Greetings!
With major events cancelling across the world over the past few days, we know that many in our Baptist community are asking questions about this year’s Baptist World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
With the Baptist World Congress due to take place in four months, the BWA team continues to plan confidently for the event.
We currently have NO plans to postpone or cancel our Together 2020 Celebration due to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
. However, in this challenging context, we stand in solidarity and prayer with those who have been impacted.
We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of our exhibitors and attendees who continue to register and plan for the event, and we have not experienced any substantial impacts so far.
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) team remains in close contact with our partners in Rio de Janeiro (Brazilian Baptist Convention, Convention of Independent Baptist Churches, National Baptist Convention, RioCentro Convention and Exhibition Center, and the Rio de Janeiro Tourist Office), as well as the appropriate authorities, including travel and health advisory bodies nationally and globally.
As this unprecedented situation is changing every day, we remain watchful but also prayerfully committed to planning this historic event for the global Baptist community.
Mindful of our duty of care, we are also carefully considering and consulting with experts on the appropriate sanitary and health procedures and protocols. The BWA assures you that all appropriate measures will be in place at the Congress.
The BWA also feels strongly that this is an opportunity for Baptists around the world to pray and to serve. In the most impacted areas, churches have been temporarily closed and families face uncertainty. Would you continue to pray for all who have been impacted and that Baptists around the world will be at the forefront of gracefully serving communities that are struggling?
Please keep checking the Congress website (
www.BWA2020.org
), which we suggest you bookmark, as we will update it regularly as the situation evolves. At this point, and in consultation with local and global authorities, we are continuing to move forward with plans for the 22nd Baptist World Congress. We look forward to welcoming you to the BWA Together 2020 Celebration in July.
Together in Christ,