The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is excited about the prospect of thousands from all over the world gathering in Durban, South Africa, in July 2015 for the 21st Baptist World Congress.
At a meeting last week of the Congress Core Committee, we noted that more than 1,000 hotel rooms have been reserved and Baptists from around the world continue to make use of the “early bird” registration discount. The Local Arrangements Committee is hard at work preparing for the Congress that we expect will be one of our finest ever.
We have been following closely news of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. BWA and its partners are actively engaged in providing needed assistance. We encourage everyone to continue to pray for the families and the communities affected and for the outbreak to end.
We are heartened by the efforts being made to contain the spread of the disease and are thankful for the progress being made in Sierra Leone and Guinea. We continue to support initiatives to improve the situation in Liberia and welcome the recent announcement of increased United States involvement in the Ebola eradication campaign in that country.
We are especially pleased that South Africa remains Ebola free and note that the local health authorities have vigorously implemented a carefully designed program to prevent the entrance of Ebola within the country’s borders. The South African leaders remain vigilant even though their country is several thousand miles/kilometers away from those countries that have been affected by Ebola.
As Congress registration continues apace and we enter into a new phase of preparation, we continue to closely monitor the Ebola situation, mindful that it is desirable for our Baptist brothers and sisters on the African continent to be able to participate in the event.
We request your prayers for the upcoming meetings in Durban that, through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, they will provide a rich feast for the thousands of Baptists who will participate.
Relying on the providence of God, whose face we seek in all things, we remain committed to prayer for the accomplishment of God’s will through the 2015 Baptist World Congress.
Baptist World Alliance®
© September 16, 2014