Amongst all the inevitable hoohah of the year 1999 into the year 2000 we dare to believe that some really positive and good things will happen. 1 hesitate to think of how many millions of dollars will be spent on fireworks, lavish parties, food, wine, and other celebrations all over the world - or rather more pointedly in those countries that are wealthy enough to think that that is an appropriate thing to do with their wealth.

This newsletter is featuring Jubilee 2000 - one of the signs that at least some people want to do something constructive to mark the end of this millenium.

Another example of a creative way of celebrating the "turn of the century" is the Hearing our Cry Conference that is to be held in Melbourne between January 2 and 4. At this conference some carefully selected and promising young Baptist leaders from third world countries will be brought together to be informed and empowered to go back home and play an even more dynamic and creative leadership role in their home countries.

These young leaders would not have any hope whatever of coming to Australia on their own, so this church and other Baptist Churches in Australia and the wealthier countries of the world are going to provide some scholarships.

Each scholarship will enable one young Baptist to come to Melbourne for the Hearing our Cry conference, and then to stay on for the Baptist World Congress from January 5th to the 9th. Each scholarship is worth $2250.00. Since the idea was first mooted our church has committed itself to pay for 3 scholarships. The ACT Association of Baptist Churches gave its offering at last year's combined end-of-year service towards the fund, and ABWAID has pledged a very significant amount towards the fund.

Who can tell what consequences may spring from this gesture of care and encouragement from those countries that can afford towards those countries that cannot.