Botrus Mansour, a Palestinian-Israeli lawyer from Nazareth, serves as the new general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, representing 650 million Christians globally. Appointed in late 2025, he recently attended a leadership gathering in Dubai when conflict erupted between Israel and Iran. Stranded for five days, Mansour emphasized interfaith dialogue and regional cooperation. He identifies as both Arab-Palestinian and Israeli, rejecting external labels as colonial. His agenda focuses on human rights, religious freedom, and bridging local evangelical groups with international organizations to address issues like refugee reception and poverty.
The World Evangelical Alliance hosted a virtual meeting with partners like The Salvation Army and World Vision to discuss enhanced cooperation. Rev. Mansour outlined the organization's vision to facilitate connections rather than impose agendas, aligning with the Roadmap 2030 strategy. The group emphasizes collaboration over competition to address global challenges. Leaders welcomed this direction and expressed interest in deeper ties. A formal announcement regarding the new initiative is expected soon, inviting further participation from interested organizations.
The World Evangelical Alliance International Council met in London to endorse a strategic vision for deeper collaboration with national alliances. Secretary General Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour outlined a plan to engage approximately 164 alliances, positioning the WEA as a facilitator rather than imposing a central agenda. This approach supports the Roadmap 2030 goals by prioritizing regional partnerships and local leadership. The meeting, the first in-person session since the 2025 General Assembly in Seoul, included discussions on governance and policy. Council members also commemorated the Evangelical Alliance’s 180th anniversary at Kings Cross Baptist Church, highlighting the organization's historic roots and current growth in the UK.
The World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General attended a centennial celebration of evangelical ministry in Jordan. He met with senior religious advisors and praised the nation's leadership for fostering civic harmony and religious liberty. The event, organized by local Baptist conventions, highlighted a century of outreach, education, and healthcare services. The Secretary General urged churches to act as partners to reinforce unity and expressed readiness to support pilgrimages to significant baptismal sites. The gathering underscored the community’s vital role in maintaining religious freedom and social cohesion within the region, celebrating decades of dedicated service and spiritual growth among believers.
The World Evangelical Alliance’s Children’s Network participated in a June 3-5 summit in Vatican City, hosted by the Society for Global Flourishing. Partners included World Vision International, Harvard University, Baylor University, and Gallup. The event focused on a blueprint for children’s holistic well-being. Organizers introduced the “Signs of Hope” measurement tool to assess spiritual and emotional dimensions. Alan Charter, co-leader of the WEA Children Network, moderated a session. He stated the initiative aims to protect vulnerable children through holistic care. The group plans to integrate this framework into seminary standards to prepare future pastors. The WEA represents over 600 million evangelical Christians globally.
Leaders from nine regional Evangelical Alliances and the World Evangelical Alliance secretariat gathered in Athens, Greece, from April 28 to 30. The two-day meeting focused on enhancing collaboration and strengthening ties among global evangelical bodies. WEA Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour described the atmosphere as respectful and constructive, noting a sense of Christian unity across cultures. Participants discussed financial matters, servant leadership, and strategic planning for a shared global witness. The event included prayer, worship, and a visit to Corinth, where delegates shared Holy Communion. Greek Evangelical Alliance leaders also attended, emphasizing the importance of kinship and collaborative action within the worldwide church.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Sushanta Rokka on UnsplashGood news
The World Evangelical Alliance co-hosted a side event at the Second International Migration Review Forum in New York on May 5, 2026. The gathering focused on how local faith-based organizations protect migrant children from trafficking where formal systems fail. Speakers from the Refugee Highway Partnership, Asia Freedom Network, and World Without Orphans emphasized that community-led interventions are often the first line of defense. They argued for shifting funding and policy attention to these grassroots networks to better address vulnerabilities linked to statelessness and displacement. The event aimed to bridge the gap between local action and international advocacy frameworks.
The Asia Conference on Church and Mission, held in Manila, Philippines from June 9 to 12, 2026, called on Asian churches to prioritize discipleship. Organized by the Asia Evangelical Alliance, the event featured remarks from World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour, who stated that discipleship is God's primary purpose for the church. The conference challenged leaders to shift focus from event attendance to multiplying devoted followers, aiming for 20% of Asian churches to become active disciple-making communities by 2033. Key themes included addressing modern challenges like artificial intelligence and empowering young leaders through intentional formation.
The World Evangelical Alliance has asked South Korea’s National Assembly to reconsider Bill No. 2215932, warning it grants excessive administrative power over religious groups. In a June 1, 2026 statement, the alliance argued the bill violates constitutional protections and international human rights commitments by allowing asset seizures and dissolutions without judicial warrants. Secretary General Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour and Ambassador Godfrey Yogarajah stated the vague criteria could suppress civic engagement and force self-censorship. They urged lawmakers to adopt narrower measures with proper due process to uphold freedom of religion.
Pastor César Mermejo of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela reported that unofficial estimates suggest up to 10,000 people may have died in the recent earthquake, far exceeding the official death toll of 1,700. Speaking during a Zoom update, Mermejo described widespread destruction in Caracas and surrounding areas, where entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. He noted that churches are serving as makeshift shelters and medical transport hubs. Pastor Juan Cruz of the Latin American Alliance emphasized the urgent need for assistance. The World Evangelical Alliance is coordinating with local leaders to address humanitarian needs, including food, water, and shelter for displaced families.
Rev. Samuel Chiang, a special advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance, attended the United Bible Societies 80th anniversary event in May 2026. The gathering included the Patmos Summit and focused on global Bible engagement strategies. The event utilized data from the 2025 Patmos Survey, which polled 91,000 adults across 85 countries. Participants were grouped by missiological contexts, revealing three shared themes: engaging younger generations, leveraging digital platforms, and avoiding imported solutions that ignore local needs. The World Evangelical Alliance, a partner of the United Bible Societies, emphasized its commitment to fostering meaningful collaboration while respecting diverse cultural settings. This initiative aims to deepen biblical engagement worldwide through contextualized approaches.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by KUSHAGRA DHALL on UnsplashPersecuted church
The World Evangelical Alliance has issued a statement denouncing a violent attack in India that resulted in the deaths of traveling pastors. Secretary General Rev Botrus Mansour expressed deep condolences to the victims' families and friends. The organization called for accountability for those responsible and urged local, regional, and national authorities to implement legal and security measures to protect Christians. The group emphasized the need for deterrence to prevent similar crimes from occurring again in the country.
A joint delegation of African evangelical bodies released a report in early July following a June 2026 mission to South Africa. The group investigated widespread displacement and fear surrounding tensions over foreign nationals in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. The report highlights institutional failures and inadequate support for displaced people, including documented residents and asylum seekers. It argues that the crisis stems from structural inequality and political exploitation rather than simple xenophobia. The delegation met with President Cyril Ramaphosa and other stakeholders. Recommendations urge the government to improve protection and churches to build relationships with migrant communities to counter misinformation and violence.
Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, addressed the 2026 Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering in Toronto, Canada. Speaking on July 6–10, 2026, he urged attendees to embrace unity rooted in Romans 15. Mansour described the church as a community formed by grace rather than human status or political power. He emphasized that true fellowship brings glory to God and challenged the audience to reject Western hegemony in favor of global partnership. The event aims to shape the denomination's future structures, including a new Global Council.
The World Evangelical Alliance has welcomed the release of a pastor detained in Syria. This leader, associated with a church in Lebanon, was arrested in his home village after returning from abroad. He was later released in another city. Reports indicate his arrest stemmed from social media posts. The group notes that his detention impacted displaced communities relying on his humanitarian aid. The WEA thanked legal authorities for ensuring the rule of law was upheld, ending prolonged pre-trial detention. This event raises concerns regarding religious freedom and expression in the region.
Janet Epp-Buckingham of the World Evangelical Alliance argues that French-style secularism, or laïcité, increasingly excludes religious workers in France and other European nations. The article highlights how laws in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec restrict visible religious symbols in public and private sectors. Critics contend these measures violate human rights and force employees to hide their faith. While governments cite neutrality, the outcome is often described as exclusion, particularly affecting Muslim women. The author urges societies to protect religious freedom without punishing practice, emphasizing that true equality does not require uniformity.
The military junta in Myanmar executed two believers in June, according to the Christian Post. Both men were arrested in May and accused of collaborating with local defense forces. The Burma Research Institute, led by Robin Stoops, condemned the killings as extrajudicial murders without due process. One man had served his congregation for over 25 years, leaving behind a wife and five children. His church was burned in 2021. This execution highlights the ongoing violence against ethnic and religious minorities in regions like Chin and Kachin, where nearly two million Christians reside. The conflict, intensified since the 2021 coup, has led to widespread displacement and attacks on religious sites.
A ministry reports that at least 33 pastors linked to its network have been killed in Iran recently. The organization's founder stated that authorities have detained over 130 individuals connected to a clandestine church movement. Despite severe government persecution, the group recorded thousands of conversions to Christianity this year. Christian outlets reported these figures, noting that the country ranks high on global persecution lists. The founder described the criminalization of faith as an honor, emphasizing that imprisoned believers continue to share their message with others despite the dangers.
US pastor Samuel Rodriguez is collaborating with Mel Gibson on the film 'The Resurrection of Christ: Part One', which will be shot in Italy. The project aims to mobilize Christian churches for its global release in 2027 and 2028. Rodriguez views cinema as a strategic tool for cultural impact and evangelism. He also leads BeLight Productions, a company focused on faith-based storytelling. The initiative seeks to inspire new generations through high-quality cinematic narratives that present the Gospel message to a worldwide audience.
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