In Memoriam: Andreas Kogoya

Andreas Kogoya, general secretary of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua (FBCP) in Indonesia, died on May 6, from heart complications. He was 43 years old.

Kogoya became general secretary of FBCP and pastor of the Baptist Church in Mount Wachno Kotaraja, Jayapura, in West Papua, in 2002, and served in both positions until the time of his death.  

He began his involvement in ministry from he was in his teen years, and began working with the FBCP shortly after his theological studies, eventually being appointed as assistant general secretary.

As a child, his family got caught up in the fight for self-determination in Papua. During the war between the Indonesian military and the Free Papua Movement, which  began in 1977 and lasted into the 1980s, the Indonesian military and local militia backed by the military set fire to his village, from which the family escaped.

He earned degrees and diplomas from the Jayapura Baptist Theological Institute.

He leaves wife Esther Wenda and three sons, Charles (12), Endrikus (7), and Krisman (5).

Baptist World Congress report book published

June 14, 2011

Washington (BWA)--The report of the 20^th Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawai'i, has been published.

More than 5,300 persons from 105 countries registered for the congress, which was held at the Hawai'i Convention Center from July 28 to August 1, 2010. Titled, Hear the Spirit: The Official Report of the Twentieth Baptist World Congress, the book-length report offers details of the events and includes Bible studies and full texts of the sermons that were delivered by the main plenary speakers.

An overview section observes that a number of persons described the congress as an "empowering experience," as a "wonderful fellowship," as "refreshing," and as providing "great memories." The overview highlights the preaching and the International Music Fest as particularly inspirational and memorable for many of those who attended.

Other activities emphasized are the Focus Group meetings on theological, ethical and social issues that affect Baptist believers or to which Baptists are called to commit to prayer and action; the children's and youth programs; the Mission in Action projects; the men's and women's rallies; and the Living Water celebration, which culminated a five-year program of training in leadership and evangelism.

Edited by Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam, the book is available for purchase at Amazon.com.   

BWA preparing for UN Earth Summit in 2012

June 2, 2011

For Immediate Release

BWA preparing for UN Earth Summit in 2012

Washington (BWA)--The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is participating in preparatory meetings for the United Nations (UN) Earth Summit that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. The BWA participation is predicated on the need for deeper reflection on the role of religion in the development of a global ethics on environmental care and justice, as it takes seriously the scriptural injunction, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it," (Psalm 24:1). This is an especially propitious time for Baptists to reflect on our relationship to the environment in light of the observance of World Environment Day (WED) on June 5. WED celebration began in 1972 and is one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. This year's theme focuses on the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems.   The BWA takes advantage of this important date to remind its constituency of our responsibility as Christians to care for the earth, urging renewed efforts to protect and preserve the environment, inasmuch as the BWA has, through resolutions, statements, and funding initiatives, demonstrated its commitment to environmental care and justice. In 1989, the BWA General Council passed a resolution on the Stewardship of the Earth reaffirming God's creation of all life, and our role as stewards of God's earth. That resolution rebuked "irresponsible patterns of life" such as the depletion of non-renewable resources; worldwide deforestation; pollution of air, land and water; and failure to recycle. The resolution urged the worldwide Baptist community to "pursue a responsible lifestyle, respecting the integrity of creation," and to exert influence "through industry, business, agriculture, government and as persons to protect and restore the delicate balance of nature." In the following year, the 16th Baptist World Congress passed a resolution on Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation reinforcing the call for Christians to "witness against any form of destructive violence toward persons or any part of God's creation," and calling on Baptists "to commit to the preservation of the creation both as an act of devotion and of stewardship." In 1992, the BWA General Council passed another resolution on the Stewardship of the Earth stressing the need for Baptists to take seriously the implication of God's creation of the world, and of the stewardship given to humankind within that creation. Highlighting problems like the accumulation of radioactive waste, undisciplined use of pesticides, and the depletion of the ozone layer, this resolution asserted that "human sinfulness has developed an exploitative ethic which puts the sustaining of creation in jeopardy." The 1992 resolution referred to the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which was recently held in Rio, recognizing that commitment on the part of governments to remedy the situation was inadequate, challenging the worldwide Baptist community to continue to press governments on the "need for action in defense of tomorrow's world." It also urged all Baptists to adopt responsible patterns of consumption and behavior that do not jeopardize the future of the created order. The UN Earth Summit in Rio in 2012 will reflect and deliberate on the development of a green economy in the context of the eradication of poverty.  In the past few centuries misconceptions of the relation of human beings to nature have contributed to increase irresponsible patterns of behavior that neglect the effects of human actions on the environment. The Bible, however, clearly shows that the earth continues to be the Lord's -- all of it. Our mandate to care for God's creation is more crucial than ever before.