BWANEWS INBRIEF

Lebanon Youth and Children’s Workers Conference

Participants at the European Baptist Federation Youth and Children’s Workers

Conference held January 13-18 in Lebanon

The European Baptist Federation

(EBF) Youth and Children’s Workers Conference was held January 13-18 in the Middle Eastern country of Lebanon. The EBF includes Baptist unions in Central Asia and the Middle East. The conference was attended by 25 persons from 14 Baptist unions and was hosted by the Lebanese Society for Education & Social Development (Lebanese Baptist Society) and the Convention of the Evangelical Baptist Churches in Lebanon. The theme, “Knowing God, Navigating

Faith in a Multi-religious World,” was explored through Bible studies, panel discussions, group discussions and paper presentations. Martin Accad, associate professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in California in the United States, was the guest presenter. Tony Peck, BWA regional secretary for Europe and general secretary of the EBF, presented a paper on the “Challenges for European Baptists.”

Many of the unions, especially

in Western Europe, have developed programs to assist their members to deal with challenges brought by growth in the immigrant population.

The Baptist convention and the Leba- nese Baptist Society are separate and independent of each other. The leadership of the society, while it cooperates with the convention, operates the society as

an autonomous organization. The society, whose mission is to “serve the Church in Lebanon and the Arab world through spiri- tual, social and educational development,” manages the Beirut Baptist School, the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, the

Gateway Bookstore, Children and Youth Ministry, Community Relief and Develop- ment and a special program for children with learning disabilities. Most of the staff has served overseas in various corporate capacities.

Syria Statement about Syria The European Baptist Federation includes

member organizations from Central Asia and the Middle East. The following is a release from the EBF on the continuing turmoil in the country.

the deteriorating situation in Syria and the

The EBF views with grave concern increasing bloodshed arising from

the conflict. We particularly pray for the families of the many thousands who have already died in the fighting.

The Syrian Baptist Convention has 13

churches with 600 members. The largest Baptist church is in the city of Homs where the worst fighting has taken place. Whilst communication with Syria is very difficult at the present time, it is our understanding that the pastor and congregation have left the city.

In this situation there is a serious concern about the continuing religious

freedom for the Christian minority,

whatever the outcome of the conflict. In other areas of conflict in the Middle East Christians have been leaving in

large

numbers. We pray that it may be possible for Christians to stay in Syria and other neighboring countries. The EBF urges prayer for the whole

situation in Syria, for an end to the fighting, and that a peaceful outcome may be found to the conflict. We pray for our Baptists and other Christian churches that in this situation they may be able to continue their witness to Christ, the Prince of Peace. March 6, 2012

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