LATIN AMERICANS CONTINUED

During the 100 days of prayer, Baptists from across Latin America were encouraged to engage in joint efforts such as evangelism, discipleship, the planting of new churches and social action. During their meetings and workshops, congress participants focused on urban ministries and the engagement of Latin American realities including urban violence, drugs, poverty and inequality. Studies were conducted on themes such as unmet demands for peace and justice, a new paradigm for a transformed city, and the development of influential ministries from the city and for the city.

The status of youth and children and the state of theological education were also matters of concern addressed by the approximately 100 delegates from 14 countries. A peace conference, organized by UBLA with support from the BWA, the first among Latin American Baptists, explored preceded the congress. The peace the challenges of having a prophetic conference voice, nonviolent resistance, environmental conflicts and eco-justice, human dignity and gender in light of liberating pedagogies, racism, and urban churches and social exclusion. Conference representatives heard testimonies of Baptist work for peace in countries such as El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil. The conference produced the Baptist Declaration of Rio de Janeiro, 2014, and formed the Latin American Baptist Peace Community (Fellowship). The declaration affirms, among other things, that the way forward to solve national and international conflicts is nonviolence through dialogue and negotiations. The Participants at the Latin American congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in April declaration demands from governments, churches and other civil society organizations, greater and more sustained efforts to establish processes to eradicate urban and other forms of violence in Latin America. The document encouraged Latin American Christians, Baptists especially, to renew their commitment to “continue to preach, teach, and practice the gospel of the Kingdom of God,” glorifying God in their work for the liberation of the poor and victims of violence, so that persons may live in peace. The Peace Community will make plans for the next Latin American Baptist Peace Conference.

. . . GLORIFYING GOD in their work for

the liberation of the poor & victims of violence, so that

persons may live in peace