PBF Sunday—every year, on the third Sunday of August we are instituting to have the whole Asia pacific region celebrate God’s faithful love, our history, identity and the fruitful work He is doing in our midst!
We call APBF to celebrate our past in how God led us by His faithful hands, and blessed us with churches, leaders and members and how He will continue to favor us as we move forward on the wings of His Spirit. Being the region with the largest land mass and the biggest 22 countries, 62 conventions and have more than 33,000 churches. We have every good reason to praise God for His love for APBF.
APBF Sunday will remind us that we belong to a BIG Baptist family seeking to unite our communities spread out over 22 countries to have a sense of belonging in God's work in Asia pacific. As we join heads, hands and hearts to worship God on that day together, we also seek His grace and wisdom to transform lives in Christ across the region.
It is with the prayer and hope that APBF Sunday will give us the chance to engage with each other however far or near we are and be united through fervent, faithful prayers as we worship God together on that glorious Sunday. “Together We Are Strong” and we shall remain strong to serve God together in the proclamation of the glorious Gospel across the Asia Pacific (Matt. 28:19-20). God richly bless you. A fellow pilgrim in this sacred journey! - Rev. Edwin Lam President, APBF
“Imagine a movement across the Asia/Pacific Region of Baptists who loved each other with a radical kind of love. They shared their lives with one another. They laughed and cried, prayed and sang, and served together to build the kingdom of God as authentic Christ followers. Those who had more shared freely with those who had less. People related together in ways that bridged gender and racial chasms and celebrated genera-tional and cultural differences. Imag-ine believers offering people a vision of life that was so beautiful it took their breath away. So bold, so creative, and so dynamic that they couldn’t resist it. We are better when we work together!” - Rev. Mark Wilson Vice President, APBF
When we read 2 Tim. 3:14-15, we see how Paul is encouraging Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings”. As a member of an older genera-tion, Paul is a model for Timothy to follow.
APBF has come a long way from its inception as one of the regional body of the Baptist World Alliance. Our past leaders have given much of their life’s service to make APBF where we are.
When we celebrate APBF Sunday, we must not forget as Paul reminds us “Join with me in suffering for the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:8), “Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me” (2 Tim. 1:13). No organization is a ‘piece of cake’. It requires fully committed prayer, constant determination and a clear guidance from God.
May we take the third Sunday of August to remind us of the com-mitment we must make as Bap-tists in the Asia Pacific, holding the blessings of our past leaders and moving forward to stronger together in the proclamation of the gospel here and to the ends of the earth.
Take encouragement and proudly celebrate what God has done for us! Let us continue to follow the footsteps of our leaders. Blessings to all who call APBF its home. - Mr. Bijoy Sangma Vice President, APBF
We all value the celebration of birthdays because it reminds you of being a person with a name. It gives you history. It gives you identity. It gives you meaning. No matter how old a person is birth-days are special. Expectations of birthdays are valuable past that brings sweet, nostalgic memories.
It is good to remember what God has done for us through APBF. From the very first meeting of Baptists in 1956 to its formation as APBF in 1975, we have come this far as one body of Baptists living out the gospel.
Who are we? We are ‘You and Me’ from the remotest area of the planet earth that covers more than half of the world’s population. From the mountains of Nepal to the shores of the Pacific, we are one family.
APBF brought to each one of us the belongingness that we are people of ‘one hope, one faith, one baptism’. And as people of the book ‘The Bible’, we are a group of ‘Christ loving people’ who contin-ues to proclaim the good news, share faith passionately, and live out the gospel at home or commu-nity since the good news came to the Asia-Pacific some 300 years ago.
The APBF calls upon all the member bodies to celebrate the third Sunday as APBF Foundation Day-APBF Sunday. - Rev. Dr. Vesekhoyi Tetseo
While the third Sunday of August has been designated for celebra-tion it also calls for us an honest evaluation of our progress which would challenge us to an improve-ment in the use of our time and lives for the glory of God.
Romans 15:5-6: “May the God who gives endurance and encour-agement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I believe that Paul is not asking us to be identical but rather to be unified (Rom 12:16; 2 Cor 13:11). This unity includes “having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” (Phil 2:2), and
“agree[ing] with each other in the Lord” (Phil 4:2)
How can I be a unifying presence in the ministry or fellowship that I am a part of? Pray that God will use you to unite the group in spirit and purpose.
May God continue to bless you all. - Ratu Inoke Kuboabole Vice President, APBF
