In nine years, the global church will celebrate what Elijah Brown calls “the greatest anniversary in the history of the world.”

“2033 will be the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus … the 2,000th anniversary of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of the Great Commission. The 2,000th anniversary of the first Christian martyr,” said Brown, general secretary and CEO of Baptist World Alliance.

Brown spoke Tuesday evening (Nov. 12) during the third worship session of the 2024 annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia at First Baptist Church Alexandria.

Commonwealth Worship, a collective of 21 musicians from 19 churches in the Washington, D.C., metro area, began the service with a selection of contemporary worship songs and traditional hymns, all chosen to emphasize the night’s theme, “Freedom in Christ.”

‘Will we … love our neighbor?’

Brown continued the theme, sharing how Baptist World Alliance is looking ahead to 2033 with the Acts 2 Movement, a strategic plan that includes prayer, church renewal and an intentional, collaborative effort focused on sharing the gospel in every language, neighborhood and nation.

“John 8:36 says, ‘if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ But tonight, will we use our freedom in Christ to love our neighbor?”

Drawing inspiration from Acts 2, BWA is encouraging churches and individuals worldwide to renew their commitment to sharing the gospel, performing acts of service and standing for justice.

“Two thousand years ago, a group of disciples so much smaller than what is in this room gathered in an upper room and for the first time in history, the Holy Spirit permanently filled them.”

“What if, for the glory of Jesus, we pray, ‘Lord, what You did 2,000 years ago, would You do it again?’”

Such a movement, Brown said, cannot be an effort solely by preachers, pastors and missionaries, he said. “It will need every believer.”

Acts 2 Movement

The vision includes a revival marked by unity, prayer and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It includes five paths, each with a specific goal based in Acts 2:

Witness Path: The goal is for believers to share 450 million personal testimonies by 2033 to reach the unreached with the message of Christ.

Bible Path: Focus on translating the Bible into all remaining languages so that everyone can access God’s Word by 2033. This involves prayer teams and translation efforts for over 1,100 languages that lack any Scripture.

Care Path: Aim to perform 1 billion intentional acts of service globally by 2033. This includes addressing needs like hunger, loneliness and other social issues through personal and collective efforts.

Freedom Path: Advocate for religious freedom and stand with persecuted believers, especially in conflict zones like Myanmar, Ukraine and beyond. The goal is to get 1 million signatures on the Covenant of Religious Freedom.

Neighbor Path: Equip 1 percent of Baptists worldwide to become lay chaplains in their neighborhoods, focusing on praying for and serving their neighbors.

Believers thriving amid persecution

Brown shared stories of persecuted believers in Myanmar’s Chin state, where churches have been destroyed in the nation’s military conflict. He gave examples of how churches in Moldova, Venezuela and Liberia are supporting missionaries and church planting, even as they struggle with economic uncertainty in their home countries.

He told the story of a believer in Australia, who moved to a new neighborhood and “appointed herself” chaplain to her street. Though she initially got pushback, “soon people were sending her private messages,” Brown said.

“Chaplain, would you come and pray for my family? Chaplain, I’m struggling with work, struggling with my school, struggling with my marriage, struggling with sickness, and I don’t know anybody else. Chaplain, would you come and pray for me?”

Invitation to join the movement

Brown invited Virginia Baptists to join Baptists in Nigeria, Estonia, New Zealand and other countries who have committed to be chaplains in their own neighborhoods who serve others, love their neighbors and pray for revival.

“We’re calling on Baptists to bless their neighbors and encourage friendships between all neighbors,” Brown said. “Will you join a global movement to use the freedom Christ has given you?”

Brown invited those gathered to attend the 2025 Baptist World Congress, set for July 7–12 in Brisbane, Australia. More information about BWA is available at baptistworld.org. The website for Acts 2 Movement is baptistworld.org/acts2.

‍

EDITOR’S NOTE — This report was compiled by The Baptist Paper, with reporting from Baptist General Association of Virginia.