Amsterdam 400

Amsterdam 400

In the early 1600s  a group of religious refugees from England gathered in the back room of an Amsterdam bakery to pray and study the Bible together. By 1609 a group of them had formed what we have come to know as core Baptist convictions, especially the necessity of a believers’ church, separated from state control and practising believers’ baptism. From these modest beginnings the Baptists spread through England, North America and Europe and beyond to become a worldwide movement with a community of around 100 million members today.

European Baptists will celebrate this significant 400th anniversary in Amsterdam from 24-26 July, 2009 in the splendid surroundings of the RAI Centre in Amsterdam.  Baptists do not only want to review their historical beginnings at this celebration event, but also seek to discern God’s calling on them for the future. Like that first small group of believers in 1609 they will be challenged to ‘dare to be different’ as they face the challenges of today’s secularised society as Christian believers.

The Amsterdam 400 conference provides a unique opportunity for the EBF family to come together in larger numbers for the first time since 1994. Inspiring speakers have been invited to draw on the past by exploring Baptists beginnings and yet help cast the EBF vision for the future. All this will be done in a context of lively worship which will draw on the full richness and variety of worship traditions within the EBF. The Amsterdam 400 event will also offer a full programme involving seminars, music, drama, and art. Focus areas will allow informal conversation and learning together on mission, religious freedom and human rights, theological education and Baptist history.

Young families will be especially welcome with a programme for children aged 12 and under.

EBF

Event organised by the
European Baptist Federation

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