By Rusieljs G. Lunasco

CPBC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson Narciso during the CPU Senior High School 2nd Commencement Exercises last April 15, 2019.

Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso urged “churches to respond and engage meaningfully to the needs of our time “in a paper published in the newsletter of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Vol. XII. No. 3, Issue 20, 3rd Quarter, 2020.

He said that first as church, “we must accept and embrace the reality of our brokenness and vulnerability.

The shared sense of vulnerability can lead towards strengthening the spirit of interdependence, mutual accountability’s and redeeming Love for all humankind.

The pandemic presents new opportunities for the church to rethink and reconsider its usual way of doing this. He also discusses the challenge of dealing with the emerging internet culture and the formation of the so-called virtual Christianity.

Churches should be more proactive in responding to calamities at any given time. It is vital for human survival and the church should give substantial attention to it.

The global pandemic accentuates the call for unity among and between different churches and other organizations. More than ever we should be aware of the importance of living together in unity because of our chances of survival as human beings and as a church will depend so much on our ability to unite together for a common cause.

In his last point Rev. Narciso said that as the church journeys together its people should remember that God is responsive to needs and prayers. He encourages to not despair in the face of adversities but people should look up to God to work even in the worst of circumstances.

“As a community and as members of God’s household, we live in confidence in the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus! We believe that no pandemic, no illness or disease, nothing done by us and nothing done to us, not even death itself, can break God’s solidarity with us and with all creation.”

The Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC), a partner institution of Central Philippine University, is a member of the APBF.

APBF (originally named Asia Baptist Federation) was originally established in 1975 as one of the regional fellowships of the Baptist World Alliance.