FALLS CHURCH – Singapore will be the site of the Baptist Youth World Conference in 2013, organizers of the once-every-five-years event have announced.
The ethnically and religiously diverse city-state was selected because of its convenient Southeast Asian location and relatively easy visa application regime, said Emmett Dunn, who coordinates the conference. Dunn is director of the youth department of the Baptist World Alliance, the worldwide organization which sponsors the event.
The Singapore Baptist Convention also presented an “outstanding proposal” to the BWA, said Dunn, who was impressed with the close cooperation between the convention and island nation’s tourist board. Leaders of the Singapore convention, which includes about 30 congregations and some 7,000 members, also believe the youth conference will enhance the status of Baptists in their country.
The Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre will be the site of the Baptist Youth World Conference in 2013. (Photo courtesy of SIC&EC)
|
“This is a God-given opportunity to Singapore to play its part in the global Baptist community,” Peter Tang, the convention’s general secretary, told BWA leaders. “The entire Baptist community shares the joy and exuberance that Singapore is given this honor, especially as more than 50 percent of Singapore is below the age of 25. The youth will rise to the challenge to make it a spiritual blessing and life transforming experience.”
“With the dynamic growth of Baptist young people in Asia, we expect 6,000 to 7,000 young people to attend this conference,” said Dunn. The last Baptist Youth World Conference, held in Leipzig, Germany, in 2008, attracted about 6,300 youth from 88 countries.
The Singapore youth conference will be the 16th since the first was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1931.
A specific 2013 date will be announced next year but it likely will be in July, said Dean Miller of Richmond, a member of the BWA youth department’s international program committee, which plans the conference. Miller is missions learning coordinator for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
“We had great enthusiasm from students and leaders in Virginia last year for the BYWC in Leipzig,” said Miller. “We had over 300 Virginia Baptist students and adults attend the conference with over 200 of them traveling early to participate in mission projects with our international partners."
In the fact, there were more participants from Baptist General Association of Virginia churches than from any other BWA member body except Germany, the host country, Miller said.
"And I can see that number increasing for Singapore in 2013," he said.
Miller noted that “there is much work to be done over the next four years, but I can honestly say that there are not many projects or events that I have worked with that create worldwide enthusiasm and truly bring the world of Baptists together like the BYWC."
Dunn said Singapore was selected after extensive site visits by the BWA to inspect conference, accommodation, transportation and other facilities. Planning for the youth conference will begin in earnest in March 2010 when the international program committee holds its first meeting at BWA headquarters in Falls Church.
A local arrangements committee will be formed in Singapore early in 2010. The theme for the conference is expected to be announced in Honolulu during the July 28-Aug. 1 Baptist World Congress — the celebration of the world’s Baptists held every five years.
Since independence from Britain in 1965, Singapore has cultivated religious toleration among its diverse population. About 42 percent of the country’s 4.6 million people are Buddhists. Christians and Muslims each make up about 15 percent, and there are smaller numbers of Hindus, Taoists and other religions. Almost 15 percent claim no religious affiliation.
During National Day celebration earlier this month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore’s prosperity – the nation is ranked the fifth wealthiest country in the world — depends on people respecting the beliefs of others.
“Christians can’t expect this to be a Christian society,” Lee was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “Muslims can’t expect this to be a Muslim society, ditto with the Buddhists, the Hindus and the other groups.”
“We all have to adopt ‘live and let live’ as our principle,” he said.
Robert Dilday is managing editor of the Religious Herald.