|PIC1|The President of the Baptist World Alliance, Rev David Coffey was in Prague this week, on a visit to the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) for its annual Graduation Service. In an address to the graduands, Rev Coffey offered inspiring words of encouragement as the Seminary Valedicted 24 students from 15 different countries.

Five students graduated Master of Theology and were awarded their diplomas, with thirteen other students graduating from the Certificate in Applied Theology course, all receiving their diplomas from Mr Coffey. A further eight students were Valedicted as they moved to the dissertation writing stage of their Masters and Magister degrees.

The General Secretary of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), Rev A Peck, joined British Ambassador, Her Excellency Linda Duffield, Ms Ekaterina Barancheva, who is the Third Secretary from the Russian Embassy, as well as representatives of the theology faculties of the Charles University, in Prague for the event.

Rev Coffey, Baptist World Alliance President and retiring General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, gave a challenging address to the graduating students on the challenges facing Christians.

Focusing particularly on the mission and discipleship that Baptists face today, Rev Coffey based his address on the call made by prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8.

|TOP|Calling for the students to hold on to all the knowledge they had acquired, the BWA president encouraged and inspired them to use everything they had learnt in the service of the Kingdom of God as they returned to serve in their home countries.

The Rector expressed the thanks of the whole IBTS community to the BWA President for participating in the graduation. He was presented with two books published by IBTS on “Theological Education as Mission” and “Mission in the Former Soviet Union”.

Graduating students came from: France, Czech Republic, Sweden, USA, Serbia, Moldova, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Israel among others.

Also in attendance were the Pro-Rector and Academic Dean, Dr Parush R Parushev; the Rector, the Rev Keith G Jones and the Kvestor, Dr Petra Veselá.