Baptist World Alliance Accepting Awards Nominations
Now Receiving Nominees for Quinquennial Evangelism and Human Rights Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – October 1, 2024) The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is now accepting nominations for the Baptist World Alliance-Kowloon International Baptist Church Evangelism Award and the Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award, both to be presented to awardees in Brisbane, Australia, during the 23rd Baptist World Congress in July 2025.
The BWA-Kowloon International Baptist Church (KIBC) Evangelism Award is designed to recognize a Baptist congregation effectively uniting evangelism and discipleship. Presented every five years, the award is given to a church actively engaged in sharing the Gospel through an innovative approach that is biblically-based, Christ-centered, and culturally-sensitive.
KIBC has been ministering in the center of life in Kowloon, Hong Kong, for more than 60 years and is a dynamic church with a heart for evangelism. With members from more than 30 countries, it has sponsored the launch of several “chapels,” including University Baptist Church and Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church. KIBC members have undertaken mission ventures in China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. In keeping with the charge to connect evangelism and discipleship, KIBC partnered with the BWA to establish the Evangelism Award. The inaugural evangelism award was presented to 3D Church in Estonia in 2021 at the 22nd Baptist World Congress.
In addition to a focus on mission and evangelism, the BWA stands in support of religious freedom, human rights, and justice. To recognize leadership in this area, the long-standing Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award is given for a lifetime of achievement to an individual who has shown significant accomplishments in global advocacy for human rights and the pursuit of social justice and peace. Awarded every five years, past awardees include Raúl Scialabba, Argentina (2021); Corneille Gato Munyamasoko, Rwanda (2015); Denton Lotz, USA (2010); Lauran Bethell, USA (2005); Saw Simon, Myanmar (2000); and Jimmy Carter, USA (1995).
“Our Baptist World Alliance Awards Committee is reaching out to the global Baptist family for help in nominating outstanding leadership for these two special awards. When you think of human rights and social justice, whose life challenges the BWA community in these areas?” said Harry Lucenay, BWA Awards Committee member and retired pastor of KIBC. “We also seek an exceptional congregation modeling the Great Commission with evangelism and discipleship. The church evangelism award focuses on Jesus’ invitation to ‘follow me,’ turning professions of faith into Christian growth. We look forward to recognizing a Baptist church that has created innovative ways to share the Gospel while remaining true to the Bible and true to the culture.”
A global call for nominations is now open. Submissions can be made by completing the forms linked below.
- Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award Nomination Form
- BWA-Kowloon International Baptist Church Evangelism Award Nomination Form
Current BWA Team members and participating judges shall not make nominations. Previous nominees who did not win are eligible to be nominated again. Nominations for both awards should be submitted no later than December 15, 2024. Find out more at BaptistWorld.org/awards.