Baptist Assembly 2024: Pentecost and the mission of God

God is still sending people out in the power of the Spirit to be his witnesses today – not just from the West to the rest, but from anywhere to everywhere.  

At the Baptist Assembly 2024, Baptists met to celebrate the day of Pentecost and reflect on what it means to be filled afresh with the gift of the Spirit. BMS World Mission shared about how people across the world are finding abundant life in Christ in so many ways.

The road to reconciliation

Division and rift are an inevitable part of life but as Christians we are called to reconciliation, which can be a hard, long and costly journey. On Friday, Matty Fearon, Editor of Mission Catalyst, and Arthur Brown, Director for World Mission, shared what they had learnt about seeking reconciliation from the Lebanese theologian Martin Accad.

After living through a civil war, Lebanese people from all sides are experimenting with Martin’s work to heal deep divisions between people who are very convinced of their own perspective on the conflict. Churches are still learning how to “clothe themselves with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3: 12-14)

Their experience of seeking reconciliation means that Lebanese Christians have much wisdom to share with churches in the UK. Matty and Arthur explored what it might mean for UK churches to allow kindness and love to direct our relationships and disagreement.

Don’t forget this country…

On Saturday our new mission worker Oksana* spoke to attendees by video from Afghanistan. She urged us to not to forget the country. Whilst Afghanistan may no longer be in the headlines, there are now harsh restrictions imposed on women by the ruling government. New laws mean that women can’t even go for a picnic in the park with their family.

God is still at work in Afghanistan through the practical love of faithful Christians. “Even if we cannot share by our words, we can by our deeds,” said Oksana. “We are hoping that we can be a testimony to God’s glory in our country.”

Pentecost and gender justice

Annet Ttendo Miller, BMS Gender Justice Co-ordinator, powerfully prayed for the women of Afghanistan after Oksana spoke. Ttendo has written a gender justice charter to ensure that all BMS work reflects a commitment to gender justice. This has now been translated from English into eight different languages: Arabic, Bengali, French, Hindi, Nepalese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili.

BMS mission workers and partners read out the charter in six of these languages. It was moving on the weekend of Pentecost to hear Christians speaking in their own language about their commitment to gender justice. Here was a picture of a diverse Church, united by one Spirit, affirming the equal dignity of women and men.

You will be my witnesses…

On Saturday evening four new mission workers – Oksana, Lucia Bastos and Ingrid and Roger Hamlet – were commissioned by BMS General Director, Kang-San Tan.

It was so encouraging to see God call people from both the Majority World and the UK to serve in mission. All those years on from when God first poured out his Spirit, Jesus is still sending out people to be his witnesses from anywhere to everywhere.

*Name changed for security reasons.