Posted on Dec 18, 2003 | by Staff

FRANKFURT, Germany (BP)--The European Baptist Convention has voted to change its name to International Baptist Convention, according to a report from the convention's general secretary, Jimmy Martin.

"IBC captures our identity, location and missions vision," Martin said.

The convention encompasses English-speaking churches in 21 European nations and one in the Middle East. More than 100 nationalities are represented in the convention's churches; some churches have more than 30 nationalities among their members.

Future possibilities exist to expand into other nations beyond Europe, Martin noted of a new initiative to plant additional international English-speaking churches.

During the convention's annual meeting Oct. 29-30 in Frankfurt, Germany, messengers unanimously approved a recommendation from the IBC's church development ministry team, which read:

"We desire to reach the nations with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is hoped that this will include every member church of the EBC. We are calling ourselves to a renewed passion to reach the nations through churches planting churches. We are calling for each church within the Convention to begin a regular time of prayer for planting new churches and to commit to personal involvement in planting new churches."

Messengers from 12 nations of Europe and the Middle East attended the annual meeting, with the theme of "Together -- For Christ, One Another, and the World." The convention's current officers were re-elected for an additional year: Richard Blake, a pastor in Heidelberg, Germany, president; Doyle Searcy, a pastor in Frankfurt, vice president; Rosemary Jenkins, a church member in Oberursel, Germany, treasurer; and Lorraine Stringer, church member in Frankfurt, clerk.
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