Scripture says that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Yet most of us live with an indifference to the very real struggles that go on in our world between generosity and greed, love and hate, peace and war, good and evil. It is easy for us to be caught up in popular culture and give attention to what is happening to Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton or the latest episode of the "Sopranos" rather than give attention to systemic injustice, chaos in Iraq and global poverty. It is easy to be consumed with our own agendas rather than care about the most neglected people in the world who have little access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is why we need each other. Engagement with God in mission is always in community. We need support, accountability and encouragement from one another. We need it in our homes, in our churches and in the broader body of Christ. We simply are inadequate to enter into the struggle for justice and embrace the suffering of humanity by ourselves.

There is within all of us a tendency toward "privatization" of the gospel. As with all heresies, this one has a grain of truth in it because experience with Christ is very personal. Yet personal and private are not the same. There is also a tendency in many congregations to think only of their own life and ministry and not see the necessity of collaboration and cooperation with other congregations in global mission.

Each year at the General Assembly, I find great energy and synergy as Baptist Christians gather for fellowship, inspiration and instruction. I am helped by simply "being with" a larger part of my family. I learn from them. Sometimes I am challenged by them. Always I am blessed.

This year’s assembly will be "a first" in several ways. It will be the first time we will have gathered in our nation’s capitol. It will be the first time we will have shared a significant part of our assembly with another Baptist body: American Baptist Churches, USA. It will be the first time we will commission and bless missionaries in cooperation with another Baptist body. It will be the first time for us to hear from Rob Nash, our Coordinator for Global Missions, and it will be the first time for us to hear a president of the Baptist World Alliance.

Everything about this assembly points to our vision of being the presence of Christ in the world and our need of each other to fulfill that vision. I sense a growing consensus within this fellowship that such a vision is worthy of our commitment. I also sense a growing community within this fellowship, and beyond it, that is absolutely necessary for mission.

Thanks be to God.

Daniel Vestal has served as CBF's coordinator since December 1996.