PM to address International Baptist Convention

Representatives from 15 Baptist organisations in Trinidad and Tobago will host both regional and international Baptist contingents for the 4th Annual International Convention of the Universal Ecclesiastical Order of Spiritual Baptists. This was revealed yesterday by Bishop Leon John at a press conference held by the member Baptist Organisations, along with their advisory body, the Rose Foundation. Bishop John said the convention, which will be held July 21 to July 27, will focus on the theme of the main event: “Spiritual Baptists Leaders in the Transformation and Development of the Society.” Listed to address the Symposium at the Hilton Trinidad next Sunday is Prime Minister, Patrick Manning.

Bishop John has also invited the entire Baptist community to be part of the convention to bring Baptists to the fore. He said, “The Spiritual Baptist community in TT has been going about their business very quietly, at least we have been the guardians of the nation, if we stop and think of the villages where we have the members constantly in prayer for the nation. But we think we are at the stage where the Spiritual Baptist community needs to come to the fore and take the lead in really uplifting the nation, and moving forward and meeting all the challenges that face us at this time,” he added. Bishop John explained that the convention was to galvanise the movement unto the international stage and create a forum for the global advancement of the faith.

Some 173 delegates have already registered to attend the convention which is estimated to cost the movement approximately $600,000. Bishop John said they were getting great help from the government, along with the support of credit unions and other private sector businesses. The local Baptist organisations taking part include all Archdioceses in TT, the National Congress of Incorporated Baptists, Independent Spiritual Baptist Churches and the Spiritual Baptist Foundation. Foreign contingents will be coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The movement of Spiritual Baptist consists of two million people worldwide, of which over 300,000 come from TT.