Dr Raúl Scialabba Honored for Lifetime of Advocacy
Virginia, July 12 (MExN): In conjunction with the 22nd Baptist World Congress, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) presented the 2020 Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award to Raúl Scialabba. The BWA has a long history of advocating for religious freedom, human rights, and justice.
To recognize leadership in this area, the Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award is given in recognition of a lifetime of achievement to an individual who has shown significant accomplishments in global advocacy for human rights and the pursuit of social justice, according to an official release from the BWA.
Dr Raúl Scialabba has been involved in the life of Baptist churches since his childhood and has been a leader within the BWA for decades, including service as a BWA Vice President and a member of numerous executive committees. He also served on the BWA Commission on Religious Freedom, the Freedom and Justice Commission, and the Special Commission on Baptists Against Racism. He is currently serving as a trustee for the BWA’s 21 Wilberforce Global Freedom Center.
Dr Scialabba has been a defender of religious freedom in Argentina and throughout Latin America. In addition to being a voice for Baptists in different areas of the Argentine national government, he helped create and lead CALIR, Consejo Argentino para la Libertad Religiosa (Argentine Council for Religious Freedom). In 2019, he worked in conjunction with BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown to liberate Gregory José Pérez, Executive Director of Unión Nacional Bautista de Jóvenes de Venezuela, who was unjustly incarcerated by the Maduro regime. Alongside his legal efforts, Dr Scialabba raised funds for “Arepitas de Vida,” a ministry providing meals and resources for thousands of needy children in Venezuela.
‘It is truly my honor to welcome a new leader to this legacy of leadership in the area of human rights,’ said Tomбs Mackey, BWA President. “It is particularly special to me because of the long friendship I have shared with this man and the impact of his life and ministry that I have witnessed firsthand.”
As a representative of CALIR, Dr Scialabba participated in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom Forum in both 2018 and 2019, an international event which gathered hundreds of government representatives, religious leaders, survivors of religious persecutions, and members of civil society for the advancement of religious freedom.
When accepting the award, Scialabba said, “Ultimately our desire for religious freedom is nothing more or less than our desire to faithfully follow our Lord Jesus Christ. As Baptists we must treasure our commitment to religious liberty, which has been one of our standards for more than 400 years. We must be, as Baptists, the voice of the voiceless.”
Awarded every five years, previous recipients include Corneille Gato Munyamasoko (Rwanda), Denton Lotz (USA), Lauran Bethell (USA), Saw Simon (Myanmar), and former US President Jimmy Carter (USA).
22nd Baptist World Congress draws over 140 countries
VIRGINIA, July 12 (MExN): The Baptist World Congress ended on July 10 with a closing celebration featuring worship from around the world, a presidential address by Baptist World Alliance (BWA) President Tomás Mackey, a sermon from Dr Robert Smith, and the announcement of the 2025 Baptist World Congress location.
“We are delighted that we were able to be ‘Together’ this week during our first virtual Congress and experience the fellowship, unity, and diversity of our global Baptist family,” said Carolina Mangieri, Director of Global Events and Fellowship. “With dynamic speakers, inspiring worship, powerful times of prayer, and global communion, the 22nd Baptist World Congress was a historic event that united Baptists from around the world.”
With more than 4,000 registrants from over 140 countries, this Congress was the most globally diverse gathering in the BWA’s 116-year history.
“In the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, the BWA family came together in diversity, worship, mission, and hope. In this historic moment with registrants from an unprecedented 146 countries, we declared again that we are united in Jesus Christ and united in living out God’s holistic Gospel,” said BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown.
The closing celebration also included an invitation to attend the 23rd Baptist World Congress to be held in Brisbane, Australia from July 9-12, 2025. The event will be hosted by Australian Baptist Ministries and Baptist Union of Queensland.
“On behalf of Australian Baptist Ministries, we want to welcome you to come to the Baptist World Congress,” said Mark Wilson, National Ministries Director.
