BWA Global Impact Churches and Partners

August 15, 2011

Washington, DC (BWA)--The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has a formal voting membership of 222 conventions and unions in 120 countries, comprising approximately 180,000 churches. The BWA celebrates our member bodies and their local churches, which are at the forefront of ministry, offering enriching ministries of support.

Some of the strongest churches in our Baptist family choose to relate directly to the BWA in addition to the support they provide through their conventions, unions, and associations. A church in North America that chooses to be in direct relationship with the BWA is designated as a BWA Global Impact Church® while BWA Global Partners has become the designation for those churches, organizations, and persons that wish to relate directly to the BWA, but who are situated outside North America.

Churches that are a BWA Global Impact Church® or a Global Partner are usually mission-focused. These churches are passionately committed to issues of freedom of religion, human rights, and the cause of the poor, expressions that are critical to the mission of Jesus Christ. They recognize that no other international Baptist body provides the level of impact of an international freedom and justice ministry as well as the BWA.

BWA Global Impact Church® and Global Partner churches have an impressive array of domestic and global mission activities. In addition to all their other giving, each has a strong commitment to support Baptist unity through the BWA. Together, donations from the more than 800 Global Impact Churches and more than 50 Global Partners provide a substantial percentage of the BWA's annual budget. These churches provide crucial prayer support and volunteers for BWA ministries.

Churches in partnership with the BWA receive regular reports and have access to resources for prayer and cooperative efforts. The BWA also provides churches with opportunities for hands-on ministry projects. Church-to-church partnerships are encouraged between BWA Global Impact Church®, Global Partner churches, and Baptists in other parts of the world. BWA guests may be hosted by a BWA Global Impact Church® or a Global Partner congregation.

Forms to enroll in both the Global Impact Church® and BWA Global Partners programs can be found on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org.