About Us

The Baptist Forum for Aid and Development (BFAD) is a network of the Baptist World Alliance.

Our Mission: We are a global network of Baptist conventions, institutions, and practitioners committed to supporting the participation of Baptist churches and conventions in humanitarian relief and development work across the world.

BFAD aims to empower and equip the Baptist family to elevate its leadership and impact in the humanitarian aid and development sector.

We are stronger when we serve together.

The work of BFAD is informed by four key values:
• Collaboration • Coordination • Competency • Care

The BFAD Model

BFAD’s work is divided into 4 strategic areas that may at times intersect and reinforce one another.
The pillars are Networking, Administrative Support, Capacity Strengthening, and Disaster Response Coordination.

Networking

We create opportunities for our members to build partnerships and share resources, including both financial and human assets. We provide spaces for shared discussion in formal and informal meetings, and we host annual in-person gatherings for community-building, theological reflection, and knowledge exchange.

Throughout the year, we stay connected through prayer calls and open meetings that strengthen our global fellowship.

Disaster Response Coordination

BFAD works closely with local partners (primarily Baptist Conventions and churches) in-country when disasters occur to lead in their communities and increase disaster response capacity. We make use of the Baptist Responding Together, which is a collection of standard operating procedures to guide the Baptist family when responding to disasters. The model assists with assessment and critical early response; identifies and empowers lead partners for project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; ensures good stewardship through transparency, accountability, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation; and pools resources from the global Baptist family and partners for the most efficient and effective impact.

Administrative Support

We offer administrative support to our members. In times of crisis, we initiate emergency alerts and coordination calls to unite the global Baptist family. We provide universal project applications, reporting templates, and budget forms for those requesting funding within or beyond the network. We walk alongside Response Partners with ongoing administrative guidance. We also assist members in advocacy efforts when the collective Baptist voice is needed to support and strengthen the local church.

Capacity Strengthening

BFAD calls upon Baptist institutions and individuals with expertise in development and relief work to strengthen the capacities of its network members and affiliates. Experts in the humanitarian aid and development sector support partners through webinars and other online resources. Our experts or members of the BFAD Advisory Group facilitate in-person trainings. In addition, workshop opportunities are provided during BWA Annual Gatherings for learning on relevant issues in the sector. BFAD uses these interactions for members to engage in theological reflection, promoting a holistic understanding of aid and development. We support our implementing partners during and following disasters to increase organizational capacity for response to disasters.