World Evangelical Alliance Installs Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour as Secretary General, Pledges Global Gospel Mission by 2033
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (October 31, 2025) — In a historic appointment, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) yesterday installed Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour as its new Secretary General, entrusting him with leading a global fellowship of national alliances from 161 nations. Along with him, a new International Council (IC) has been appointed.
“It means something profound that, in this moment, a Palestinian Christian from Israel has been asked to serve as Secretary General. Especially at this time, when there’s a ceasefire that I pray will last in our region after over two years of war, I give tribute to my people and my country,” Rev. Adv. Mansour declared in his inaugural address.
The appointment of Rev. Adv. Mansour marks the climactic conclusion of the week-long WEA General Assembly that has transformed Seoul into a global hub of evangelical unity. Leadership announced a new season of strengthening the collective voice and participation of member alliances, with the ultimate goal of shaping the global evangelical witness.
Global Shift in Evangelicalism
While estimates vary, different research sources agree that evangelicalism is now primarily a movement of the Global South, representing up to 650 million worldwide. Today, 70% of the world’s evangelicals are in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) General Assembly has brought together 850 delegates from 124 nations, alongside 4,000 Korean pastoral leaders. Organizers describe it as a “family reunion” for global Christianity, and said the assembly marked only the beginning of greater engagement and unity between WEA members and the Korean church. It also highlighted the Korean Church’s commitment to serving as a bridge between established and emerging evangelical movements worldwide.
Envisioning a Transformative Future
The appointment of the Secretary General marks a pivotal moment for global evangelicalism. Rev. Adv. Mansour, who has led Nazareth Baptist School, the only recognized k-12 evangelical school in Israel under the ministry of education, since 2004, brings a unique perspective from Christianity’s birthplace to the world stage.
The vision of the WEA, which Rev. Adv. Mansour stressed was only possible through the collective prayer and collaboration between WEA member alliances, centers on unity and discipleship in an ambitious goal: seeing “the whole world reached with the Gospel by 2033”, marking two thousand years since the resurrection.
Rev. Adv. Mansour said, “Unity is something rooted in the ministry and prayer life of Jesus. In my hometown of Nazareth, where Jesus first proclaimed the good news, and in His final prayer before the cross: ‘Father, let them be one,’” We will reclaim what it means to be ‘Evangelical’ or ‘bearers of good news’.”
The new Secretary General outlined a mission of unity, discipleship, and global impact, pledging to strengthen regional and national alliances while defending religious freedom through advocacy. His approach combines evangelism with social action, echoing Jesus’s reading from Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”
“The Kingdom of God must be visible in our families, our workplaces, and our communities,” Mansour stated. “When we live out mercy and justice, we make the reign of Christ known.”
Leadership transition
Rev. Adv. Mansour succeeds Dr. Goodwill Shana, who served as Executive Chair following the previous leader’s departure due to health reasons. Dr. Shana, who carried dual responsibilities during the transition, warmly endorsed his successor: “It’s wonderful to have a fantastic, seasoned leader stepping in to take over this vital role.”
The leadership transition also sees Rev. Dr. Godfrey Yogarajah, CEO of Sri Lanka’s National Christian Evangelical Alliance and Chair of the Asia Evangelical Alliance, assuming the role of Chair. Dr. Yogarajah said, “We are stewards of a great legacy and a global mission.”
Rev. Adv. Mansour’s extensive regional experience includes leading both the Convention of Evangelical Churches in Israel and the Alliance of Evangelical Conventions in Jordan and the Holy Land. His appointment comes at a critical time for Middle Eastern Christians and reflects the WEA’s commitment to global representation.
Rev. Adv. Mansour said, “For God alone, this summarizes everything. I come not to lead for my own sake, but to serve. Ours is not a one-person task; we will move forward together as alliances united by the same mission.”
The World Evangelical Alliance represents one of the largest faith communities globally, with member alliances in 161 countries advocating for religious freedom, promoting unity among evangelicals, and advancing the Gospel worldwide.
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