FALLS CHURCH, Va.—A team from Dallas Baptist University helped renovate the Baptist World Alliance offices during spring break.
Six DBU physical operations personnel spent a week repainting and replacing carpet in the second floor of the BWA offices in northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The Texas Baptist Missions Foundation provided $5,000 for the project.
“Improvements to the building will enhance our capacity to pursue the mission of the BWA to network the Baptist family to impact the world for Christ,” said Elijah Brown, BWA general secretary.
Brown—who spoke at DBU in January—expressed appreciation to the university, particularly singling out President Adam Wright and members of the physical operations team, led by Jonathan Teat, vice president for administrative affairs at DBU.
Wright noted he committed the team to the project as an expression of the historical bond between the university and BWA.
“For years, DBU has been honored to be a part of the Baptist World Alliance, and we believe in the work that they do to act as a voice for the Baptist family around the world,” he said.
DBU chancellor and immediate past president, Gary Cook, is a former member of the BWA General Council, chair of the promotion and development committee and a charter member of the General Secretary’s Circle. Other DBU faculty and former students also have played key roles in the BWA.
BWA presidents Billy Kim, David Coffey, John Upton and Paul Msiza, along with former general secretaries Denton Lotz and Neville Callam, have visited the DBU campus.
“We have known Dr. Elijah Brown for many years and were thrilled to see him named as the new head of this organization,” Wright noted. Brown is the first Texas Baptist to serve as BWA general secretary.
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“As Dr. Brown seeks to begin this new season of growth and advancement in the history of the BWA, we could not be more pleased than to demonstrate our partnership and support by serving over spring break to help refresh their offices,” Wright added.
Teat called it “an honor to serve” BWA by working on the renovation project.
“We are grateful to God to come and be a small part of what you’re all doing around the world,” he said. “As we worked, we’ve been praying for the people that would be in this space. Our prayer is that this work is representative of the strong relationship that DBU has with the BWA.”
BWA will hold an open house at its offices once the renovation project is completed, Brown noted.
“BWA looks forward to continuing to be a space of welcome for Baptists from around the world,” he said.
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