Leaders from across our mission community and valued global south ministry partners will come together next week for our first Baptist Mission Australia Global Gathering in Hua Hin in Thailand.

This new-look gathering builds on the strong platform of previous Team Leaders’ and Global Roundtable conferences.

Team leaders from across the world, ministry specialist, an emerging leader and ministry partner representatives based in Zimbabwe, South East Asia and Thailand will join the Leadership Team at the gathering, celebrating partnership and collaboration. The theme of the gathering will be ‘The Leader’s Lens’ as we focus on a range of key leadership related topics.

Aligned with our Future Directions strategy, the gathering intentionally brings together leaders from within our mission community and ministry partners for shared listening and learning, equipping and encouragement.

I’m looking forward to creating space for our leaders to hear directly from some of our ministry partners. This will enable us to pursue our goal of shaping mutually beneficial partnerships. Our partners will also benefit from rubbing shoulders with and gleaning from the experiences of our team leaders from across the world.

The gathering kicks off on Monday and runs to Friday afternoon. Can I invite you to join me in praying for this strategic gathering, for the participants’ travel and for the Holy Spirit’s leading and renewing work during the week.

Next week will also see leaders from across our Australian Baptist movement come together in Canberra for Converge 2026. 

Converge each year brings together Baptist leaders from State associations and national bodies, like Baptist Mission Australia, for advocacy meetings with Federal Government Ministers, Members of Parliament and Senators from all sides of politics. Each year there is an advocacy focus. Last year the Converge campaign centred on the Myanmar conflict and the needs of displaced people, and our shared Baptist advocacy led to some good campaign outcomes being achieved.

This year’s Converge theme centres on specific initiatives to reduce domestic and family violence and provide better support to women and children escaping violence. 

Our organisation will be represented in Canberra by our Communications Manager Teagan Dwyer-Riviere, who has attended several Converge gatherings gaining good advocacy experience, along with new Board member Hedda Ngan. Hedda also has good advocacy experience from her work in the community development sector.

Baptist Mission Australia joins in Converge each year because of our strong commitment to advocate for the just ways of Jesus, be that across the world and Australia in the locations we serve and in our Federal Parliament. As an organisation we stand against all forms of gender violence.

Please pray for Teagan and Hedda and other Converge delegates.