New: Irish Baptist Networks Intend to Strengthen International Contacts
New: Irish Baptist Networks Intend to Strengthen International Contacts
Belfast – A new Baptist organisation in Ireland is officially seeking contact with the European Baptist Federation (EBF) and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). Consequently, Irish Baptist Networks (IBN) was founded in Belfast’s Windsor Road Baptist church at the end of February.
Leading EBF-representatives participated in the worship service celebrating its founding, which was held in contemporary Gaelic style. The EBF visitors included President Valeriu Ghiletchi (Chisinau/Moldova), General-Secretary Tony Peck and his assistant Helle Liht (both Prague) as well as Teddy Oprenov (Sofia), General-Secretary of the Bulgarian Baptist Union. Oprenov also gave the address, which was entitled: “Who is My Neighbour?” BWA-President David Coffey sent the gathering a video greeting. On Sunday, the EBF-guests spread out and preached in various congregations in Northern Ireland as well as in Dublin in the Irish Republic. During all worship services as well as in conversations afterward, it was clear that many Irish church members desire not only to hear more about their brothers and sisters in the faith throughout the world, but also to intensify those contacts. The Irish made initial contact with the EBF and BWA during the 2005 Birmingham anniversary celebrations commemorating the BWA’s 100th birthday as well as during the “Amsterdam 400” festivities last year. On that occasion, the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement’s founding was celebrated. Irish Baptist Networks accepts both individuals and organisations as members; more information can be found under: www.ibnetworks.org.
EBF-President Ghiletchi, who is also a member of the Moldovan parliament, contacted the Irish politician and Democratic Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and also a member of the British parliament. Both of them participate in the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast movement in their respective countries.
EBF-General-Secretary Peck drew positive conclusions from the visit, which had brought him to Ireland for the first time. “When I was growing up in Scotland I always thought of Northern Ireland as a place of violent sectarian conflict, with religion, Catholic and Protestant, as the main focus. What we discovered on this visit was something about those who during that period and afterwards exercised their faithful witness to God’s reconciling love in Christ.” He was deeply moved by the personal warmth and vital testimony of Irish Baptists. “We feel the EBF has much to learn from Irish Baptists. We look forward to a growing and strengthening relationship with Irish Baptist Networks which we hope and pray will be a real partnership in the Gospel”.
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Leading EBF-representatives participated in the worship service celebrating its founding, which was held in contemporary Gaelic style. The EBF visitors included President Valeriu Ghiletchi (Chisinau/Moldova), General-Secretary Tony Peck and his assistant Helle Liht (both Prague) as well as Teddy Oprenov (Sofia), General-Secretary of the Bulgarian Baptist Union. Oprenov also gave the address, which was entitled: “Who is My Neighbour?” BWA-President David Coffey sent the gathering a video greeting. On Sunday, the EBF-guests spread out and preached in various congregations in Northern Ireland as well as in Dublin in the Irish Republic. During all worship services as well as in conversations afterward, it was clear that many Irish church members desire not only to hear more about their brothers and sisters in the faith throughout the world, but also to intensify those contacts. The Irish made initial contact with the EBF and BWA during the 2005 Birmingham anniversary celebrations commemorating the BWA’s 100th birthday as well as during the “Amsterdam 400” festivities last year. On that occasion, the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement’s founding was celebrated. Irish Baptist Networks accepts both individuals and organisations as members; more information can be found under: www.ibnetworks.org.
EBF-President Ghiletchi, who is also a member of the Moldovan parliament, contacted the Irish politician and Democratic Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and also a member of the British parliament. Both of them participate in the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast movement in their respective countries.
EBF-General-Secretary Peck drew positive conclusions from the visit, which had brought him to Ireland for the first time. “When I was growing up in Scotland I always thought of Northern Ireland as a place of violent sectarian conflict, with religion, Catholic and Protestant, as the main focus. What we discovered on this visit was something about those who during that period and afterwards exercised their faithful witness to God’s reconciling love in Christ.” He was deeply moved by the personal warmth and vital testimony of Irish Baptists. “We feel the EBF has much to learn from Irish Baptists. We look forward to a growing and strengthening relationship with Irish Baptist Networks which we hope and pray will be a real partnership in the Gospel”.