Jay Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, was so certain of the deep impact the Baptist World Congress could have, he decided his wife, Mary Ruth, and his three teenage daughters should have the opportunity to experience it, too.
“My three children were forever impacted by the parade of the nations. It was ultra-inspiring,” he said. “There are 80 million Baptists in this giant global family, and getting to see the procession of the flags and the cultural costumes representing countries from Angola to Zimbabwe- it was the highlight.”
Hearing Baptists chant “Jesus Christ, the Living Water”- the congress theme- in different languages one after the other for nearly 15 minutes was a “soul-stirring, spine-tingling” moment, said Wolf, who was one of 64 Alabama Baptists present at the congress.
“The essence of the Baptist World Congress for me is an opportunity to network with other Christians, encourage them and do some global missions strategy planning,” he said. “It’s soul-stretching. The message of Jesus Christ is not just for Alabama but for the world.”
Rosalie Hunt, president of Alabama Women’s Missionary Union, said the spirit and attitude at the congress was an inspiration.
“We were really uplifted, and everyone seemed to draw encouragement from the other nations- not to mention that we got to see old friends,” she said.
Hunt said she hopes the Alabama Baptists who were present could bring back “a sense of our oneness of purpose and love” as Baptists.
Worldwide connection
Other Baptists from around the world cited similar-yet-unique feelings about attending the BWA meeting in Birmingham, England.
Margun Waren of Norway noted she grew up in a country that has a very strong state-sponsored Lutheran church.
“As Baptists, we are a minority,” she said, reporting that only about 5,000 Baptists live in Norway. “It was very great for me when I first found out as a teenager that the Baptists were so many more than the small area where I grew up.”
And worshipping with about 13,000 Baptists from many countries strengthens her sense of Baptist unity, Waren added.
“How rich it is for me- to meet with Baptists from wherever in the world. You feel united. Deep in my heart, I am always a Baptist.”
Samson Mamidi, pastor of The Living God’s Church in Suryapet, India, said the congress has “given me an opportunity to see around the world.”
Mamidi said the greatest lesson he learned in Birmingham was how “this people loves me another,” noting he felt that love specifically after his luggage got lost between India and England.
“A United Kingdom pastor gave me this coat,” he said, pointing to a blue double-breasted blazer. “He expressed his love to me.”
(BWA, TAB)
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