Ghana, West Africa witnessed an African descendant, Jamaica's Neville Callam, elected as General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. This historic event saw the first non- European and non-American chosen to serve in this capacity. Baptists worldwide are celebrating this milestone achievement in the life of the BWA.

The euphoric words out of Accra, Ghana from a source among the Jamaica Baptist delegation fueled my envy at missing such a momentous occasion. The proud declaration was - "What a joy and honor for the people of Jamaica, Caribbean and two-thirds world!!!" [Their exclamation marks]

Indeed the entire South has been elevated to worldwide prominence among global Baptists as a result of this historic event. Caribbean Baptists are celebrating. However, nowhere will this pride resound than in Callam's home country Jamaica.

The new General Secretary assumes his duties in September in Virginia, USA. There he will participate in the leadership of the BWA as its chief executive officer. That is one daunting task. However, our brother is no 'weak-heart' :-)

Rev. Callam's work as a leader in this organization will touch the lives of millions of Baptists worldwide. The BWA reports a "membership of over 36 million baptized believers representing a general community of over 110 million Baptists worldwide that are part of more than 200 conventions and unions."

We global Baptists are so many, so varied and yet as we say in the Caribbean - 'Di whole a wi a one' [We are all one].

The Associated Baptist Press reported Callam as highlighting the joyful declaration of the worldwide Baptist family celebrating its global reach. Every member of the Baptist World Alliance is a gift to the organization. We all belong together.'

How true! My prayer is that the message of unity over doctrinal differences will spread among Baptists especially in North America. The winds of such change will have a profound impact on Panama as well. Panama Baptists need to catch the vision of the power in our unity as Baptists; a unity most desperately needed among Christians in general.

One report coming out of Ghana highlighted how the Baptist delegates who gathered in Ghana re-affirmed their commitment to unity. Finally, we members of the BWA are taking Jesus' prayer in John 17:1-ff seriously enough to place such unapologetic emphasis on it, while other Baptists are preoccupied with doctrinal wars.

My curiosity about a planned Memorial and Reconciliation service in my previous article has now been satisfied. I did wonder if there was going to be some kind of symbolic act of confession on the part of the descendants of both slaveholders and Africans who sold their fellow Africans into enslavement. A potentially offensive bit of truth I know.

On Thursday July 5th the special service was held at the Cape Coast Slave Castle. I understand that the service included moments of remembrance, confession, and yes there was pardon too. This act was in honor of the Africans who were sold into enslavement during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. I am certain I would have been moved to tears at such a service and doubt that I would be alone. Just the thought of it...

I congratulate Rev. Neville Callam and the alliance of worldwide Baptists! The Grace and Peace of Christ be with him and his wife Dulcie as they migrate to the USA to start their ministry there.