Window to the World
Echoes of the meetings in Mexico

The early meeting of the Women's Department (WD) of the BWA and Annual gathering of the BWA took place in Mexico City on 27.06.06 - 2.07.06 and 3.07.06 - 8.07.06. As the president of the EBWU I had privilege and a duty as well to participate at these two meetings.

At the WD meeting director of the WD - Patsy Davis participated, secretary/treasurer - Donna Grover and all continental presidents apart from the president of the Africa. The president of the WD Dorothy Selebano arrived later and joined us during Annual Gathering.

Every day of our meeting we started and close by short Bible Study and prayer. Reports presented by Continental presidents brought us nearer women's ministry on different continents. We could hear and see that God works through women dedicated to Him on every continent. He works in answer for prayer especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. At these continents every day many people come to Christ in spite of persecution and natural disaster which took place and still can happen. In Africa additionally Aids, HIV, other diseases, misery and famine are collecting victims.

In Asia over 70% of population live for less than 1$ per day. And in such situation Holy Spirit works with unusual power. He works because thousands of women persist in unceasing, inter- cessory prayer. Last year in November in Nigeria over 5000 women participated at the Day of Prayer.

The meeting with the leaders of the Mexican Baptist Women's Union has been special experience for us. Generally women's situation in Mexico is not easy. Fathers decide about life of young girls. They get married at the age 15 frequently. These young women-children became mothers very soon. When they have a few children their husbands leave them very often. So they have no sources to live.

Begging mother with child

All burden of responsibility for upbringing and livelihood fell down for woman. So this is normal that on the streets in Mexico City there are a lot of bagging mothers with children. Some of them migrate. Their family or neighbours take care for children. They do every kind work to help children. Very often they work 14 hours per day and receive a little money. They have not education, two among three are not able to read. There is not duty to go to school but recently government works in direction to change it. In Mexico woman can be killed without any reasons.

So such situation is big challenge to brothers and sisters in Christ. There are over 150 000 members of the Baptist Union in Mexico. They do a lot of mission work. The sisters work at the elderly houses. They organized Christian camps for women, summer Bible school for children. They take care for children from the street and help people who live thanks to waste food from the baskets on the street. Women organized different training seminars for women's leaders and once a year conference for women. The needs of this country are big. There are only to small number of "workers" and finances. Let's join in prayer for this country where many people do not know Jesus as personal Saviour.

At the second meeting, Annual Gathering of the BWA over 300 brothers and sisters from all continents and many countries around the world took part. The theme of this meeting was: "So you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom.15:13). We need hope but the people who are in darkness and do not know Jesus Christ need much more. Holy Spirit works just through brothers and sisters from all over the world under guidance of a new leadership of the BWA with its new president David Coffey.

Every day we started with the plenary Worship Session, when our hearts were well prepared to worship God by the Scripture and devotional time, singing together. The short testimonies and reports from different continents inspired us to pray for different needs and to thank God for His amazing work around the world.

It is important to add that Implementation Task Force (ITF), committee recommended by General Council in Birmingham pro- posed some changes of the meeting and put emphasis on five areas:

1. Worship and fellowship
2. Nurture mission and evangelism
3. Defend religious liberty and human rights
4. Respond through relief and sustainable community development
5. Promote relevant theological reflection.

There was the change of the name of the meeting, Annual Gathering instead of General Council.

ITF brought in Annual Gathering Forums and Affinity groups. Forums are meetings where the most important topics can be discussed i.g. The church respond to migration; HIV/Aids ministry; Violence against women and children. Affinity groups is a gathering of individuals working in the same field of ministry i.g. secretaries, presidents.

Our BWA family became bigger. The Membership committee introduced applications for membership and three of them received full membership. There are: Baptist General Convention of Missouri, the India Baptist Convention and the Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church.

This year Gustavo Parajon, a layman and doctor from Nicaragua received an Annual BWA Human Rights Award. He worked and served to the poor through CEPAD. His defence of the human rights of the poor are examples of how Christ can work through Baptists to witness Christ love.

The World Baptist Aid in last year helped the victims of Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes in Indonesia and others. There were millions of dollars which helped people to start a new life. We are the family and we have to help each other. Everybody can have part at this big task. God expects it from own children and He wants to listen through us people who are hungry, suffer, who are in prisons. He wants his people "may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit", to bring it to those who are lost and are in darkness.

Ewa Gutkowska

Pyramids in Teotihuacan - relic of old cultures

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