FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(TORONTO, Canada – July 5, 2026) Baptist leaders from around the world will gather this week in Toronto, Canada, for the 2026 Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Annual Gathering, taking place July 6–10 at Tyndale University. The event will bring together pastors, ministry leaders, theologians, students, and Baptist representatives from more than 60 countries for a week of worship, prayer, fellowship, learning, and collaborative planning centered on the theme, “The Table of Christ: One Gospel, Many People.”
Hosted in partnership with Canadian Baptist Ministries, North American Baptist Fellowship, Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, and Tyndale University, this year’s gathering comes at a time when the global Church is responding to increasing challenges of conflict, displacement, polarization, and social division. Throughout the week, participants will explore how the Gospel calls believers to live as faithful neighbors, welcoming people from every nation, culture, and background around Christ’s table.
“At Christ’s table, we discover both our unity and our mission,” said BWA General Secretary and CEO Elijah M. Brown. “As Baptists from across the world gather in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, we will worship together, pray together, and be equipped to serve as ambassadors of reconciliation in our communities and nations.”
Each day will begin with global prayer and worship, followed by biblical teaching, ministry updates, and breakout sessions focused on intercultural ministry, evangelism, religious freedom, humanitarian response, theological education, mission, and leadership development.
The Annual Gathering will feature an internationally diverse lineup of keynote speakers reflecting the breadth of the global Baptist family. Plenary sessions will include messages from Elijah M. Brown, General Secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance; Karl Johnson of Jamaica, Chair of the Baptist World Alliance; Botrus Mansour of Israel, General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance; Vernette Myint Myint San of Myanmar, President Emeritus of the Asia Baptist Women’s Union; David Idowu of Nigeria, newly elected President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention; and Alyn Waller of the United States, Senior Pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Additional keynote messages will be shared by Canadian Baptist leaders Leanne Friesen, Daniel Zacharias, and Raph Anzenberger. Together, these speakers will offer biblical encouragement and practical insights centered on this year’s theme, inviting participants to embody Christ’s hospitality as they live out the Gospel in every nation and neighborhood.
In addition to plenary sessions, the BWA’s 14 commissions will each present multiple sessions on topics ranging from urban evangelism to artificial intelligence to climate change. BWA’s standing networks, including the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development (BFAD), Global Baptist Mission Network (GBMN), and BWA Women will also meet during the week to advance collaborative initiatives that strengthen Baptist witness around the world. The program will also include the presentation of the 2026 Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award and consideration of four proposed resolutions.
Baptists around the world are invited to join in prayer for all who will gather this week and to follow the week’s events online. Visit Baptistworld.org/annual-gathering for more information.