Together 2021: 22nd Baptist World Congress

Together, the 22nd Baptist World Congress happened online in July 2021.  Originally due to take place in Rio, Brazil, in July 2020, the Congress was postponed and then moved to be entirely online.

Over 3,500 Baptists from 130 nations gathered to celebrate, learn, worship and pray together.

The Baptist World Alliance Youtube channel has four sessions of the Congress available to watch in full.

We highlight here some parts of the sessions which may be of particular interest:

Bible Readings

The Baylor University Theatre Arts Students from Waco, Texas, USA, performed several dramatic interpretations of Bible readings:

Ephesians 4:1-16

 

Psalm 46:8-11

   

Leviticus 19:1-18 and Acts 2:44-47

 
Songs

There was much global musical variety used at the Congress.  Below is a flavour of some of the creative groups.

Krystaal, DR Congo/Canada
“Reckless love/Pour me out”
Krystaal are brothers originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but who now live in Canada after fleeing their home country.  Their section is introduced by Edwin Lam, President of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation.
 

Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

"Heal our land"

Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

"There will be dancing"
(this video begins with a dramatic reading, and then leads into the song itself)


Addresses and Bible Studies
A number of Addresses and Bible Studies were given during the Congress.  A flavour of these is given below:

Lynn Green

"Together in Mission - Luke 5"

Elie Haddad, Beirut, Lebanon

BWA Commission on Theological Education
"Ministry to Refugees and Beyond"
 

Karen Kirlew, St Ann, Jamaica

President, Jamaica Baptist Union (2018-2020)
"Together in Justice"

Evangelism Award

The inaugural BWA-KIBC Evangelism Award was give to the 3D Church in Estonia, which was planted by a group of young students in 2010 in the university city of Tartu in Estonia.

There is an article about the award on the European Baptist Federation website, and you can watch the award being presented here:

Reports of other sessions

You can access reports of other sessions at Baptist News Global, including this report of former BUGB and EBF President, Jenni Entrican's talk on 'Gender Based Violence: Countering a Scourge in Churches and Communities'