What is the Baptist World Alliance?

Baptist Union of Italy (UCEBI)

“Since 1905 the BWA has been a ‘home for all Baptists.’ For nearly a hundred years virtually all Baptist families, despite their sometimes substantial differences, have shared this common place to meet, talk and express their unity in the faith and in respect for the diversity that exists among us.”

Union of Baptists in Latin America (UBLA)

“As the centennial of the BWA draws near, it continues to be a Christ-centered and Bible-centered organization. It offers a wonderful international forum and provides proper leadership for evangelistic/missionary efforts, for Biblical and Theological education, for addressing the crucial issues that our world faces today. It assures helpful fellowship, and brings together different people groups from around the world. At the same time, it shows itself to be a modern organization, willing to take on the challenges it will have to face until, as the Scriptures states, our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

John Upton, Virginia Resource Center, USA

”Having worked with the BWA for many years, I have found the BWA to be solid in matters of theology, Baptist principles, and focus. Moreover, I believe the Kingdom of God is more faithfully and powerfully served by working together than by fragmentation.”

Gregory Komendant, former BWA Vice-President and President of the Baptist Union of Ukraine, and Victor Kulbich, General Secretary

”For the Ukrainian Baptist Churches always the biggest testimony about God’s grace and love has been the unity of the Baptist Family. Even at the time of the Communist reign, the believers in the Soviet Union were encouraged always by the care of the entire BWA community. It helped us to overcome the most difficult time for Baptist Believers.”

Regional Leader, Theo Angelov, Bulgaria

”The mutual support and encouragement were very important during this time of the Communist regime when believers in Eastern Europe were persecuted and sent to prisons and concentration camps. This was also a time during which many churches were closed and Christian literature was confiscated. The BWA was the main voice for human rights and religious freedom. These were the voices of all believers around the world raised in prayer to the Almighty Lord to support and protect their suffering co-believers in the huge territories of the Soviet Union, China and other countries.”

Regional Leader Raquel Contreras, Chile

”We in Chile are working towards our unity among our diversity and we feel that the Lord is showing us how to be really united. The ministry of the BWA helps us in this, also to work together with the other Chilean Baptist Convention.”

Executive Committee of the European Baptist Federation

“Southern Baptists together with representatives of BWA have been at the front line in the fight for religious freedom and human rights in countries where churches and Christians were persecuted. Why can we not defend religious freedom and persecuted people together in the future? Why can we not continue to ask together governments and officials to respect religious freedom and give opportunities to Baptists to do their ministry in countries where democracy does not yet exist?”

August 2004