B u d a p e s t – The European Baptist Federation (EBF), the umbrella organisation of the 800.000 Baptists in Europe and the Middle East, has a new President: Toma Magda (47). Magda is also President of the Croatian Baptist Union. Hands were laid on him and prayers of blessing said as he was installed as President at the closing service of the EBF-Council sessions, which took place in Budapest from 26 to 29 September.

After studying theology in Osijek along with his wife Ksenia, Magda served for 17 years as regional pastor in the Osijek region. He has been head of the Baptist pastors' centre in Cakovec since 2003. He noted in a conversation with EBPS that during the civil war the Baptist congregations of ex-Yugoslavia had experienced rapid growth. This has more recently subsided. Nevertheless, the Croatian Baptist Union did not cease growing. When the democratisation of Croatia began, the country had 27 Baptist congregations and 1.000 members. Today, there are 52 congregations with 2.000 members. Materialism and secularism are the two new great challenges for the conservative evangelicals of Croatia.

In his opening sermon as President, Magda called for unconditional trust in Jesus Christ. Baptists will then be able to achieve much. He noted among other things the mission programme for indigenous missionaries begun by the EBF five years ago. Starting with only four co-workers in Moldova, the programme today is a successful church planting project with 60 co-workers in many European countries. The “Rescue24” emergency aid programme sponsored by the Hungarian Baptist Union’s “Hungary Baptist Aid” society features one of the world’s most effective and successful relief teams. EBF efforts involving a network to combat trafficking are also exemplary.

The 150 delegates in Budapest passed a resolution inviting Baptists to strive together with other religious organisations for religious freedom and human rights. It notes explicitly that religious liberty includes the right to practice and even to change one’s faith without interference.

The EBF’s Committee for Communication introduced its new Internet portal: “www.staywithbaptists.com”. It understands itself as a platform for Baptists and persons of other confessions, who find it important during their travels to stay in Baptist hotels, conference and retreat centres or even to stay overnight with private Baptist individuals. According to its developer, the Dutchman Gert Vernhout placing information about such services on the webpage is free-of-charge.