TOGETHER: BWA blesses Baptists from Texas_80904

Posted: 8/06/04

TOGETHER:
BWA blesses Baptists from Texas

We had breakfast in Seoul, South Korea, with a Baptist missionary from Nagaland who serves in Cambodia. His bright smile and winsome personality blessed us as we talked about mission strategy and rejoiced in the work of our Baptist family around the world.

I learned 90 percent of the population in Nagaland–a province of India–is Christian, and almost all the Christians are Baptists. When American and Canadian Baptists first came to the area in the late 19th century, they reached the tribes by starting schools and caring for the people. The tribesmen were headhunters who counted severed heads as trophies of their dominance. But they no longer are warlike people. Their hearts have found their place in the love of God and gospel of Christ. Now these self-supporting Baptist churches send missionaries to people in other parts of the world. The Nagaland Baptist Church Council is one of 211 Baptist conventions that work in cooperation with the Baptist World Alliance.

The Korea Baptist Convention is another. BWA President Billy Kim, the founding pastor of the 20,000-member Central Baptist Church of Suwon, is “Mr. Baptist” in Korea. He translated for Billy Graham in a great Korean crusade in the '70s, and he knows and encourages many of his nation's spiritual, business and political leaders.

When I preached at his church recently, I was struck by the miracle of God in bringing the Korean people to Christ over the past 100 years. They have known grievous persecution. But they have learned to depend on God, give generously and pray earnestly. Korean Christians pray early every morning and have all-night prayer meetings most every Friday. God has blessed the extraordinary faith, hard work and spiritual desire that marks the lives of so many Korean Christians.

As we attended the BWA General Council in Seoul, we were encouraged by the partnership in the gospel we find with our Baptist brothers and sisters of the world. We were reminded again that mission work is effective. When people go to bear witness and live among those who need Christ, God uses that to bring people to salvation.

I yearn for hundreds of Texas Baptists to experience personally the joy of being part of this great worldwide Baptist family. The BWA centennial anniversary will be held in Birmingham, England, July 27-31, 2005. Pastors and directors of missions across Texas are putting together groups to attend the celebration, and the BGCT has worked with travel agents to develop tours. One proposal is a 13-day tour for $2,995, but the price could vary somewhat. If you can't spend that much time or money, there will be other less-expensive options. This could be the trip of a lifetime, filled with visits to historic British and Baptist sites, brimming with inspiration and gratitude for the fellowship we share with our Baptist brothers and sisters who have–often in the most trying circumstances–experienced so much of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For information on putting together a group tour, please call Becky Bridges at (214) 828-5232, e-mail bridges@bgct.org or write her at 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246.

Texas Baptists will be fully represented when Baptists from around the world gather next year. They look forward to meeting you, and your life will be enriched deeply by meeting them.

We are loved.