Akangjungla Longchar
Dimapur | December 11
The fifth Living Water Conference launched by the Baptist World Alliance in 2005 will be in Dimapur from December 13 to the 16th. The host and venue will be Ao Baptist Church Dimapur. LWC is an international conference with focus on leadership and evangelism.
Asia Region Secretary BWA Rev. Bonny Resu who is in Dimapur while discussed with The Morung Express the problems being faced by the organizers of LWC in the initial arrangement said, “A big problem has been the permit” he explained. However, ‘we expect everybody to come,’ he added. With help from the Government of India, State Government, local administrations and the churches, all invitees from outside are expected to attend for the conference. He also confirmed that all outsiders from India have got the Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
Earlier this year the biggest Baptist Youth Convention, the National Youth carnival was without its main speaker, Dr Roger H Butz, Asian Missionary, USA, due to him being denied Restricted Area Permit (RAP). It was reported that the main speaker of the carnival was held up at Siliguri, while on his way to Dimapur, the venue of the carnival.
Rev. Bonny Resu further said that deciding on the venue was a problem as they need many small rooms for holding workshops. The main features of the conference will include Bible studies, affinity group/interest group workshops etc. The affinity group will comprise of theological educator, mission leaders, women and youth leaders and others. The evening service will be open for the public. Rev. Bonny Resu has extended special invitations to the public to attend the evening service at 4:00 pm.
Speakers of the conference include BWA President David Coffey, Ren Bobo from the US, General Secretary Neville Callam, and divisional directors Fausto Vasconcelos, Paul Montacute, Alan Stanford and Emmett Dunn, President of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Wood-Ping Chu of Hong Kong, and BWA Regional Secretary for Asia, Bonny Resu and Dr. Wati Aier from Nagaland. The conference has been held in Russia, Brazil, Kenya, and Thailand. The BWA has scheduled another conference in Australia in January 2009.
Rev Bonny said that the reason for launching the conference was ‘to focus on the leaders of the Baptist Church, motivate them to get more involved in God’s work.’ Approximately 500 officially delegates by invitation are expected to attend the conference. The delegates will be mostly from South Asia.
