Impressions Najaars-AV 2010

 At the General Meeting in Apeldoorn the Baptist Union signed a cooperation contract with Youth for Christ. Anita Eijkelboom was also presented as the new youth coach, who will work 32 hours a week for the Union. The congregations expressed appreciation for this investment in youth work.

 The Assembly started with an opening by Nigel Wright, Rector of Spurgeon's College in London. He read Matthew 16:13-19, the part where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, on which Jesus replied that upon this rock He would build his church. "Jesus builds his church on the rock of confessing disciples," Wright said. "Fortunately the building is not depending on us. Jesus is building his own church, He promises, and that is our hope. As confessing Christians, we are given the keys of the kingdom of heaven.This enables us to open the doors of the kingdom, for people to let go in. That is our task: to help people find what we have found ourselves, by our witness." Read here a point by point summary of the speech in English.

 The first item on the meeting agenda was the proposal for cooperation with Youth for Christ. This means that the youth worker of the Union will be employed by te youth organization. It is difficult, according to the Union Administration, to function as a soloist in the youth work. After the proposal was unanimously accepted,  Corjan Matsinger signed the contract for YfC, while Union President Jannes Hofman signed for the Union.

 In the evening, some changes to the statutes and bylaws were brought under discussion. The Seminar made a note for the churches with guidance of the sabbatical leave of pastors, and rector Teun van der Leer was to present two new books: "Calvin, the Baptists and the church of tomorrow" and the third book in the  Baptistica Series. The budget for 2011 was adopted unanimously.

Furthermore, the Assembly brought a fascinating presentation of the church planting work in the deprived area Kruiskamp in Amersfoort and an overview of the activities of the task areas Mission and Diaconate, and Evangelism. It became clear that there are many initiatives within the Union, and the congregations are invited to make use of all that is offered.

See here more pictures in the web album.