Ministries

Matthias Eddie, the Bishop of the South Seas

The Baptist World Alliance's Reverend Tony Cupit explained that in the Baptist world there are two regions that elect their leaders as Bishops rather than using other more familiar Baptist terms such as General Superintendent, Superintendent or Director.

These regions are the South Seas (South Pacific) and Eastern Europe. At the 2005 Baptist World Congress, Bishop John from the Eastern European Baptist Convention was easily identified by his long grey beard that extended to his chest area.

The South Seas Bishop Matthias Eddie is from the Solomon Islands, whose pastoral care of churches and leaders covers the many islands that make up the Solomon's group.

The term Bishop is certainly well acknowledged by the wider community and there are Baptist clergy who have been pushing for such a name change.

In one Australian community the local Baptist minister advertised that the 'Bishop was coming' (his Baptist Superintendent) and that Sunday his church building was overflowing as the community wanted to welcome the Bishop.

“My role is to encourage and support the South Seas Evangelical Churches there and our pastoral leaders”, Matthias Eddie explained. “This necessitates much travel,”

In this ministry Bishop Eddie meets with Christian leaders, wisely advising them in their pastoral, private and family lives, and untiringly speaking about how to integrate their responsibilities of Christian leadership.

“I take very seriously my role in encouraging and supporting these congregations, because these fellowships are often quite isolated,” Matthias noted. “This places a great burden upon my heart.”

Bishop Matthias Eddie was the Solomon's delegate at the recent Baptist World Alliance Living Water Australasian-South Pacific conference held in Cairns where he gave a video testimony for Australian Missionary News IPTV.

“When I gave my life to Jesus Christ in my youth it was because I understood that the Lord loves sinners and this was what I was, a sinner, and I gave my life to Him,” Matthias Eddie told Mark Tronson of the Australian Missionary News IPTV.

When Matthias Eddie speaks during the rounds of his roving ministry, he emphasises the transforming power of Christ and how this not only changes lives but brings much joy and strength into the believer's heart.

“My heart feels joy in being faithful and loyal to my Lord,” Bishop Eddie
commented enthusiastically. “Nothing brings me more satisfaction in my personal and ministry life than this.”

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