were white Americans, but they talked funny. Sometimes they were Americans of another racial or ethnic background. Sometimes they were from another continent. Once I even had actual Baptists from the Soviet Union sleeping in my bed! The variety was wide, and most guests were from places I had only read about. But I learned one very important lesson: each and every one of them was a human being who loved and worshipped the same God that I loved and worshipped. None were ogres; none were scary; none were out to hurt me. They were all just people, like me. As we talked around the breakfast table and shared photos of their families at home, each stopped being “other” and became a brother or sister in Christ. My world has become much more brightly colored than it was all those years ago. I am delighted that my children grew up in a much richer environment than I did, with friends of many different backgrounds. Yet I’m not sure that I would have been able to enjoy the diversity of my current life nearly as much if I had not had the blessing of exposure to these fellow believers through the Baptist World Alliance.

— Beth Fogg, Communication Consultant for Mission Resource Development, American Baptist Churches USA

ICC DURBAN

The International Convention Centre Durban (ICC

Durban) is a state- of-the-art facility in the heart of the city within easy walking distance of beaches and many hotels.

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2014

9

Rio 1960