In July, Queensland hosted the 2025 Baptist World Congress. It was a powerful time of worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and service. Many from the Baptist Association of NSW & ACT enjoyed a sunny week in Brisbane, gathering with Baptists from around the world to learn how God is at work in and through our global family.
Craig Corkill, our Associate Director for Leadership Development, attended as a Conference Delegate. He was also set apart for his role promoting leadership development on the Commission for Church Health (an international group of Baptist leaders considering this area). “Time of gathered worship were a real highlight,” reflects Craig, “with various nationalities contributing to the experience. Dr Elijah Brown’s keynote address and workshop talks were brilliant.”
Craig also found meeting with international counterparts encouraging, “the opportunity to develop collaborative relationships provides a wonderful opportunity for greater effectiveness and efficiency.”
Fiona Gardner, our Youth and Youth Adults Ministry Engagement Coordinator, attended the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Conference on the Monday and Tuesday and the Baptist World Congress on the Wednesday to Saturday. She also served on the volunteer team doing welcoming and registration and in the prayer room. “I wanted to be more connected to what is happening on a global level within the Baptist network,” explains Fiona, “to hear from people, I may never otherwise have the opportunity to hear from, especially within their own unique ministry and life context.”
Like Craig, Fiona enjoyed the times of worship. Her highlight was “coming together to worship under one roof, as one body of Christ. Different cultures, nations, and languages, united together. The worship brought me to tears many times, as it was truly a glimpse into heaven.”
One of Fiona’s many highlights was attending the breakout session run by Chris Smith called “Deconstructing the power and -isms in church and society”, which tied into the conference’s overall theme of injustice and how Christians need to stand up and speak truth into the current realities and injustice in the world. The breakout session drew Fiona outside of her own comfortable context to see what racism, materialism and militarism look like in the world today.
“Another highlight was volunteering in the prayer room,” explains Fiona, “meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures, eager and excited to be prayed for. Knowing we were there as followers of Christ broke down any barriers that language or experience may usually make more difficult. It was a pure joy to pray for my brothers and sisters from all around the world.”
Similarly, Marbuen (Marbz) Diaz, our Team Leader for Church Witness and Intercultural Lead, went to the Congress for the “rare opportunity to be in fellowship with a global expression of following Jesus. In the diversity of expressions, cultures and missions that I know I would get a glimpse of the beauty of God’s glory.”
Marbz was also there to present a breakout session on ‘Multicultural/Multiethnic’ Church. “In Australia, we are leading in the multiplicity of diversity with more than half of our population now born overseas – and just set to increase in the future,” explains Marbz, “I was also part of two city excursions for delegates facilitated by Baptist Mission Australia. We exposed the participants to different ministries in the city and the changing diverse nature of our ministries.”
Marbz enjoyed “building connections and relationships with like-minded people. “I can count at least twenty new global connections that are specifically in the same strategic area of missions and ministry that I am in,” says Marbz.
The Baptist World Congress left our team with a lot to think about and bring back. Craig, Fiona and Marbz are all still thinking and praying about the next steps for them after the rich experiences of the Congress.
Craig looks forward to continuing to grow the new relationships he’s built and collaborating into the future. Fiona has been reflecting on “how we connect with the various cultures within our own nation and ministry contexts”. And Marbz says he has been reminded of the “importance of networking – not because it is strategic (it is that) but because it is the strengths of relationships that enable ministry happen.”
Thankyou Baptist World Alliance and our Baptist brothers and sisters from around the world for an incredible shared experience!
