UK Baptist churches invited to be part of global mission initiative
UK Baptist churches are invited to join a global effort from the Baptist World Alliance that seeks 'unprecedented collaboration in God's global mission' to mark the 2000th anniversary of the Church
The Acts 2 Movement is an initiative in anticipation of the anniversary birth of the Church in 2033.
The aim is to 'mobilize the whole of the Baptist family in prayerful pursuit of a global Pentecost, that in the Holy Spirit, overflows in church renewal and holistic Gospel witness in every language around the world'.
At the core of the initiative are five paths, each drawn from Acts 2. Each path has a particular goal to which Baptists are encouraged to contribute.
The paths are:
Witness path - which is drawn from Acts 2:41 "Those who accepted his message were baptised"
Goal: 450 million shared testimonies
Bible path - Acts 2:42 "devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching"
Goal: 1159 languages engaged through prayer and Bible translation support
Care path - Acts 2: 44-45 "give to anyone who had need"
Goal: 1 billion intentional acts of service
Neighbour path - Acts 2:46 "they... ate together with glad and sincere hearts"
Goal: 500,000 neighbourhood lay chaplains, focusing on praying for and serving neighbours
Freedom and Justice path - Acts 2:47 "the favour of all people"
Goal: 1 million signatures on the covenant of religious freedom
The movement is supported by Everyone Everywhere, the Baptist collaboration that seeks to equip Baptists to share Jesus fully.
Simon Goddard, part of the Everyone Everywhere steering group, said, 'For the Everyone Everywhere initiative, this Witness Path perfectly aligns with our vision. Sharing our stories is essential for church planting and evangelism, as personal testimonies are often the most powerful way to communicate the Gospel to those who may not yet know Christ.
'This emphasis on witnessing encourages UK churches to cultivate a deeper, more intentional approach to evangelism - one that empowers individuals to speak boldly about the impact of faith in their lives.
'While the Witness Path remains at the heart of the Everyone Everywhere initiative, the other pathways are vital too.
'Together, these pathways create a holistic approach to mission, one that empowers churches to not only witness through words but also through deeds, service, and prayer.
'UK churches can be encouraged by knowing that their church planting and evangelism efforts are part of a global initiative.
'This is a moment for us to join our Baptist brothers and sisters around the world in sharing the Gospel, building relationships, and reaching out with love, service, and prayer.'
Baptist Times, 18/06/2025