR • EGYPT EVERY TONGUE, TRIBE, AND
• E L S A LVA D O R • EQ UATORIAL GUINEA • ESTONIA • ETHIOPIA • FIJ I • FINL AND • F R ANC E • G AM BI A • G E OR G I A • NATION PRAISING GOD
TOGETHER.” “IT HAS BEEN ARPOWERFUL GERMANY • GHANA • GRENADA • GUADELOUPE • GUATEMAL A • GUYANA • HAI T I • HONDU AS • HONG KONG • EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE
G ROWI N G TO G E THE R Unanimously voted to extend membership to four new Baptist groups during the BWA Virtual General Council meetings convened October 19-21, increasing our global representation to 128 countries and territories.
K A Z A K H S TBLESSED A N • K E NABUNDANTLY. YA • L A T V I A • MY L E BFAITH A N O N • L I B E R I A • M A C E D O N I A • MAAWORLDWIDE D A G A S C A R • COMMUNIT M A L A W I • MYAOF L AY S I A •
• Equatorial Guinea Baptist Church • Baptist Alliance of Barbados • Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Churches • Baptist Evangelical Churches Federation of Guadeloupe
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Congress Participant
HUNGARY • INDIA • I N D O N E S I A • I R A Q • I R E L A N D • from I S R A E L • I T A LY • I V O R Y C O A S T • J A M A I C A • J A P A N • REMINDED THAT I AM PART OF
“PRAISE GOD! I HAVE BEEN
Australia
BAPTIST BELIEVERS DEDICATED
BEEN M E X I C O • HAS MOLD O VA RENEWED, • M O Z A M B MY I Q UHOPE E • M YA N M A R • N A M I B I A • N E P A L • N E T H E R L A N D S • N E W Z E A L A N D • RESTORED, AND MY PASSION FOR
PRAY ING TO GETH ER Weekly “One in Prayer” email delivered to 3,000+ people, uniting them in focused prayer for every country of the world over the course of the year.
TO SPREADING THE GOOD
NEWS OF N I C A R A G U A • N I G E R • N I G E R I A • N O R W AY • P A K I S T A N • P A N A M A • P A P U A N EW GU I NJESUS E A • P ACHRIST.” R A G U AY • P E R U • MISSION AND JUSTICE
Congress Participant
P H I L I P P I N E S • P OREINVIGORATED.” L A N D • P O R T U G A L • R O M A N I A • R U S S I A • R W A N D A • S A I N T K I T T S from A N D USA NEVIS • ST. VINCENT A N D T H E G R E NCongress A D I N E S Participant • S E R B I A •from S I E R R A L E O N E • S I N G A P O R E • S L O VA K I A • S O U T H A F R I C A • S O U T H K O R E A
Trinidad and Tobago
• S O U T H S U D A N • S PA I N • S R I L A N K A • S U R I N A M E • S W E D E N • S W I T Z E R L A N D • S Y R I A • TA I WA N • TA N Z A N I A • THAILAND • TOGO • TONGA • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO • TURKEY • TURKS AND CAICOS • UGANDA • UKRAINE • U N I T E D K I N G D O M • U N I T E D S TAT E S • U R U G U AY • U Z B E K I S TA N • V E N E Z U E L A • V I E T N A M • Z A M B I A • Z I M B A B W E
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L EA D IN G Mission & Evangelism Compelled by the Great Commission, we lead with a passionate commitment to Gospel witness in every context and people group, foster multidirectional partnerships that connect individuals and churches, and encourage global mission and evangelism.
Through the Baptist Fund for World Evangelization and Discipleship (BFWED), BWA distributes grants to empower Baptist conventions, unions, and churches to engage in evangelistic ministry in their communities. This year the Union of Baptist Churches in Cameroon received a BFWED grant for a church planting project with the goal of establishing five new churches by the end of 2022. We celebrate that lives are already being changed and baptismal waters stirred in Cameroon and around the world!
M I S S I O N N E TWO R K
A steering committee was constituted to commence work on establishing a Baptist Network of Mission Agencies to be launched in 2023 at the SENT Mission Conference.
E VAN G E L I S M AWA RD
The BWA family has grown in the last ten years.
22%
The inaugural BWA-Kowloon International Baptist Church Evangelism Award was presented to 3D Church of Estonia at the 22nd Baptist World Congress. The award recognizes a Baptist congregation that is effectively uniting evangelism and discipleship and actively engaging in innovative approaches to share the Gospel in culturally appropriate ways.
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A R E SO U R CE IN R E SPO N SE TO A CHANG I NG WO RL D 50+ Contributors from more than 20 Countries Developed in response to our conviction and commitment to be a global church on God’s global mission, the BWA Holistic Mission Guide shares how churches across the globe are adapting and transforming ministry in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. In addition to the collated print guide, a Mission Guide online portal was created that includes all articles as well as accompanying video content. The content can be searched by topic, language, author, or region using an interactive map. Each article features a series of questions that can be used for personal reflection or group discussion, enabling the guide to be a launching point for meaningful dialogue and transformational growth.
Access Your Free Digital Copy at BaptistWorld.org/mission-guide
Since its release in May 2021, the Holistic Mission Guide has been downloaded as a resource in
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RESPONDING through Aid, Relief & Community Development Challenged to generously love our neighbor, we respond to people in need, collaborate in times of crisis, network agencies, support sustainability and creation care, build capacity, empower local church engagement and resource aid, relief, and community development.
In 2021, BWAid supported
47 PROJECTS COUNTRIES 29 219,690 PEOPLE in
impacting more than
$521,780 DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE
A I D I N I T I AT I V ES Baptist World Aid (BWAid) continues to respond to COVID-related crises around the world, including providing food for widows of pastors in Chili, healthcare prevention resources in Sierra Leone, and hospital equipment and staffing in India when cases surged. Through the BWA Forum for Aid and Development, global Baptists supported an additional 10 projects, investing $200,000 in COVID-related grants that impacted over 30,000 persons.
D I S A S T E R R E L I EF When disaster strikes, BWAid responds. In 2021, BWAid provided prayer, pastoral support, and solidarity grants to assist those impacted by volcanic eruptions in DR Congo and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. When an earthquake struck Haiti, BWAid partnered with the local Baptist convention to provide food and support for community pastors. When leaders in Cuba reported lack of access to food and medicine in the wake of political demonstrations, BWAid offered support. In the midst of Lebanon’s economic crisis, BWAid distributed a grant to provide food and hygiene kits.
RELIEF 37 Projects 21 Countries 201,814 Persons $446,860 Invested
$446,850*
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• • • • • • • •
5% 12% 38% 20% 22%
• AGRICULTURE • CAPACITY BUILDING • EDUCATION • MEDICAL SERVICES • YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
EDUCATION HEALTH EDUCATION HUNGER HYGIENE KITS MEDICAL SERVICES SHELTER SUBSISTENCE WATER
DEVELOPMENT
CO M M U N I T Y D E V ELO PM ENT BWAid helps build the capacity of churches. In 2021, the global Baptist family helped develop Sunday School materials for an online platform in the Caribbean, domestic violence education kits for churches in Australia, and human trafficking workshops for churches in North America. BWAid helps build communities through education and economic empowerment projects, including job training for 200 youth in Uganda, supporting women facing extreme poverty in the Central African Republic as a result of civil war, and skills development for women in a transitional shelter in Nepal.
7% 12% 40% 7% 19% 9% 3% 3%
10 Projects 8 Countries 17,876 Persons $74,930 Invested
$74,930*
* Unaudited totals
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DE FE NDING Religious Freedom, Human Rights & Justice Committed to a biblical understanding of the image of God in every person, we defend an ethic of life, support religious freedom for all, stand in solidarity with the marginalized, advocate at every level, train and network proactively, and mobilize for religious freedom, human rights, and justice.
Standing with
MYANMAR Due to the joint statement with BWA, many other organizations have followed suit. The military is aware of the international attention and has stopped attacking religious leaders for the time being. Let us pray and press on. - Vernette Myint Myint San, President of Asia Baptist Women’s Union –
One in three. The United Nations estimates that a third of women worldwide have experienced domestic violence at least once in their life with numbers increasing even more since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, BWA Women launched the Stand Against Domestic Violence Initiative in November.
Join the Stand at StandAgainstDV.net
R AC I A L J U S T I C E
Established Racial Justice Roundtables and initiated plans for a racial justice focus at the 2022 BWA Annual Gathering hosted in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
R EL I G I O U S F R EED O M
Provided religious freedom advocacy in partnership with 21Wilberforce to help prevent or assist those facing persecution in Algeria, China, Denmark, France, Jordan, and Nigeria
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G ENDER J U STICE
BWA is committed to stand with those facing persecution, war, and political unrest around the world. Home to 1.7 million Baptists, Myanmar was the second fastest growing Baptist convention in 2020. But then violence struck. In the wake of the military coup in February 2021, the BWA fully engaged. Mobilized Churches Hosted a global advocacy weekend with participants from 25 countries
47 BWA Women from 16 countries participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2021
Advocated for Peace Met with officials at the United Nations and pressed for peace engagement in other countries, including encouraging legislation by the United States Congress
UNIT ED NAT I ONS
Deployed Healthcare Resources Resourced a medical clinic in Myanmar for those working for human rights as well as oxygen concentrators to medical clinics in refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border with the capacity to serve 80,000 people
Appointed Hürrem Carolin Çevik from Turkey as the BWA representative to the United Nations Vienna Office
Offered Frontline Support Provided food, clothes, and temporary shelter for 3,000 displaced people in the eastern jungles of Myanmar
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A DVA N C I N G Theological Reflection & Transformational Leadership Called to discipleship, we advance multicultural and multilingual training, empower next generation leaders, encourage meaningful dialogue and praxis, and engage in relevant theological reflection and transformational leadership.
Empowering Today's Youth & Children Leaders
Horizons is a 24-module online training program offered in 14 languages and developed by experienced youth and children’s ministry leaders from around the world – grounded by a mission to equip others to effectively reach and disciple the next generation. Offered at no cost, the training addresses both practical and theological facets of ministry leadership.
In response to the substantial regional growth of the Horizons Ministry Training Initiative and in collaboration with BMS World Mission, Horizons added three people to the team in 2021. Bilateral Engagement Baptist leaders from around the world gathered in December 2021 at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, USA, for the Baptist-Catholic International Dialogue. This was Phase III of a series of strategic bilateral conversations between the BWA and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Through our 14 Commissions, more than 350 global Baptist leaders worked together to address the most critical issues today such as evangelism and mission, aid, religious freedom, peace building, racial justice, doctrine, leadership development, and creation care.
B A P T I S T J O H N PR A K A S H Area Director KO FFI S O K É K P O M G B E Area Director
BWA President Tomás Mackey traveled to Dallas Baptist University in
BWA Horizons Telangana India
BWA Horizons Africa
A R U N A PR I YA Global Registrar BWA Horizons
October 2021 to speak at the T.B. Maston Lecture Series. He delivered the address, “Hope Heals Wounds,” detailing challenges around the world including poverty, exclusion, educational crises, extreme secularism, and hunger.
BWA Women appointed J. Merritt Johnston to serve as Executive Director in November 2021. Johnston serves alongside a dynamic leadership team, including BWA Women President Karen Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer Sherrie Cherdak, and Vice Presidents representing each of the 7 Continental Unions.
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Equipped 355 students from more than 45 countries in 2021 A graduation was held in December 2021 for 9 students in Africa who completed their training and have now taken up a new role as mentors, bringing the total number to 25 mentors serving worldwide. Find out more at BWAHorizons.org.
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PARTNERING TOGETHER | FISCAL REPORT We praise God for the faithful and generous support of our ministry partners around the world. Together we are making a global impact!
SUPPORT & REVENUE $2,818,782*
We are a small but very visionary Baptist organization and these BWA affiliations and meetings add so much value to our growth and identity as Baptists. We are ministering in a landscape where our denomination is a drop in the bucket but are now getting recognized for our 5-fold ministry and national contribution. So we give thanks to God and all who help build our capacity to minister intentionally with measurable impact.
$671,936 $460,149 $101,500 $438,335 $272,523 $874,339
Churches, Individuals & Others Meeting Income Miscellaneous Income Member Organizations Rental Income Net Assets Released
PARTNERING TOGETHER | FISCAL REPORT • We believe in the importance of ST EWAR D SH I P, so we endeavor to prayerfully and wisely utilize the generous gifts of God’s people for the greatest kingdom impact around the world. • We believe in the value of TRANSPARENCY and are committed to consistently sharing fiscal stewardship reports and results. • We believe in the need for ACCOUNTABILIT Y and engage in fiscally responsible budget preparation and tracking processes in addition to annual external audits. An overview of our financial position, including assets and investments, is outlined below.
SU MMARI ZED STATEMEN TS O F PO SI TION 2021*
2020
2019
$1,018,060
$1,155,406
$929,629
$380,227
$643,374
$530,527
Total Current Assets
$1,398,287
$1,798,780
$1,460,156
Property and Equipment Net Investments
$2,257,828
$2,343,066
$2,416,292
Endowment Fund Investments and Other Investments
$5,474,860
$4,118,644
$3,786,194
Total Investments
$7,732,688
$6,461,710
$6,202,486
$1,477,844
$1,347,830
$1,277,776
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,477,844
$1,347,830
$1,277,776
$10,608,819
$9,608,320
$8,940,418
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents Receivables and Prepaid EXPENSES $2,765,310
Bernadette Richards-Duncan General Secretary St. Vincent Baptist Convention
$2,233,250 $ 241,853 $ 139,002 $ 151,205
Program Services Administration Building Fundraising
Other Assets Beneficial Interest in Perpetual Trusts Pledges Received – Net
* Information taken from the UHY, Inc. Report of Independent Auditors Supplementary Information pages 49 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Statement reports only Baptist World Alliance financial information. Affiliate information is not included on this statement.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President
Tomás Mackey
General Secretary & CEO Elijah M. Brown
First Vice President Karl Johnson
Vice Presidents
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Samson Ayokunle Fernando Macedo Brandão Otniel Ioan Bunaciu Joel Dorsinville John Hickey
Noemí Janson Lidak Dave Kwok Jennifer Lau Elizabeth Mvula Albert Reyes Lina Mikhael Sawan Rachael Tan Elijah Wanje
Treasurer
Carolyn Fossen
Immediate Past President Ngwedla Paul Msiza
BWA Women President Karen Wilson
Regional Representatives Israel Akanji Daniel Avila Dominique Dick Edwin Lam Jan Sæthre Samuel C. Tolbert
Global Representatives Ernest Adu-Gyamfi
Paul Baxley John Beasy Lynn Green David Hardage Melvin Harris Johnathan Hemmings Thomas Klammt Lone Møller-Hansen Roy Medley Adebola Samson-Fatokun Kang-San Tan
Total Other Assets TOTAL
* Information taken from the UHY, Inc. Report of Independent Auditors Supplementary Information pages 47-48 for years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Statement reports only Baptist World Alliance financial information. Affiliate information is not included on this statement.
“I long to see people from every nation becoming followers of Christ and I believe that BWA has a deep conviction to see the mission of God completed. I am keen to contribute what I can to help BWA serve the Baptist family across the world as it seeks to inspire and equip the church to complete the Great Commission.” – Dennis Pethers, BWA Commission on Evangelism Member
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PHONE: +1 (703) 790-8980
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THANK YOU We are making an eternal impact as we partner together to fulfill God’s global mission. We are grateful for your faithful prayers, support, and service and look forward to all the Lord has in store for our global Baptist family.
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