hold memorable meeting in

Guyana

The General Assembly of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship (CBF)

met in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 5-9, 2014. The 35 delegates from 10 countries met under the theme,

“In Step with the Spirit – Free At Last,”

and participated in both Bible study sessions and decision meetings. At the opening event, guests included

Donald Ramotar, president of Guyana, David Granger, leader of the Opposition and Andrew Morris Grant, chairman of the Guyana Council of Churches, among other members of the Christian, political and civic communities. Cultural presentations in music, song, and

dance poetry enthralled those in

attendance. CBF President William Thompson,

who declared the event open, called upon Baptists and the Christian community in general to stand in solidarity with countries affected by the Ebola virus, not only through prayers but with financial resources. In bringing greetings, Guyana President Ramotar lauded Baptists for their interest in the affairs of the poor and urged them to continue holding up the banner of unity.

Guest preacher Victor Caddette, a

Trinidadian living and pastoring in the United States and a former CBF president, challenged the more than 750 attendees at the opening session to see life in the Spirit as quality of lifestyle over that of ecstasy and excitement. Using the Lord’s Prayer as the basis of his sermon, Caddette pointed out that God is known not so much by name but by God’s self-revelation and disclosure in the various and varied existential circumstances of a person’s life. In Bible study, Anslem Warrick, a

vice president-elect of the Baptist World Alliance and general secretary of the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago, used the conference theme scripture, Galatians 5:13-25, to encourage delegates and observers to “walk in the Spirit” and to live true to their commitment in the service of God. Workshop presentations were made by

Stanford Simon from Grenada and Julius Casseus from Haiti, the other BWA vice president-elect from the Caribbean, on “Advancing the Mission of Christ through

28 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

Caribbean leaders and participants, at the CBF Assembly in Guyana in November, 2014

Technology,” and “Crime and Violence – The Role of the Church,” respectively. On Thursday and Friday evenings the

gathering met for evangelistic meetings. The preacher was Jamaican Baptist pastor Franklyn Small. Many came to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Among the major decisions of the

General Assembly were the passing of resolutions

addressing issues such as

pollution, unity, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, racism and domestic abuse, and reaffirming the Baptist commitment to sharing and living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in practical ways. The assembly voted to amend its constitution and by-laws to allow the president to succeed him or herself for a second five-year term. Two new member bodies were accepted

into the CBF, the Guyana Missionary Baptist Church and the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti. A new feature was the launch of the first edition of the Baptist Exclusive, a special General Assembly publication. The

assembly culminated with

organized tours to places of historic interest in Guyana on Saturday and on Sunday, and sharing in divine worship services in Baptist churches where some visiting pastors preached.

CBF President William Thompson (right) and Executive Secretary/ Treasurer Everton Jackson

CHURCHES LEAD in South Sudan

reconciliation initiatives

Baptists have joined other Christian groups to help end fighting in South Sudan.

Edward Dima, president of the Bap-

tist Convention of South Sudan, told the Baptist World Alliance that church and community leaders met several times in October with an aim to bring conflicts in the northeastern African country to an end. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese

have been displaced by nine months of civil war in the states of Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile, and in Juba, the capital. Millions more are refugees in bordering countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. The BWA sent an initial sum of US$18,000 to assist in South Sudan IDP (internally displaced persons) relief. Dima said, “Recently there were

border clashes between Moyo in Uganda and Kajokeji in South Sudan which forced about 12,000 displaced people to run to Kajokeji for safety.” The conflict is related to issues of traditional land ownership and the demarcation of the international border between South Sudan and Uganda in that area.

South Sudanese accused residents of

Moyo of destroying 90 homes and stealing 37 heads of cattle during a raid in the South Sudanese territory. In retaliation, 12 Ugandan women were kidnapped in Moyo and brought to Kajokeji. In recent clashes at least seven people have been killed. After the latest outbreak of violence,

various Christian traditions convened several meetings of the Reconciliation Church Council. “This council is meeting to work toward common peace as the body of Christ,” Dima, who chairs the council, declared. The

council adopted a resolution

acknowledging the work of governments, churches, humanitarian organizations and individuals who helped on both sides of the border during the conflict; called on the governments to resolve the border issues speedily; and encouraged church leaders, governments and local authorities to take steps to reunite alienated and broken families. The council will organize a series of

worship services and meetings to promote reconciliation, healing and forgiveness that will include church leaders, elders,