wfn.org | American Baptist News Wrap-Up Dec.29,1995

[George Gundrey <ggundrey@igc.apc.org>]

American Baptist News Service_____________________
PRESS RELEASE
Office of Communication / American Baptist Churches
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320
Richard W. Schramm, Director_______________________

News Wrap-Up________________December 29, 1995

     o  American Baptists were among more than 150 leaders of
Christian denominations and organizations who met recently to share
"prayer and vision" in support of a major evangelism effort in the
U.S. in the closing years of the 20th century.  Dr. Daniel E. Weiss,
general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, and the Rev.
Brenda R. Halliburton, director of Community Evangelistic Strategies
for American Baptist National Ministries, participated in the event,
"Evangelism Consultation 2000," held Dec. 7-9 in Chicago.  Co-sponsored by
the Billy Graham Center Institute of Evangelism and Mission America, the
consultation sought "to discover matters which can be undertaken by
organizations in conjunction with each other, and to identify ministry
resources which can be shared," according to its organizers.  In extending
greetings, Dr. Billy Graham noted, "The need for and the opportunity to
share the gospel with every person in the United States has never been
greater.  As we look to the year 2000, there's a sense of urgency in
fulfilling this goal." Consultation participants considered strategies in
key areas of evangelism: youth, media, cities and prayer.  A conference
draft will be issued outlining results of that planning.

     o  Word has been received of the death Nov. 11 of Millicent
Grace Engel, a former American Baptist missionary in China and Haiti.
She was 77.  Engel served in public health ministry in Swatow, China,
following World War II, and later served in health ministries in
Haiti and Alaska.

     o  Dr. Rodney I. Page, executive director of Ecumenical
Ministries of Oregon since 1982, has been named executive director of
Church World Service and Witness (CWS), the relief, development and
refugee assistance ministry of the National Council of Churches of
Christ.  The American Baptist World Relief Office and National
Ministries' Office of National Disaster Response, utilizing One Great
Hour of Sharing funds, work extensively with CWS to meet emergency
needs around the world.  CWS supports church bodies and agencies in
more than 70 countries.  Approximately 40 percent of its $42-million
budget is raised through community and public appeals, including CROP
Walks and other events.

     o  The Faith and Values Channel (F&V) announced earlier this
month that it had broken the 25- million subscriber mark.  F&V,
endorsed by many American Baptists, was the eighth fastest growing
ad-supported cable network in 1995, according to the A.C. Nielsen
Company.  Nielsen also reported that F&V ranked second in family viewing
among 32 networks.

     o  The Baptist World Alliance is developing strategies to
significantly increase its membership in predominantly Roman Catholic
countries in Europe.  At a recent gathering of European Baptist
leaders in Toulouse, France, BWA President Nilson Fanini said, "Given
our doctrinal differences, there will always be a need for Baptists
to plant churches, even where there are many Catholic congregations."
But Fanini cautioned that Baptists need to exercise "courtesy and
fellowship with those who have ploughed the ground before us and who
believe in many Christian doctrines precious to Baptists."  The
Toulouse gathering included discussion of the theory and practice of
church planting, as well as reports from Baptists who have
established congregations in "difficult areas."  American Baptist
Churches USA and more than 185 other Baptist bodies worldwide are
related to the BWA, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 1995.

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