Callam called for concerted action to be taken to resolve issues of confl ict among Baptists in different parts of the world.

30. The new site will have added features geared to appeal to Baptists of all ages and all major demographics. It will offer a window into the worldwide Baptist family and into the major ministry focus areas of the BWA. A new BWA app has been released. Available on all major mobile phone platforms – namely Android handsets and iPhones – the app will enable Baptists from around the world to get access to resources from around the world; keep up with international meetings, including the Baptist World Congress and Baptist Youth World Conference; download videos and special messages; keep up with world news about Baptist work; and see reports from NGO meetings at the United Nations. Persons who download the app will also be able to share content with friends via Twitter, Facebook, and email. The BWA has also inaugurated a new conference

registration system. The new system makes it simpler and easier for participants to register for BWA Annual Gatherings, (Continued on next page)

Natural Disasters

2011 —

An Eventful Year in Asia Pacifi c

By Bonny Resu 2011 was amongst the most eventful

– each year seems to be getting more eventful!

The year started with the North-

east Australian fl ood, described by news reporters as being of “biblical proportions”

as it

the size of Germany and France. This was followed by

covered an

land earthquake

of 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale which struck Christchurch city and its surroundings in New Zealand on February 22, causing massive destruction, injuries and a reported death toll of 181. And while the world was slowly recovering from this, on March 11, right

The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in Christchurch was one of many churches damaged by the February 2011 earthquake in New Zealand (Courtesy of Schwede66 via www.wikipedia.org)

after the BWA Executive Committee

meetings, a major earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Northeast Japan, triggering tsunami waves up to 10 meters high that swept inland, destroying anything that stood in their way. The offi cial death toll on August 4, 2011, stood at 21,234 (Japan Fire Department). To make things worse, the nuclear power station at Fukushima was severely affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Radiation fears displaced about 160,000 people (50,000 households), many of whom cannot go back to their homes for at least 25 years or more.

(Continued on next page) APRIL/JUNE 2012 15