FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) – The head of the Baptist World Alliance has sent a letter of solidarity to Baptists in Norway in response to recent mass killings in that country that claimed at least 76 lives.
Neville Callam, general secretary of the worldwide Baptist Fellowship voiced sadness about “the senseless loss of life” resulting from a July 22 bombing by a right-wing extremist followed by the shooting deaths of at least 68 young people at an island camp.
Terje Aadne, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Norway, thanked Callam for the letter. Aadne said the country had "experienced a most horrible attack on human life, on our government, and our nation," and told Callam that "your greetings to us as fellow believers and to our nation warms our hearts and truly reflects God's fellowship and love to us in a time such as this."
Callam assured Baptists in the Scandinavian country that "Baptists around the world, together with other people of goodwill, are holding you all in our prayers," particularly for those who lost loved ones, who were physically injured, and those who were traumatized by the mass murder.
The BWA leader expressed his hope that peace will reign in the face of such "terror of pointless violence," and urged Norwegians to remain firm and strong "as a democratic, peace-loving country."
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