IRAQ: Baptist Church Damaged in Explosion
First Baptist Church of Baghdad in Iraq was damaged by an explosion less than half a kilometer, or about
one third of a mile, from the church building.
The incident occurred on the morning of January 26 when a suicide bomber drove an 18-wheel truck with
explosives into a crowded intersection, killing several bystanders.
The pastor, workers and children at a kindergarten school at the church were not physically harmed, but the
Baptist church building suffered serious damage.
First Baptist Church of Baghdad is a congregation belonging to a small union, the Baptist Church of
Baghdad, which is affiliated with the European Baptist Federation (EBF). The EBF is one of six regional
fellowships of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and includes churches in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle
East.
Two members of the Iraqi congregation attended an EBF Youth Conference held in Elstal, Germany, from
January 15-17, less than two weeks prior to the incident.
“This is the reality of what they, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the whole Iraqi people, face daily,”
stated Tony Peck, BWA regional secretary for Europe and general secretary of the EBF, in response to the
explosion.
“We are praying for peace and the ending of the violence in Iraq, but also for the clear and courageous
witness of Christian believers in these troubled times,” said Peck.
PHOTOS: Sections of the First Baptist Church of Baghdad that was damaged by an explosion on January 26
ASIA: 15th Asia Pacific Baptist Youth Conference in Hong Kong
More than 650 young people from 15 countries across the Asia Pacific region of the Baptist World Alliance
gathered for the 15th Asia Pacific Baptist Youth Conference in Hong Kong from December 27-31, 2009.
Using the theme, “Soar Higher,” the participants met in morning plenary Bible study sessions, small family
groups, and evening celebrations. The afternoon consisted of training and seminar sessions. The format of the
conference was similar to that of the Baptist Youth World Conference, hosted by the BWA and held every five
years.
Outgoing president of the Asia Baptist Youth Fellowship (ABYF), Jesse Ray Porras, described the purpose
of the conference as a time of fellowship, inspiration and instruction. He challenged the participants to focus on
the issues affecting their region and to seek ways to respond.
Vee Tetseo was elected as the new president of the Asia Baptist Youth Fellowship to succeed Porras.
Tetseo is originally from Nagaland in Northeast India but now lives in Okinawa, Japan, where he serves as
associate pastor of the Okinawa Daiichi Baptist Church. He leads a worship band, has authored several books
on worship, and holds a doctorate degree in theology from the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary.
Tetseo is also now the vice president of the BWA Youth Department for the Asia Pacific Region, and will
represent the region on the BWA Youth Committee.
Speakers and presenters at the conference came from Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Philippines,
Singapore, Malaysia, France and the United States.
A BWA team led training sessions for youth leaders. The BWA team included George Mensah, executive
minister of Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC; Ivel Turner from Calvary Baptist Church in New Jersey
in the United States; Olu Menjay from Ricks Institute in Liberia; and BWA Youth director Emmett Dunn, who
served as the keynote speaker and installed the new officers.

7 Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32