The General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, Rev. Elijah Brown, has reiterated the Baptist denomination’s commitment to promoting peace and justice globally.
Speaking at a media briefing on the forthcoming Baptist World Alliance conference in Nigeria, Brown highlighted the conference theme, “To Become Ambassadors of Peace,” emphasising the denomination’s efforts to encourage peaceful living worldwide.
Brown noted that the Baptist denomination was heavily investing in humanitarian training to ensure adherence to scriptural injunctions.
He stressed the urgent need to combat poverty and hunger, which have reached alarming levels. The conference will focus on these critical issues, aiming to develop strategies for poverty eradication and food provision.
“We are deeply concerned about peace and justice on the continent and urge various governments to address ongoing violent conflicts,” Brown stated.
He also underscored the importance of religious freedom, asserting that everyone should have the right to worship without hindrance.
The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, during his address, reflected on the denomination’s 110 years of impactful work in Nigeria, noting its significant contributions to the nation’s economy.
Akanji emphasised the Baptist denomination’s relentless efforts to promote peace and address national issues.
Expressing concern over the nation’s insecurity, Akanji called for collective efforts to tackle the problem. He recounted the harrowing experience of the kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, describing it as a “terrible experience for the Baptist denomination.”
He said, “We were at the mercy of the kidnappers and had to do everything possible to rescue the students on our own.”
Akanji also highlighted the severe persecutions faced by the Baptist faith in Nigeria, including church burnings and physical attacks. He appealed to the government to provide lasting solutions to the country’s insecurity, advocating for the establishment of state police as the best option to combat the issue.
Furthermore, Akanji charged the government to address the pervasive issue of impunity, which he described as a significant problem in Nigeria.
The Baptist World Alliance Conference in Nigeria aims to address these pressing issues and promote a global message of peace and justice.
