Mission Council 2024: Unity in a Divided World
From 1 to 4 May 2024, more than 100 delegates and guests from 25 nations met at the Mission Council in the Christuskirche in Bad Oeynhausen. The conference theme was Jesus' prayer from John 17:21: ’Let all be one: As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, let them also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’ In addition to lectures and church services on the topic of ‘Unity’, the Mission Council re-elected parts of the executive committee and confirmed the new Regional Representative for Southern Africa.
Unity requires courage
We are experiencing increasing divisions in society around the world: Between cultures, between countries and also within the church. Jesus prayed for the unity of his church. This is the only way for mission to remain credible. In his opening speech to the Mission Council, Christoph Stiba, General Secretary of the German Baptist Union, said that this unity requires courage: Humility, gentleness and patience. Richard Aidoo, pastor of the international New Life Church in Düsseldorf, gave insights into his church work, where more than 55 nations gather: Following Christ together, especially a lot of communal prayer, keeps them together in unity. Bible studies and discussion groups on John 17 rounded off the topic.
Fletcher Kaiya's successor confirmed
After 16 years of service at EBM INTERNATIONAL, Fletcher Kaiya (Malawi) will end his service as Regional Representative for Southern Africa and retire. In his role, he will continue to coordinate projects in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa until the end of the year. During his time in office, he played a key role in shaping the shift of responsibility to the global South and characterised the partnership between the Baptist unions in Germany and Malawi. The Mission Council has now confirmed his successor, who will start in autumn this year: Ria Tintswalo Mojapelo (South Africa) will be the first woman in this position and will accompany and promote the projects and missionaries. She is a pastor in training, author and consultant with experience in project management and marketing. Her area of responsibility is expected to expand: Namibia was unanimously welcomed as a candidate for EBMI membership.
Unity as a foretaste of heaven
The Bible describes eternity as the place where all nations, peoples and languages will worship God. It was touching that this unity could be felt and experienced throughout the conference. The time was filled with common prayer and singing, with sympathy and cheerful cordiality. A living culture of heaven, in unity despite all differences. This was particularly evident on the final evening: Elizabeth Mvula from Malawi had African festive clothing sewn for a number of participants. Dresses, shirts, waistcoats, scarves and shawls adorned guests from all continents and showed that we belong together.
Consistency on the international executive committee
Parts of the honorary Executive Committee of EBMI stood for re-election at the end of their term of office. Emma Mabidilala (South Africa) was confirmed as President, Hürrem-Carolin Keskin (Turkey) and Dr Claiton Kunz (Brazil). Dr William Bhatti (India) is a new member. He is a paediatric surgeon and Director of the Christian Medical College at the hospital in Ludhiana. This means that women and men from all EBMI partner continents are represented on the Board.
70 years of EBM(I): cooperation at eye level
In a presentation on the 70th anniversary of EBM (INTERNATIONAL), EBMI General Secretary Dr Michael Kißkalt took the delegates and guests on a journey through time from the first beginnings of the Cameroon mission to the international partnership with 30 federations worldwide. The missiologist showed how much the mission's attitude has changed in the process. After initial colonial patterns of thought, the view of development aid changed to the model of cooperation at eye level that EBMI lives by today. What the practice of partnership actually looks like has to be discussed and found again and again.
