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The first Baptist work in the Asia region was started in 1793 by William Carey and friends of the Baptist Mission Society, when they came to India.This was followed by many other Baptist missionaries from North America and Europe and even from our own region – from Austrlia and New Zealand. Today most countries in Asia have Baptist believers and churches.
The Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) was known as Asian Baptist Federation till May 2007. The APBF was formed in 1973 at Hong Kong as ABF. In the 7 th Congress of ABF, held at Chinagmai, Thailand, the name Asian Baptist Federation was changed to Asia Pacific Baptist Federation. This was done in recognition of the diversity within the geographically largest continental federation within the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). The name change seeks to more accurately reflect the composition of the regional body, which includes countries in the South Pacific such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. The ABF comprises Baptist Conventions both in Asia proper as well as the Oceania – Pacific region.
Today the APBF is formed of 55 Baptist conventions from 20 countries, worshipping in over 25,000 local churches from as far as Sri Lanka to South Korea, Nepal to New Zealand, India to Fiji.
APBF member conventions/unions come from diverse economic and political backgrounds. The APBF provides an important platform for Baptists of the Asia – Pacific region to relate to one another and work together in partnership in some key areas of ministry viz. mission, leadership development, pastoral training, theological education, aid and development etc.
ABF also has auxiliary departments such as Women, Youth and Men.
Functions of APBF:
The functions of the FEDERATION within its defined area of membership and cooperation and as region of the Baptist World Alliance are:
- To promote fellowships, cooperation, and service among Baptist.
- To function as a region of the Baptist World Alliance.
- To assist in uniting and promoting the activities of special groups:(men,women,youth, etc.)
- To stimulate and coordinate evangelism.
- To assist in consultation and planning of Relief and Development Aid Programs.
- To assist in consultation and planning of missionary work.
- To consult with other Christian organizations.
- To undertake such additional activities as the FEDERATION may from time to time determine.
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