The plight of believers in Indonesia is a sobering reminder of the importance of remembering the persecution of Christians throughout the world during “Celebrate Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Day” Feb. 3.
The BWA is a fellowship uniting 201 Baptist unions and conventions comprising a membership of more than 43 million baptized believers and a community of more than 100 million Baptists worldwide. One of its major tasks is religious freedom.
BWA officials continue to monitor the situation faced by the church in Jakarta that was almost burned by Muslims Dec. 24.
That day, more than 200 people came and threatened to burn the church, forcing church leaders to sign an agreement that the church would be closed.
Forced to move from one location to another, church members had planned to worship in an open park Dec. 30, but the service was canceled when rain began to fall. The BWA said the church’s future is uncertain.
Denton Lotz, general secretary for the BWA, said the closing of the church in Jakarta is not isolated, but representative of the suppression of religious freedom Christians face worldwide. Local churches in the United States are urged to focus on the BWA’s mission Feb. 3, in part because of the role it plays in serving as a watchdog to secure religious freedoms and prevent persecution of Christians worldwide. The organization also unites Baptists worldwide in world evangelism, responding to people in need and defending human rights.
Lotz said the BWA is respected by world governments because of the unity it provides for Baptists.
The BWA is involved with investigating reports of religious persecution by working with the United Nations, contacting U.S. officials and leaders of foreign nations, as well as other efforts.
“We grant them freedoms in north America and we want them (foreign leaders) to know that we expect the same in their countries,” Lotz said.
Evidence of the BWA’s stature among world leaders was obvious when he met with the Pope at an ecumenical gathering the fourth week in January that John Paul II convened to address governments that use religion as a justification for violence.
Wendy Ryan, communication director for the BWA, said the two main ways the agency is involved in ending religious persecution are through petitioning world governments and meeting with leaders in other countries when it learns of religious violations.
“The BWA is very vigilant in protesting when churches have problems,” she said.
Lotz said a church in Balkanabad, Turkmenistan, was raided last month and a leading member of the congregation died under “mysterious circumstances.”
“The authorities there continue to put pressure on Baptists,” said Ryan, who added the BWA is responding by petitioning the government for an end to religious persecution in that country.
Ryan tells of members of a Baptist church in Romania who were stoned at Easter two years ago because they are perceived as a sect.
“One of the things we have been trying to do is get talks with Orthodox leaders,” she said. “It is the Orthodox leaders in many countries that continue to call us sects.”
Lotz said efforts by the BWA also include getting Bibles published in foreign countries and having Christians broadcast the gospel on radio stations. He said the BWA is also involved with helping countries ravaged by war, those who have suffered natural disasters and in helping countries improve their agricultural resources.
Among the ways Lotz said churches can celebrate Baptist World Alliance Day are:
Scripture readings by foreign exchange students or foreign nationals that emphasize missions passages from the Bible.
Testimonies by church members who have participated in missions trips.
Prayer for global issues such as peace in the Middle East, persecuted Christians who are struggling for religious freedom, AIDS ministries in countries such as Africa and other issues.
Sermons addressing the plight of Christians throughout the world.
The persecution of Christians in other countries is a situation many believers in this country turn a blind eye to, according to Lotz.
The issue of religious persecution is on the agenda of world leaders, but Lotz said it’s not on the agenda of enough local churches.
“Unfortunately, many churches in America have taken religious freedom for granted,” Lotz said.
Lotz said Baptists can be actively involved in the BWA’s work beyond Feb. 3 through praying for religious freedom in the world. He added they can also help with the agency’s work through keeping themselves educated about violations of religious freedom and contacting the United Nations and elected officials to express their concerns.
For more information on the BWA, visit their Web site at www.bwanet.org.
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