# ‘Alignment, Advancement, and Mission’: 13th General Assembly of the Latin Evangelical Alliance Concludes > SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — More than 100 leaders representing national evangelical alliances from more than 20 countries gathered in San José, Costa Rica, for the 13th General Assembly of the Latin Evangelical Alliance (Alianza Evangélica Latina, AEL), held 12–16… > URL: https://worldea.org/de/alignment-advancement-and-mission-13th-general-assembly-of-the-latin-evangelical-alliance-concludes/ > Last modified: 2026-10-16T18:44:30+00:00 **SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica** — More than 100 leaders representing national evangelical alliances from more than 20 countries gathered in San José, Costa Rica, for the 13th General Assembly of the [Latin Evangelical Alliance](https://aelatina.org/) (Alianza Evangélica Latina, AEL), held 12–16 October 2026. Meeting under the theme “Alignment, Advancement, and Mission”, the assembly brought together national alliance presidents, executive directors, regional delegates, and global leaders. Together they sought to strengthen evangelical unity, advance the Church’s mission, and set AEL’s strategic roadmap for the next three years. The assembly also gathered 12 coordinators from AEL’s 14 technical commissions and representatives from 19 participating entities. Five organizations requested affiliation as associate members, bringing the total number of associate entities linked with AEL to 37. ## WEA’s role at the assembly The gathering highlighted close collaboration between the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the Latin American movement. [WEA Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour](https://worldea.org/staff/rev-botrus-mansour/) took part throughout the assembly alongside his team, delivering five key presentations. These included opening greetings alongside AEL President Rev. Juan Cruz Cellammare and two morning devotions centered on Christian unity. Rev. Botrus Mansour leading the morning devotional Drawing on the story of the Samaritan woman and the four historical hallmarks of evangelical identity articulated by historian David Bebbington — biblicism, conversionism, activism, and crucicentrism — Mansour emphasized that core theological convictions unite evangelicals globally while leaving room to celebrate diversity in secondary matters. ## Public advocacy and civic engagement Throughout the assembly, leaders took part in significant engagements with Costa Rican civic officials. Delegates visited the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica to meet national parliamentarians, discuss public policy challenges, and examine the role of the Church in the public square. Leaders gathered at the Costa Rican Parliament Addressing members of parliament, Mansour brought greetings underscoring the biblical mandate for Christians to serve as “salt and light” within society (Matthew 5:13–14). The inaugural dinner featured official government participation. Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado honored the assembly with her presence alongside Dr. Jorge Gómez, Vice President of AEL. In her address, Fernández expressed her commitment to biblical values and full religious freedom for all. She also spoke of the personal impact of her long-standing relationship with Gómez since her youth. The assembly reaffirmed the essential calling of national alliances: to engage constructively with state leadership, advocating for religious liberty and the common good while maintaining independent prophetic integrity. ## Strategic execution and capacity building During the sessions, AEL’s advisory team presented progress reports on the alliance’s Strategic Plan, which has reached 80% implementation after five years. Afternoon sessions featured reflection panels on the assembly’s three core pillars — alignment, advancement, and mission. Evening services brought delegates together for worship led by prominent ministry figures from across the continent. A key focus of the assembly was equipping alliance leaders to build resilient organizational structures that can sustain long-term ministry. Mansour co-led a specialized workshop on the role of leadership in fundraising with Dr. Brad Smith, [WEA Director of Alliance Engagement](https://worldea.org/what-we-do/alliance-engagement/). The session included presentations on strategic stewardship initiatives such as CALL33. The workshop challenged traditional misperceptions about financial stewardship in ministry. “Asking for money is not begging — it is inviting people to partner in the kingdom of God,” Mansour said, [as reported by Christian Daily International](https://www.christiandaily.com/news/wea-leaders-tell-latin-american-alliance-heads-asking-for-money-is-not-begging). He pointed out how cultural dynamics such as a “culture of shame” often hinder leaders from inviting believers into mission stewardship. Smith noted that the role of national alliance heads has evolved in recent decades, from organizing events to active public advocacy and kingdom advancement. This, he said, requires transparent, relationship-driven funding models rooted in biblical discipleship. ## Local action, institutional leadership, and continental expansion The assembly gave national leaders a platform to share breakthroughs and regional concerns. ### Argentina: learning from one another Pastor Christian Hooft, President of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA), highlighted how regional gatherings enrich national alliances facing complex socio-economic contexts. Reflecting on Argentina’s economic challenges and ACIERA’s social and legal advocacy — including legislative recognition such as the National Day of Evangelical Churches — Hooft stressed the value of collaboration between alliances. “At the regional Assembly, we meet with leaders from other countries who face similar challenges, and we are deeply enriched by hearing the experiences of other national alliances. Beyond preaching the Gospel and praying for our leaders, the Church carries out extensive social work,” he said. Hooft noted that sustained collaboration remains vital for pooling resources in evangelism, addressing emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence and mental health care, and prioritizing generational leadership succession. ### Chile’s PLENA joins as an associate member A significant institutional development was the [unanimous approval of the National Evangelical Platform of Chile](https://aelatina.org/la-plataforma-evangelica-nacional-de-chile-plena-se-incorpora-unanimemente-como-miembro-asociado-de-la-ael/) (Plataforma Evangélica Nacional de Chile, PLENA) as a new associate member of AEL. The decision followed a collaborative process that began in Cartagena and was finalized in Costa Rica. PLENA is a public law entity grouping 32 national, regional, denominational, and parachurch organizations across all 16 regions of Chile. It joins Mesa Ampliada, AEL’s full member in Chile, in strengthening the country’s national and international representation within AEL. PLENA works through nine specialized commissions covering areas including chaplaincy, education, social service, tax and property, and health care. Board member Bishop Héctor Cancino Del Valle serves as High Protocol Representative of the Evangelical Church to the Chilean Government. ## Board elections and future assembly venues The assembly renewed positions on the AEL Board of Directors. Gómez was ratified as First Vice President, and Mariano Blázquez was ratified as Secretary. The new AEL board gathered in prayer Joining the board as directors (*vocales*) are Lyda Arias, representing the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia, and Gerardo Irías, representing the Evangelical Confraternity of Honduras. Delegates also confirmed host countries for upcoming General Assemblies through 2029: - **2027:** Lima, Peru (11–15 October), organized by the National Evangelical Council of Peru and the Union of Evangelical Christian Churches of Peru - **2028:** Italy (9–13 October), organized by the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain and Ministerio Hombre de Paz - **2029:** Honduras (8–12 October) ## Spiritual reflection and fellowship The assembly combined strategic governance with dedicated times of Scripture, culture, and fellowship. Each morning began with dramatized public readings of all 13 chapters of the Book of Nehemiah. Cultural presentation at the 13th Latin American Alliance Conference Delegates also attended a special Spanish-language screening of the Season 6 premiere of *The Chosen*, depicting the trial of Jesus. They enjoyed traditional Costa Rican folk dancing on the opening evening and prayed over WEA leadership. The gathering concluded with Holy Communion as an expression of unity and fellowship among Latin American evangelical leaders. “We leave Costa Rica aligned in vision, determined to advance, and committed to the mission that God has entrusted to the Church in Latin America,” said AEL President Rev. Juan Cruz Cellammare. As the assembly concluded, continental leaders called on the global Body of Christ for sustained prayer. “Do not forget us in your prayers — that we may continue to grow as a church, aligned and advancing in the mission, strengthened in unity, with more callings to ministry, planting churches, impacting society, and sending missionaries to the unreached places,” Hooft said.