HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n Baptists Aid Refugees IN EUROPE

B

aptists are providing assistance to refugees from the Middle East who are streaming into Europe. An

initial sum of US$15,000 was sent by the Baptist World Alliance through its relief and development arm, Baptist World Aid, to Hungarian Baptists to aid refugees in that country. The 2015 European migrant

their houses and rooms for refugees to stay or find protection,” Klammt told the BWA. Guidelines

to assist churches offering

shelter in their “sanctuary” have been published.

In May of this year, Baptists in Germany crisis

arose through the increasing number of refugees and migrants traveling to the European Union across the Mediterranean Sea or Southeast Europe. A majority of the refugees are from the Middle East, such as Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, and Africa, such as Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan. Bela Szilagyi, vice president of

Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid), informed the BWA that HBAid’s temporary shelter was filled to capacity, indicating that this was the first such facility provided in the country for the refugees. He said medical assistance was

extended to some 700 refugees. “Most migrants who are ill suffer from upper respiratory

issues, skin diseases, and

swellings,” Szilagyi told the BWA. “Thirty percent of those seeking medical attention were children and 70 percent were adults.” In addition, the Hungarians distributed

water and food at the Nyugati and Keleti train

stations, as well as hygienic kits,

medicine, disinfectants, isolation materials, diapers, baby food and toys. “Many of our churches are busy responding to the challenge in many different ways,” said Thomas Klammt, commissioner

for immigrants and

refugees of the Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany. Congregations in Germany were “offering language courses, assistance in practical needs, even opening

NEPALESE CHRISTIANS Protest Changes to Constitution B aptists and other Christians in

Nepal protested changes to the country’s constitution that limits

religious freedom in the Hindu-majority country. Nepal’s parliament

overwhelmingly

approved the new constitution on Septem- ber 17 by a vote of 507 to 25. Some small opposition parties boycotted the vote. A change to the constitution implies that conversion from one faith to another will become illegal. Religious conversion

22 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

deemed “contrary to public health, public decency or morality or incitement to breach public peace… is not allowed and such act shall be punishable by law.” This clause appears to run contrary to

another constitutional clause that “every person shall have the right to profess, practice and protect his or her own religion according to conviction and the freedom to separate oneself from any religion.” In addition,

the constitution states that “every religious denomination shall

have the right to maintain its independent existence, and, for this purpose, to operate and protect its religious sites and religious trusts in accordance with law.” “We seek your prayer at this moment for our country,” a leading Baptist in the country asked of the Baptist World Alliance. He told the BWA that Hindu extremists demanded that Nepal return to its former status as the “Hindu kingdom.” Nepal became a secular republic in 2008 after the Unified Communist Party won the

Hungarian Baptists providing assistance to refugees

(Photo courtesy of Baptist Union of Hungary)

passed a resolution titled “Welcoming Christ in the Stranger.” Klammt declared that the Baptist union “has appointed a representative to the church commission that is directly addressing the Government Department for Migration.” Christoph Haus, general secretary of German-based EBM International, said in mid-September that in Germany, “we expect a number of 40,000 during the upcoming weekend and the next week. Last weekend it has been 25,000.” “Right now very many refugees are

arriving into Sweden,” said Inga Johansson, coordinator of church and society for the Uniting Church in Sweden, which includes Baptists. “The Uniting Church in Sweden has many congregations active in supporting refugees,” Johansson told

DONATIONS may be made ONLINE AT: www.bwanet.org/give

OR SENT TO: Baptist World Aid C/o Baptist World Alliance 405 North Washington Street Falls Church, VA 22046 USA

the BWA. “We from the Uniting Church in Sweden urge congregations to open the churches for meeting places where refugees can receive support, counseling, language training and more.” The Christian Council of Sweden has a committee working on migration issues, Johansson said. “We as a church are very keen that we, together with other organizations, support refugees and asylum seekers.” The immigration crisis was a major topic of discussion during meetings of the

European Baptist Federation, one

of six regional fellowships of the BWA, held in Sofia, Bulgaria, beginning on September 23.