Life in Christ is not about rules or systems but relationships, urged German Baptist youth leader Christian Rommert, as he spoke to youth gathered in Singapore for the 16th Baptist Youth World Conference.
Rommert cautioned against “going through the motions (of worship) without the inner motivation” and against “having the habits of faith without the heart of faith” in a morning meditation kicking off the second day of the July 17–21 event.
Denise de Vasconcelos Araujo, elected first female president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Youth Department in 2008, opened the gathering with a welcome and roll call of the more than 60 countries officially represented at the event. BWA General Secretary Neville Callam urged the approximately 2,500 youth “to defy the destructive secularism that seeks to push religious faith to the fringes of society” and to “let the world know the undeniable truth that faith in Jesus Christ is alive and well.”
Youth also were reminded that a commitment to justice is part of the call to being Christian.
Wado Saw, a Myanmar refugee in the Mae La camp on the Thai-Myanmar border, testified to the difficulties faced by the tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar who have been displaced due to conflicts in their homeland. Despite their desire for home, it is unlikely that their dreams will be realized anytime soon.
On each day of the conference, youth delegates gathered in the Global Village to interact with each other and engage in cultural exchanges.
The Village comprised exhibition booths, a “fringe stage” for youth to display their artistic talents and a social media center where they can upload and share media content while conference events stream live.
Callam expressed hope that those attending the conference would “find opportunity for the renewal of your faith as you hear stories of young people from around the world whose lives are being transformed through their fellowship with Christ.”
(ABP)
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