This month: Next year, in Birmingham - Missionaries to Malaga

An update on the Baptist World Congress, being held in Birmingham, from 27th to 31st July 2005.

Next year, in Birmingham

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Executive has named those who have been invited to be speakers at the 2005 Baptist World Congress’ plenary sessions.  They are: Billy Kim (BWA President); Rick Warren (USA); former US president Jimmy Carter; Myra Blyth (former Deputy General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB)); Solomon Ishola (head of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, the largest Baptist group in Africa); Fausto Vasconcelos, (pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and president of the Union of Baptists in Latin America), and Neville Callam (a pastor, educator and author from the Caribbean). 
In addition, there will be morning Bible studies in the International Convention Centre (ICC) featuring speakers from around the world.  The afternoons will provide opportunities for ‘mission in action’ as well as a large number of seminar streams, with themes including a pastors' stream and another for young adults. 
The BWA’s General Council meet at the end of July in Seoul, Korea. to finally approve the Congress programme.

Global EXchange

Global EXchange is an initiative being set up specifically for this Congress.
Many churches already have strong links with an overseas church. The BWA is encouraging these churches to use the Congress as a chance to strengthen this relationship by bringing leaders, pastors and members of their link church to the UK for a time of sharing and mission together in the days preceding the Congress and then to come to the Congress together.
Other churches, which have not yet connected with another church in this way could take this chance to use the Congress to develop such a link that can be carried on beyond the life of the Congress into an on-going relationship of mutual support and encouragement in the work and mission for God's Kingdom.
The attendance of members and leaders from Baptist churches from all over the world will be essential to ensure a richness to the Congress experience.
Their presence will bring the richness and diversity of their spiritual culture, including different and inspiring forms of worship less-known in the UK.
To become involved in the Global EXchange, overseas churches should email: globalexchange@bwacongress2005.org.uk or contact the Congress office.

Young people’s programmes

At the Congress, Scripture Union will run a programme each morning for all children under eleven. An additional programme for children over eight will take place each evening.
Teenagers will be catered for by a team headed by Nick Lear, the Mission Adviser - Youth in the Department of Mission and Training at the BUGB.
Joining him in this task will be a number of other BUGB Youth Specialists as well as a team from Viz-A-Viz.
In addition, there will be a young adults stream forming part of the afternoon focus groups to be held in the ICC.
Registration for both the youth and children's programmes should be made via the Congress registration form.

Points for prayer

The Congress organisers say that they will value our prayers for:
* Delegates - that God would put it on their hearts to come to the Congress and that issues such as global terrorism will not deter them from attending.
* The Congress team - more people are needed to volunteer to join the Congress team to do the many tasks that have to be completed before and during the week of the Congress. Some longer term assistance is needed in the Didcot office to help with the many administration jobs that need to be completed each day.
* International programme committees - deciding on the final programming.
* Global EXchange - that churches will catch the vision for this potential ministry partnership.
* Relationships - with government officials as the BWA develops processes for ensuring that all genuine delegates receive visas for entry into the UK.
* Finances - as the Congress seeks to attract over 12,000 delegates, some of whom will need to be sponsored to attend the event.  The BWA is looking for donations and sponsorship to help cover the significant costs that will be incurred to stage the Congress.
For further details of the Congress, visit: www.bwacongress2005.org.uk; email: information@bwacongress2005.org.uk or telephone 01235 517755.

From the Baptist World Alliance.

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By the time this edition of Church Chat is published, one of our church members - Anita Buttle - will be working for the Lord in Spain and North Africa.  We look forward to her report of what actually happens. In the meantime, we recap on the work she is undertaking.

Missionaries to Malaga

After a brief time of orientation in Malaga, Spain, the BMS team which includes Anita will be travelling to North Africa to pray, observe and learn about the people they will be working with in Spain.
This is a time for the team to get to know each other properly, learning to get on with each other and developing the skills they need for the tasks ahead.
Back in Spain, most of their time will be spent in Almeria, east of Malaga working at the port with the people who are getting on and off the ferries.
This means working eight hour shifts, sometimes starting at 5.30am, and, at other times, finishing after midnight.

During each shift, two hours will be spent praying, two hours will be spent in the warehouse putting hand-out packs together and four hours will be spent at the portside meeting people, sharing personal faith and handing out Christian literature. Condensed from a BMS leaflet by Helen Little.

Anita - and me

Anita and the BMS team have asked us to hold them in our prayers as they undertake this task.  In particular, they ask us to pray:
• that they relate well to each other, loving and serving each other as Christ taught.
• for their good health and good sense in what to eat and what to avoid.
• that they embrace culture differences as an opportunity; not feel them as a threat.
• for strength and perseverance to keep going, especially in the heat.
• that relationships can be built swiftly among fellow workers, recognising our unity in Christ.
• for the group leaders, Karen and Richard.