Day One • Monday, July 6
Opening Session:
By Catherine Cole
The 2026 Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering began Monday morning at Tyndale University in Toronto, as Baptists from around the world gathered around the theme, “The Table of Christ: One Gospel, Many People.”
BWA Chair Karl Johnson welcomed delegates, followed by greetings from Canadian Baptist leaders. Jennifer Lau welcomed the global Baptist family to Canada, alongside Rev. Renée MacVicar, Rev. Leanne Friesen, and Rev. Clint Mix, who offered brief glimpses of Baptist life and ministry across the country. Rev. Dr. H. Daniel Zacharias also offered a land acknowledgement, naming the Indigenous Peoples who have been entrusted as keepers of the land since time immemorial and pointing to Canada’s ongoing journey toward reconciliation.
Worship was led by Mississauga City Baptist Church, with songs offered in multiple languages. Rev. Dr. Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary and CEO, then introduced the gathering’s theme, reminding participants that although Baptists had come from many places, they did not come as strangers. They gather as one family because they belong to Jesus Christ. Around the table of Christ, there is room to sit together, mourn together, rejoice together, and celebrate the generosity of God’s Spirit.
The opening plenary culminated in a message from Rev. Leanne Friesen, who preached from Matthew 26 and the Last Supper. Speaking from the Canadian context, Friesen reflected on the tendency to understand ourselves by what we are not. When Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him, they did not ask how they could remain faithful together. Instead, one by one, they asked, “Surely not I?”
Friesen drew a parallel to the way Canadians often describe themselves by comparison. But defining ourselves this way can keep us from seeing ourselves honestly. Naming painful Canadian histories, including Residential Schools, she invited the gathering to resist saying, “not us,” and instead move toward the harder confession: “Yes, us.”
The table of Christ, Friesen reminded participants, is not a place for those who have proven themselves innocent. It is where beloved children of God come honestly, in need of grace, forgiveness, and transformation.
Afternoon Session:
By Catherine Cole
Global Council discernment began Monday afternoon with an invitation to listen well. BWA Chair Karl Johnson reminded delegates that the session was not only about working through an agenda, but about paying attention to what God may be saying and how the Spirit may be stirring within the global Baptist family through their shared life and witness.
That posture shaped the second reading of proposed resolutions. Dawari George, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, described the resolutions as expressions of shared conviction, offered with theological clarity and accessible language. The four proposed resolutions were:
- Empowering and Caring for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
- Serving Vulnerable Children
- Integral and Polycentric Mission as Guiding Missional Principles
- Just Peace and Accountability Among Nations
Delegates were invited to continue offering feedback before the final drafts are brought forward later in the week. BWA Historian Lee Spitzer placed this work within the wider story of the Baptist World Alliance, noting that resolutions are not simply organizational statements. Across generations, they have helped Baptists discern, and then put into words, what they believe God is saying to his people.
One of the most joyful moments of the session came as the Mongolian Baptist Convention was welcomed into BWA membership. Representing 14 churches and 500 members, their reception marked an expansion of the family gathered around the table. As leaders extended the right hand of fellowship and the room rose in applause, the welcome became more than a formal vote. It was a visible reminder that the BWA fellowship – and the global Church – continues to grow, making space for the witness of Baptists in new places.
Johnson closed by returning to the gathering’s theme, “The Table of Christ: One Gospel, Many People,” through Psalm 23. At the table God prepares, he reflected, we meet God’s graciousness, blessedness, and faithfulness. It is a table where belonging is received, hard conversations can be held, and God remains faithful.
Commission Highlights
Making the Case: Biblical & Theological Foundations and Practical Application for Evangelism & Discipleship
Should discipleship and evangelism go hand in hand, or can they be separated?
That question set the stage for one of the most engaging conversations at the Baptist World Alliance gathering. Throughout the session, panelists Filipe Ahrens Espindola and Dr. Karen E. Stewart returned to the same conclusion: evangelism and discipleship were never meant to exist apart from one another. They are two parts of the same calling, rooted in the Great Commission. Evangelism without discipleship can result in shallow faith. Discipleship without evangelism can leave the Church focused only on itself.
Drawing from Matthew 28, Luke 24, and Luke 9:23, the speakers reminded participants that following Jesus is a lifelong journey of surrender. Filipe Espindola shared that proclaiming the gospel without keeping Christ at the centre misses the point. Jesus’ invitation to take up our cross daily remains at the heart of both discipleship and sharing our faith.
The conversation also challenged some of the ways the modern Church, particularly in the West, approaches ministry. Rather than relying primarily on programs, attendance numbers, or attractional events, the panel encouraged churches to return to the simple but often challenging work of building genuine relationships. Karen Stewart offered a practical framework that resonated with many in the room: See, Serve, Share, Shape. See people with compassion and understanding. Serve them in meaningful ways. Share the hope of Christ. Shape disciples by walking alongside them over time.
Another recurring theme was authenticity. People are looking for genuine faith lived out in everyday life, not polished presentations or perfect answers. The panel reminded participants that the Holy Spirit is the one who transforms hearts, and our role is to faithfully love, serve, and point people to Jesus.
The session closed with a simple but powerful reminder. The Church’s mission is not only to welcome people into the faith but also to help them grow as followers of Christ who, in turn, share that same hope with others. When evangelism and discipleship remain together, the gospel is not only proclaimed – it is lived out through transformed lives and authentic relationships.
