Document
File
To
Rev. Elijah M. Brown, PhD
General Secretary and CEO
Baptist World Alliance
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
As you convene today for the quinquennial congress of the Baptist World Alliance, at the invitation of your General Secretary, Elijah Brown, I salute all of you in the name of the 356 member churches in the World Council of Churches and offer my heartfelt prayers and best wishes for your gathering and celebrations in Brisbane.
Of course, you gather at a propitious time; and your theme in Brisbane, “Living the Good News,” is both profound and timely.
What is that Good News? It is Jesus’ own message of God’s closeness, his proclamation of the in-breaking of God’s realm of inclusion and healing and compassion, his call to repent and turn radically to the Lord and to recognize God’s own decisive gesture in the person of Jesus himself (Mark 1:15). Salvation, the gift of eternal life and the promise of heaven and a new earth is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; our life, hope and strength in this world.
And what does it mean to live this Good News today? You will get a taste of it in your congress in Brisbane: meeting the Lord in a joy-filled gathering of worship and fellowship, learning from the ministries and witness of your fellow Baptists from other nations and settings, pondering the Word of God and its implications for our day and for our discipleship, reflecting and planning for the future, and enjoying the friendship and camaraderie of fellow Christians: children and adults, women and men, youth and adult leaders from all over the world.
Of course, not all the news is good these days, and living the Good News, as your forbears in faith would attest, is not the same as living the easy life. It is also about seeking and demonstrating the transformative power of Christian discipleship in our lives and in a world that cries out for healing and comfort, for justice and peace, for bolstering human dignity.
As Baptist Christians, you own a distinctive history of bold and brave societal witness for the faith, often against great odds and opposition from the Powers, often speaking prophetically in societies not inclined to listen, often calling out for freedom to worship and fidelity to the values of the kingdom. That voice, that call and calling, has never been more vital than now, and your faithful discipleship and public witness can prove a leaven and a light to a world that, in many respects, has lost its way.
Because of the momentous challenges we are facing these days, it is all the more important that you are meeting together, to build up each other’s faith, to strengthen your ties to the Lord and each other, to join in solidarity with fellow Christians everywhere, and to fortify yourselves for service to the wounded and weary, to those who are persecuted for their faith, to migrants and refugees, to the marginalized and alienated. In the global context of conflicts, violence and wars we need to proclaim afresh and powerfully the message of peace in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amidst a climate catastrophe, poverty, hunger, the senseless killings of thousands and thousands of people daily, mainly women and children, the church is called to hold out the hope, light, life and love we have in Christ.
And so, my fellow disciples, as you join hands in Brisbane, I pray that the God of Life may continue to enlighten your minds, enflame your hearts, and strengthen your resolve to love the Lord and live the Good News through deeds of justice, peace, and love.
I wish you well in all your deliberations and decisions and pray that you would be led by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
