Baptist World Alliance Announces Pentecost Initiative
Global Baptists Called to Stand Together in Praise, Prayer, and Support
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – May 8, 2020) As part of the “Standing Together” Global Baptist Response Plan, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is inviting Baptists worldwide to unite together Pentecost weekend for a time of prayer, praise, and giving in response to people in need. “Standing Together at Pentecost” is a global initiative on May 29-31 (Western) and June 7, 2020 (Eastern).
“Two thousand years ago, Pentecost marked the beginning of a truly global church called to reach the nations. As we approach Pentecost this year, our world is truly in need of the hope that only Christ and His church can provide,” said Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary. “We invite Baptists around the world to join together in a unified movement of prayer, praise, and response that helps us stand together with a global church that is suffering. Imagine the mountains God will move if every Baptist church in every region of the world stands together at this critical time.”
The initiative will include opportunities to stand:
- Together in Worship – The BWA will host an online worship gathering featuring praise, prayers, and testimonies from around the world on Friday, May 29, at 8 pm EDT and Saturday, May 30, at 2 pm EDT. Each service will be broadcast simultaneously on the BWA Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
- Together in Focus – Families, small groups, churches, and ministries are invited to focus on the global Church by sharing a unique prayer, sermon illustration, video, or other element within Pentecost weekend worship services on May 30-31 (Western) or June 7 (Eastern). Free shareable resources are available at BaptistWorld.org/pentecost.
- Together in Giving – Individuals are invited to give and churches are encouraged to designate a portion of the offering received on Pentecost to the BWA “Standing Together” Global Response Plan, which is already serving the most vulnerable around the world. Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, the response has included the approval of more than 100 grants impacting over 100,000 lives in 80 countries. Secure online giving is available at BaptistWorld.org/give.
“Covid-19 respects no boundaries, borders, race, or color; therefore, it is our responsibility now to be united and battle this pandemic together as one Baptist family,” said Vesekhoyi Tetseo, General Secretary of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation. “May this Pentecost gathering remind us of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, giving the disciples the power to be his witnesses. As the Church and as Baptists, let us then ‘Stand Together’ again as powerful witnesses to the world.”
Another element of the “Standing Together at Pentecost” initiative will be a compilation of video messages from around the world. To be included, participants are invited to record a brief, 5-second video and to speak the words “Standing Together” in their language. If using a cellphone, the video should be recorded horizontally. The video should then be sent to communications@bwanet.org no later than May 24 with a notation of the participants’ name(s), church or ministry name, and location. This will be one of many reflections of unity among diversity throughout the weekend.
For more information or to sign up to participate, visit BaptistWorld.org/pentecost.