New Baptist World Alliance resolution commits to serving vulnerable children

by Dr. Albert L. Reyes

An important step to better serve vulnerable children across the world was made July 8 when people of faith from around the world came together in Toronto, Canada for the annual meeting of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). BWA approved a resolution titled, “Serving Vulnerable Children.”

I care deeply about BWA, which I’ve previously described as a global network of 53 million Baptists in 138 countries linking both missions and ministry as two sides of the same coin through local congregations, associations, conventions, institutions, and fellowships to bring the kingdom near.

My involvement with BWA includes the recent completion of a five-year term as BWA’s North American regional vice president, and during the 2024 annual meeting, Buckner International was unanimously approved by the BWA General Council as a new member. Beginning in 2025, I began serving as a member of the BWA Trustee Committee and the Global Leadership Council. 

This is why a resolution from BWA to serve vulnerable children is so important to me. It further aligns Buckner and BWA around what we know is pure religion: “to visit orphans and widows in their distress.” (James 1:27)

The resolution calls on “The Global Baptist family and all followers of Jesus Christ to care about and pray unceasingly for the world’s vulnerable children who live in desperation.” But it doesn’t stop there. 

The next paragraph in the resolution encourages BWA members to “develop and expand effective ministries manifesting God’s love and compassion for vulnerable children of the world, using every resource at our disposal, and to share creative initiatives and fruitful service programs with others within our global Baptist family.”

Resolutions are affirmations of a shared commitment. They are a starting point – a spark – but it will require all of us to work together to create true outcomes in the lives of children.

On behalf of Buckner International and Buckner affiliated NGOs in Africa and Latin America, I am pledging our teams, resources, and expertise to heed this call and to be a resource at the disposal of those who want to become the hands and feet of Jesus by protecting vulnerable children.

Whether you are a church, a ministry, a BWA member, a Baptist, or another denomination, I hope you will also respond to BWA’s call for a world where every child knows love – God’s love and our love.