Dear BWA,

Greetings as we mark 120 days until the start of Congress! We are excited to give you a further update on Congress activities and other useful information, including some important deadlines. Please note that the Congress website (bwabrisbane.com) is updated frequently, so we encourage you to visit often for a quick way to access the latest event information.

>> Early Bird Discount

The registration fee will increase on April 1, 2025, but we don’t want people to miss out on the early bird discount. Please click here for details and let people in your communities and congregations know to sign up by March 31!

>> Visas

If you are not from Australia or New Zealand, now is the time to start applying for visas. All details on the Electronic Travel Authority and the various visa options can be found here. Invitation letters have now been sent to all who registered by March 10, 2025. Invitation letters will continue to be issued for any registrations received until May 15, 2025. Visa applications after this date are unlikely to be processed in time to attend the Congress.

>> Local Opportunities

Plan to arrive early and take advantage of several special tours being offered by Australian Baptists from Monday through to Thursday. Click for more information about the Aboriginal Cultural Experience Day Tour, Camping Study Day Tour, and Immersive Mission Afternoon Experience. Minimum and maximum numbers apply to these tours, so register now to avoid disappointment. Registration for all tours closes on June 7, 2025.

>> Mission Conference

If you have a passion for or are involved in Mission, don’t miss out on being part of the Global Mission Conference Mission to be held ahead of the Congress opening on Wednesday, July 9. Numbers are limited. More information and the registration link are available here.

>> New! Preaching Symposium

In addition to seminars, the Congress will include a Preaching Symposium, an exciting new feature each afternoon from Thursday to Saturday. During the first part of the afternoon session, 2-3 preachers from around the world will each share a sermon. The preachers will then form a panel for interaction and Q&A with attendees on questions related to sermon preparation, delivery methods, pastoral leadership, and sermon content. It's a great opportunity to hear dynamic messages and gain wisdom for your ministry.

>> Interpretation

As we aim to provide access to the Congress to as many as possible, we will be seeking to offer interpretation of plenaries in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Burmese, Hakha Chin, Korean, and Mandarin. Bible Studies will also be provided each morning with options specifically for speakers of these languages. We encourage you to connect with friends and colleagues who speak these languages to invite them to attend the Congress.