While the countdown began for the 100 year celebrations for Baptists in the Holy Land, The Association of Baptist Churches in Israel is glad to announce that several key leaders of Baptist work from around the world have confirmed attending this celebration.


Dr. Clyde Meador is the interim president of the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. The IMB (Known before as the Foreign Mission Board) has been the partner in building Baptist work in the Holy Land between 1923 and 1994. The first American missionaries arrived in Palestine in 1923 to strengthen the Nazareth Baptist Church and expand into new areas like Tel-Aviv and Haifa. During these years until the mid 1990-s, Southern Baptists have generously supported the work to build the Baptist work as it is in Israel today.

Rev. John Upton is the new elected president of the Baptist World alliance, the umbrella organization for Baptists around the world with around 100 Million people. The Association of Baptist Churches in Israel is a member of the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance and keeps in contact with the larger Baptist Community.

Rev. David Coffey from the United Kingdom is a supporter and advocate of Baptist work in Israel and the Middle East. He served as general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain before was elected president of the Baptist World alliance (2005-2010). He now serves as a global ambassador for the British Baptist Missionary society (BMS world Mission).

Nazareth the Comedian is another guest that confirmed participating in the celebrations. He was born in the Holy Land and has been performing in the USA where he lives. He performs at Theaters, Corporations, Churches, Colleges and Universities around the US. Check his web site at http://www.nazarethusa.com.

Baptist.org.il