wfn.org | ABCUSA: ABCUSA, South African Bodies Sign Covenants

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (10/23/02)--In a ceremony Oct. 17 here at the
American Baptist Churches Mission Center, covenants were signed to formalize
the partnerships between American Baptist International Ministries and two
South African Baptist bodies, the Baptist Association of South Africa (BASA)
and the Baptist Mission of South Africa (BMSA).  

The South African groups were represented by a ten-person delegation that
included the presidents (Rodney Ragwan, BASA, and Brian Naidoo, BMSA) and
general secretaries (Marjorie Nathaniel, BASA, and Daniel Philip, BMSA) of
each.  Charles Jones, area director for Africa, represented International
Ministries.

The two Indian groups trace their history to a common root.  A
Telugu-speaking missionary from South India arrived in Durban in 1903 to
begin Baptist work among the growing Indian population in South Africa.
That missionary was sent by a South Indian Baptist movement that grew out of
the endeavors of American Baptist missionaries who began work among the
Telugu people in 1836.	

For several years International Ministries has been engaging in a variety of
shared ministries while developing relationships with BASA and BMSA.  

The signing ceremony was part of a two-week visit to the U.S. by the South
African delegation.  During their time in the U.S. the delegation was
co-hosted by the Philadelphia Baptist Association, American Baptist Churches
of Los Angeles and International Ministries.

02ABN152
  
American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org