by Daoud Kuttab

Arab evangelicals across the Middle East and beyond have warmly embraced the appointment of Nazareth-born advocate and church leader Botrus Mansour as the new Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), marking a historic moment for Christians in the region.

In a press release on August 18th the WEA noted that the decision was made “after a rigorous six-month global search”. The announcement was met with particular enthusiasm in Palestine, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt, where evangelical communities saw the decision as both a source of pride and a sign of recognition for their contributions to the global church.

A Landmark Appointment for Arab Evangelicals

Mansour, a respected lawyer and Christian leader, becomes the first Arab to head the WEA, which represents more than 600 million evangelicals worldwide. For Arab evangelicals, his appointment carries both symbolic and practical significance. Many see it as an affirmation of their place within the global evangelical family, long dominated by leaders from Europe, North America, and Latin America.

“This is happy news, and we believe that the right person has been chosen for the right place,” said Retired Major General Imad Ma’ayah, President of the Evangelical Churches Council in Jordan. He praised Mansour’s wisdom and honesty, noting his leadership when he headed the Union of Synods in Jordan and Palestine. Ma’ayah went as far as to offer Amman as a possible headquarters for the WEA executive officer, highlighting Jordan’s readiness to support the global alliance.

From Nazareth itself, the reaction was deeply emotional. Rev. Dr. Hanna Katanacho, Academic Dean of Nazareth Evangelical College, emphasized the spiritual symbolism of the appointment: “God has honored the Church of Palestine by choosing its son, the servant of Christ, Boutros Mansour. We pray that the Lord will use him to emphasize the centrality of Christ, the lover of humanity, and to correct any evangelical paths that have deviated from this centrality.”

Regional and Global Support

Across the Arab world, leaders voiced their excitement that one of their own had risen to such a prominent international role.

Dr. Rev. Jack Sara, President of the Middle East and North Africa branch of the WEA, called the appointment “a source of pride” for the region. “He is a person from our region, from the Middle East and North Africa, and specifically from the Holy Land,” he said. “His election presents challenges, but we will pray that God will use him in every setting and field in which he will be present.”

In Egypt, Basem Fikry, Secretary General of the Association of Evangelicals, stressed the depth of the search process and the special meaning of Mansour’s selection. “When a figure like Peter is chosen—characterized by broad experiences wrapped in humility and a serving spirit, and from our Arab region, which has been a stage for influential events since the dawn of history—we expect, unite, and pray for him,” Fikry said.

Jordanian evangelical leaders also expressed personal joy. Rev. David Rihani, President of the Assemblies of God Church in Jordan, said: “I have known him as a humble and inspiring leader since the founding of the Synods of Evangelical Councils in Jordan and the Holy Land. Today, Boutros is writing a bright new page in the history of the global church.”

Dr. Fares Abu Farha, founder of NextGen, hailed Boutros Mansour’s appointment as a blessing for Palestinian evangelical leadership and the global church. He emphasized the importance of empowering youth in the next phase of church work and expressed confidence that Mansour would lead the global evangelical family with wisdom, grace, and humility.

The Voice of Nazareth

In an exclusive interview with Milhilard.org, Mansour himself described the deep responsibility he feels. “I received the news of my selection for this position with fear, trembling, and thanks to God,” he said. “I consider this a great blessing for Palestinian Christians in general, and for the citizens of Israel in particular, during this difficult time.”

Mansour, who was born in Nazareth in 1965, underscored the symbolism of his hometown. “As a son of the town of Christ, where the good news from heaven was given to earth, I see profound symbolism in the selection of a son of Nazareth to contribute to spreading the good news through the World Evangelical Alliance.”

A Distinguished Record

Beyond his symbolic role, Mansour brings decades of leadership experience. A lawyer by training, he has practiced law in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Nazareth, led Nazareth Baptist School since 2004, and co-founded the Local Baptist Church in Nazareth. His leadership roles have included Chair of the Convention of Evangelical Churches in Israel, Secretary and Chairman of the Alliance of Evangelical Conventions in Jordan and the Holy Land, and Co-Chair of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine.

He has written extensively in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, publishing articles in Christianity Today and Haaretz, and authoring books such as When Your Neighbor is the Savior and Looking from the Precipice.

Looking Ahead

The WEA, which has been without a permanent Secretary General since April 2024, said Mansour will formally assume office at its upcoming General Assembly in held in Seoul, South Korea, on October 27th. The organization has invited its worldwide network of national and regional alliances, affiliates, and partners to “pray for his leadership as he stewards the vision of uniting evangelicals worldwide in Gospel witness and service.”

For Arab evangelicals, however, the appointment already feels like an answered prayer. Rev. Boutros Gharib, President of the Council of Evangelical Churches in Israel, spoke on behalf of many: “This honorable choice is a mark of appreciation for his faithful service and blessed efforts. It is also a source of pride and honor for all evangelical churches in our country.”

As he prepares to take on this global responsibility, Mansour has asked for prayers and support. His vision, he said, remains rooted in the Gospel’s call to peace, justice, and unity: “With God’s grace, I will work relentlessly with others to remove any obstacles that may seek to hinder our unity… The Gospel of peace, justice, and righteousness is the true solution for our aching world.”

Botrus Mansour

Born in Nazareth in 1965, he lived as a child in Jerusalem, Oxford, and Nazareth. He came to know the Lord during his high school years.

After he graduated from Nazareth Baptist School, he completed a law degree at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1991), then was admitted to the Israeli Bar Association (1993) and practiced Law in Haifa and Nazareth. In 2009, Botrus completed an MBA (specialty in non-profit organizations) from Haifa University.

In 2004, he was invited to lead Nazareth Baptist School as the General Director (title altered to operational director in 2021) – a position he is still holding

Botrus co-founded the Local Baptist Church in Nazareth in 1996 and was ordained as an elder in 2001.

He has served in leadership positions in church and para-church organizations and held various positions, including:

Chairman of The Convention of Evangelical Churches in Israel;

 Secretary and Chairman of the Alliance of Evangelical Conventions in Jordan and the Holy Land;

Member of the Executive Committee for Christian Schools in Israel;

Deputy Chairman of the “Nazareth Village” board;

Member of the Global Council of Advocates International;

Co-Chairman of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation Israel-Palestine.

Botrus has also been involved in giving lectures in churches, universities, and conferences all around the world on matters of faith and life in the Middle East. He has also written extensively in Arabic, Hebrew, and English and published in Christianity Today, Milhilard.org, Haaretz, and others as well as published few books including “When Your Neighbor is the Savior” (Hope Publishing house 2011) and “Looking from the Precipice” (Paraclete Press 2021) as well as few books in Arabic.

Botrus and his wife, A’bir, have three adult children. They live in Nazareth, Israel.