The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is a fellowship of 211 Baptist unions and conventions comprising a membership of more than 32 million baptized believers. This represents a community of approximately 80 million Baptists ministering around the world. Young people are prepared to take their place in Christian leadership as they come together in the Youth Department. Our vision for the Youth Department is to promote Christian fellowship, spread the Gospel and to support and encourage Christian values among young people around the world. Through the many ministries of the Department we shall strive to give young people the opportunity to be expressive and creative as we seek to engage them in a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Every five years an international youth conference is held on one of the continents.  This conference brings young people together for fellowship, inspiration and challenge.  In between the conference the Youth Department works in four areas; awareness, inspiration, fellowship and equipping to:   help young people recognize the individual opportunities and responsibility in the worldwide mission of the church; inspire Baptist youth to commit their lives to a continuing Christian witness; provide opportunity for Baptist people of the world to know each other better and thus work cooperatively to fulfill the Great Commission; and, offer training opportunities for young people to become effective leaders. These objectives are accomplished through our youth world conferences, regional and international youth leadership training conferences, youth world day of prayer and mission project opportunities.