Nigeria
Left: The BWA delegation with leaders and representatives of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and offi cials of Plateau state at the residence of the state governor
Callam to Goodluck Jonathan, the president of Nigeria, was presented to Ayim Pious Ayim, a
senator and secretary to the president at a meeting at the offi ces of the president in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The letter, which Barreto read aloud in the meeting, commended Nigeria as an important partner nation in the international arena, particularly in its signing of important United Nations instruments that seek to advance human rights and freedom. Callam urged the Nigerian president “to ensure the protection
and security of all citizens in the areas of confl ict, to intensify efforts to encourage peace and reconciliation, and to bring to justice the perpetrators of the acts of wanton violence.” The BWA leader also appealed for “increased support for peace building programs initiated by civil society organizations and religious institutions.” Ayim thanked the BWA for the concerns it has shown for the
welfare of the country and acknowledged the important work done by Nigerian Baptists. He stated that the government is taking all possible measures to tackle extremism and promote peace and development across the nation. The BWA delegation participated in a two-day seminar on
Confl ict Resolution and Peaceful Coexistence at the Institute for Peace and Confl ict Resolution of the Nigerian Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. The team also visited the offi ces of the governors of the states of Kaduna and Plateau to urge further measures that would offer protection in the confl ict zones, and to encourage continuous
Baptists in Central African Republic Request Urgent Prayer on Conflict
Baptists in the Central African Republic (CAR) have requested
urgent prayer from the worldwide Baptist family for the confl ict in the country.
Singa-Gbazia Nicolas Aime Simplice, president of the Asso- ciation of Baptist Churches of the Central African Republic, told the Baptist World Alliance® that “the situation of the Central Afri- can Republic is precarious. A rebel coalition has already grabbed several [towns] and they are at the door of the capital,” he said. “Their aim is to overthrow the president of the republic and estab- lish Islam as rigorously as in northern Mali.” Simplice is referring to the insurgency in Mali that began in January 2012 against the Malian government for independence and greater autonomy for northern Mali. Several Malian insurgent groups are radical Islamists. The 2012–2013 CAR rebellion is an ongoing confl ict between
the government of the CAR and rebels, many of whom were previ- ously involved in the CAR Bush War between 2004 and 2007. The rebels have captured some of the major towns in the central and eastern regions of the country. The offensive began in December when an armed group seized the towns of N’Délé, Sam Ouandja and Ouadda and later escalated. Simplice said life became diffi cult for those who were dis-
placed by the fi ghting in the CAR. A number of Baptist churches, he told the BWA, were badly damaged or destroyed in the con- fl ict. Expatriates, he said, have fl ed the nation. Simplice is calling on Baptists around the world to pray for peace and stability in his country. There are four BWA member organizations in French-speaking CAR with a total of approximately 185,000 members in about 800 churches.
6 Central African Republic Jordan
support of initiatives to promote reconciliation and peace. A meeting was held with James Wuye, a Christian pastor, and Mohammed Ashafa, a Muslim imam, directors of the Interfaith Mediation Center in Kaduna, who are both internationally recognized for their interfaith peacemaking work. Ayokunle told the BWA representatives that Nigerian Baptists will follow up on the initiatives of the BWA. Talks are already underway within the NBC with hopes of exploring opportunities for dialogue and the building of greater understanding. “Nigeria badly needs this at this time,” said B. Uche Enyioha, chairman of the NBC.
In July 2012, the BWA passed a resolution calling for “a peaceful ending of all violence and abuse of human rights in Nigeria,” and encouraged “Baptist sisters and brothers to continue to seek ways to promote peace and respect for all persons in Nigeria.” The BWA appealed to the government of Nigeria at all levels to ensure safety and security for all people in the country. Other members of the BWA delegation were Daniel Buttry of American Baptist Churches USA’s International Ministries and a member of the BWA Commission on Peace; and Rosalee Velloso Ewell, a director of the World Evangelical Alliance and a member of the BWA Commission on Baptist-Muslim Relations. NBC has the largest Baptist membership in Africa, reporting 3.5 million members in some 10,000 churches. The Mambilla Baptist Convention has more than 26,000 members in more than 260 churches.
Korean Baptists Visit Syrian Refugees, Send Relief Supplies
Baptists from South Korea visited the Zaatari Refugee Camp
in Jordan in January. The camp houses more than 76,000 Syrians who fl ed the unrest and subsequent civil war in their country that began in 2011.
Former Baptist World Alliance® President Billy Kim, who led the delegation of some 200 Korean Baptists to Jordan, informed the BWA that the visit to the camp occurred shortly after an unusually heavy snowfall that made living conditions even worse.
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