Expectations Exceeded

So, last week was BMS's long-anticipated, week-long global conference, 'Expect26', held at High Leigh conference centre in Hertfordshire. The centre has excellent facilities and beautiful grounds, but it was bound to struggle with the record-breaking conditions. Sitting in the slightly too-warm conference room with my trusty hand fan for personal ventilation, doing my utmost to concentrate on a fantastic selection of speakers from around the world, as well as discharging my own duties, whether leading a breakout session or 'mc-ing' the day's programme, it all felt very nostalgic of the various Peruvian Baptist conferences and mission events I've attended and participated in over the years. Furthermore, a highlight for me was being able to catch up with Pr Pedro Mejia, President of the Peruvian Baptist Convention, for whom this was his first time in the UK (see photo).

It was also fantastic to meet with other organisational representatives that until now, we've only known one another through email or a screen. One such is Wailes Rangsa, the principal of the College of Christian Theology, Bangladesh (CCTB), who generously participated in our Climate-COP inspired Listening Webinar last November, sharing his personal experience of environmental issues, including sea level rise impacts and changing climate in Bangladesh.

Through the Eco Challenge Fund, you might remember that BMS has also partnered with CCTB providing a grant to install a solar PV system which is already stabilising and reducing the cost of the college electricity supply (and it's dependency on a diesel-powered back-up generator). Wailes had sent me photos of the system and their official inauguration shortly before Expect26, and it was hugely satisfying not only to see the system itself in existence, but also to see the attendance of other organisations that BMS partners with in Bangladesh, namely General Secretary John Karmakar, from Bangladesh Baptist Church Sanga (BBCS) (see photo, Wailes with the scissors; John on his left). How wonderful it was then to meet them both together at the conference!

Closer to home, I had the pleasure of returning to Momentum, the Baptist Union of Wales annual assembly at Carmarthen on 6th June. Whilst a number of my BMS colleagues were there to speak and lead sessions, I was there primarily engaged in a bit of an experiment! Having teamed up with Welsh Baptist Ministers Bryan and Anne Collis, we had collaborated on a display centred on the Christ of Creation and the theology of creation stewardship, along side two practical expressions: Bryan's social enterprise, Wild Plant Paper, which makes artesanal papers from local plants and organic wastes, from which Anne creates cards, notebooks and faith-inspired artworks, on the one side; and, BMS's Eco Challenge Fund, focussing on the story of the eco-stoves in Peru, on the other side.

The two expressions of creation stewardship were brought together through the recycling of used coffee cups from a Baptist Minister's conference a few months ago, which Bryan made into paper, which Anne (see photo) made into cards and sold at Momentum, the profits of which were donated to BMS's Eco Challenge Fund. Thank you for such a creative approach to creation stewardship!

Finally, please do continue to pray for:

- The new eco stove pilot project in the indigenous community of Wichim, northern Peru, being implemented for the first time by Dora Alvarado, Director of Social Action for the Peruvian Baptists, supported through BMS's Eco Challenge Fund;

- The Creation Care and the Gospel programme, following two successful free webinars we are now preparing for the new 4-week paid online course, due to start at the end of September. Pray that we would be able to reach those across the Baptist family of mainland Europe who are looking for something like this.

Thank you,

Love Laura x