There are now more than 480,000 Baptist members

in more than 550 churches in the French-speaking African nation. The convention was formed in 2005 and has offi ces in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Congress, Conferences and Meetings The theme for the 2015 Baptist World Congress in Durban,

South Africa, will be aimed at capturing the ideas behind “Ubuntu,” a South African word which, among other things, places a premium on dignity, compassion, humaneness and respect for the humanity of others, dictating good attitudes and shared concern.

Registration for the 16th Baptist Youth World Conference in

Singapore from July 17-21, 2013, begins by the end of March this year. At least 4,500 young people from approximately 100 countries are expected to attend the conference. Speakers, Bible study leaders, housing and other important details are to be confi rmed by the end of May.

Regional Reports

to the special practical and spiritual needs of these refugees and welcoming them and their churches into the life of the Baptist unions. An EBF Network has been formed to share experience and good practice in welcoming and supporting the refugees, whose lives can be particularly diffi cult in some of the newer EU countries such as the Czech Republic and Romania. The Sarka Valley Community Church based in the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague has received funding from the EU Grundvig Project to support refugees in the Czech Republic. A group that recently arrived in Finland may well double the size of the Baptist union (Finnish-speaking) there!

The EBF has been invited to hold preliminary theological conversations with the state church of Armenia, the “mono- physite” Armenian Apostolic Church, and

Below: Baptists of the Middle East (Courtesy of Middle East Bible Outreach)

we hope to have an initial meeting later this year. This refl ects much improved relation- ships between this ancient church in the oldest Christian nation on earth and the Armenian Baptists.

Europe and the Middle East face many

challenges at the present time, economic, cultural and political. Our vision as the EBF is to support, resource and encourage our member unions and churches at this critical

time, to speak into the public

squares and marketplaces of their societies in an informed and biblically relevant way. In this we are inspired by Thomas Helwys who 400 years ago took his plea for universal religious freedom directly to the English King, thus being courageous in speaking truth to power in the name of Christ. Tony Peck is BWA regional secretary

for Europe and general secretary of the European Baptist Federation, which also includes Baptist unions in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Radical Latino

By Alberto Prokopchuk

young Baptists from different countries in Latin

The “Radical Latino” America

adolescents, young people and streets. Activities include

to reach children, adults

for Christ. They endeavor to implement the project in schools and universities, big cities, smaller communities, and in the

education, sports, community

literacy service,

support of nursing homes, care for children and much more.

The young people go through a selection process, training in Spanish and Portuguese, and then each works in at least three countries in Latin America. Sustaining a “radical” costs US$300 per month in addition to health insurance. During each cycle, which runs from

project sends