The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Singapore July 2-5, 1986, sends greetings to the Southern Baptist Convention and conveys interest in the well-being of the Convention through prayer that it may experience under the Lordship of Christ a strengthening of harmony and goodwill, and thereby continue to direct its total effort, out of the abundance of its resources in Christ and its churches, to the winning of people to Christ and the building up of the Church as the agent of peace and reconciliation in the world.
Youth Ministry
he BWA General Council welcomes the report of the Youth Executive Committee on the value of the Asian Youth Leadership Training Conference in Singapore last week.
With them we thank God for the enthusiasm and commitment of the youth leaders who shared in this cross- cultural experience. We also acknowledge the support of those Unions and Conventions which made it possible for so many to attend.
International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. notes that the United Nations has designated 1987 as International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;
2. commends the study of appropriate materials on this subject which will be available from the United Nations and various Baptist bodies;
3. encourages our member bodies to take such actions, particularly through local churches, as will contribute to the lessening of this social problem.
Peace with Justice
Whereas humankind has now entered the fifth decade of life under the awesome threat of nuclear annihilation, and
Whereas the nations of the world will spend approximately the equivalent of one trillion US dollars this year on military forces and weapons, and
Baptist Identity
In an era of concern over Baptist identity, this Council endorses the request of the BWA Baptist Heritage Commission to urge Baptists worldwide to recover their rich heritage and to conduct their mission as part of Christ’s church with a deeper understanding of their history, and indicates the availability of the Commission as a resource body.
Prisoners of Conscience
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. notes the vast number of people, both men and women, who are in prison, whose only “crime” has been the conscientious expression of different political views of the proclamation of the Christian Gospel;
World Hunger (1986)
WHEREAS, estimates of the number of chronically hungry people range from 500 million to one billion, from one-eighth to one-fourth of the world’s population; and
Afghanistan
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. is aware of the present situation in the country of Afghanistan and notes with concern the plight of some three million refugees;
2. also notes that the refugee situation has created serious problems for neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan;
Nicaragua
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. affirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan Baptist Convention;
2. notes with pleasure that delegations of Baptists from various parts of the world have established personal and church links with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and encourages other Baptist Unions and Conventions to do the same;
South Africa
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. affirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan Baptist Convention;
2. notes with pleasure that delegations of Baptists from various parts of the world have established personal and church links with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and encourages other Baptist Unions and Conventions to do the same;