Daoud Kuttab – Seoul, South Korea

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) concluded its 14th General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, by electing Rev. Botrus Mansour as its new General Secretary for a six-year term and announcing the president and members of its 11-person International Commission. Rev. Bassem Fikry of Egypt was also re-elected as the regional representative for the Arab States within the Alliance.

In his closing address, Rev. Mansour expressed humility and gratitude as he assumed his new role. “I accepted this position with humility and a sense of service,” he said, thanking delegates for their trust. “The selection of a Palestinian Christian at this time is a testament to courage and responsibility.”

After recognizing his 91-year-old father (who was watching the event from Nazareth), his wife, and his children, Rev. Mansour spoke about his background.

Referring to his identity as a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth, Rev. Mansour outlined his vision for the Alliance as deeply rooted in Scripture and prayerful

collaboration. “The vision is not a fleeting idea,” he said, “but the fruit of prayer and communication among contributors. It is based on three stages of Christ’s ministry—unity, the impact of the Gospel on the world, and inclusivity.”

He emphasized that unity stands at the heart of his leadership approach, citing Christ’s prayer “that they may be one, even as we are one.” Mansour underscored that diversity within the global evangelical movement does not contradict the call for “one spirit, one message, and one faith.”

Looking ahead, he said the Alliance’s mission is to expand the Gospel’s influence worldwide by strengthening regional and national fellowships that together represent more than 650 million evangelicals in anticipation of the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s resurrection in 2033.

Quoting from Luke 4, he concluded: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” He added that the Alliance’s mission extends beyond preaching to include “works of mercy, justice, and reconciliation, serving the Kingdom of God and positively influencing nations through the Gospel.”

The General Assembly also featured participation from Pastor Azar Ajaj of the Nazareth Baptist Church, who led a prayer service for the new Secretary General. The internationally renowned pastor Rick Warren delivered the closing sermon and led the breaking of the bread ceremony for attendees.

According to WEA spokesperson Brad Smith, the assembly drew 850 participants from 124 countries, representing one of the most diverse gatherings in evangelical history. The Alliance encompasses nine global fellowships, representing 650 million evangelicals from 162 nationalities.

Attendance at the main events, including those hosted by the large Korean Sarang Church, exceeded 7,000, filling the venue to capacity. Smith noted that while over 1,500 participants had initially registered, travel and visa challenges reduced the final attendance.

Reflecting on the shifting demographics of global Christianity, Smith told reporters, “We learned yesterday that 70% of the world’s Christians are from the Global South and East. We have 71% of those at this conference. So, we are reflecting what’s happening in the world.”

In a special session for the Middle East and North Africa, Rev. Bassem Fikry noted that Egypt alone is home to roughly 15 million Christians, including 1.5 million evangelicals across various denominations.

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