A call to the global church to move from discernment toward global collaboration.
Interview by: Mariana Albuquerque
As the global Church looks toward 2033, believers worldwide are preparing to commemorate a historic landmark: 2,000 years since the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Far from a mere calendar milestone, this season is a kairos moment—an invitation for the Church to renew its commitment to the Great Commission and deepen its unity.
To serve the Body of Christ in this pivotal decade, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has launched CALL33 (Answering God’s Calling Together Toward 2033). Rather than adding another global program or competing with existing ministries, CALL33 is designed to act as a relational “connecting joint” (Ephesians 4:16)—equipping National Evangelical Alliances to discern God’s unique calling within their own nations, and connecting them with the vast resources of the worldwide evangelical family.
In this exclusive conversation, WEA Secretary General Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour shares his insights on CALL33’s vision, the vital role of local discernment, and how intentional cross-border collaboration can help present a more mature, fruitful, and united Bride of Christ as we approach 2033.
Given your personal background, how has your journey shaped the way you view peace, reconciliation, and the call for unity within the global Church as we head toward 2033?
I am an Arab Palestinian and, at the same time, an Israeli citizen. I was born into an Orthodox and Catholic family—my father Melkite Catholic, my mother Orthodox. I live in a country that is, unfortunately, in conflict. And I am a believer in Christ and a disciple of Jesus, who takes the command to be a peacemaker seriously. I think all these different sub-identities have shaped me.
Because of how I was shaped, I try to be a reconciler and peacemaker among these groups. I take Jesus’ words about peace seriously. That is why I want to work for unity in the global Church as we head toward 2033.
As the global Church approaches 2033, marking 2,000 years since the resurrection, Pentecost, and the birth of the Church, how does the WEA view this historic milestone, and why is CALL33 the right strategic response for this season?
Unless the Lord decides otherwise, 2033 will not be the end. The Lord may come at any moment—He might come before 2033, or after it. I think that if CALL33 draws the attention of even one person around the world, then using 2033 as a hook to mobilize the Church has already been worth it.
I would hate for it to be only a catchy idea or a gimmick. It should be symbolic. It has no eschatological meaning, but I think it is important to draw the world’s attention to 2033, and that is reason enough for us to use it in the coming season.
The CALL33 document emphasizes that the WEA does not intend to create another global program or compete with existing ministries, but rather to serve as a “connecting joint” (Ephesians 4:16). From your leadership perspective, how does this relational role define the WEA’s unique contribution to the global Body of Christ?
That’s correct. We are not adding a new program. We are not coming with our own agenda. We are not creating something new. We are simply asking: where is the Lord working, and what is the calling in each country? This is not something that we decide. The believers in each country decide it, through their local alliance.
That said, WEA is telling them, “We’d like to help you! How can we help?” Each alliance should tell us what it needs to complete and fulfill the Lord’s call. Our work is to help through connection. That may sound too simple, but we want to work according to God’s agenda.
God’s calling for each country is the most important thing. We cannot decide what God wants for each country. I probably have some sense of God’s calling for my own country, but not for the whole world. People on the ground will decide that, and we will simply help them do what needs to be done. I think that’s exciting enough, and I also think that’s what God wants us to do.
While the Great Commission is universal, CALL33 highlights that its practical application must be contextual—ranging from evangelism to peacebuilding, religious freedom, or humanitarian response, depending on the nation. How can National Evangelical Alliances effectively discern God’s specific calling for their own context?
As our people—the heads and members of each national alliance—meet, pray, and study together, I believe the Lord will reveal His calling. They should pray and, at the same time, discern God’s will by studying where their country or region is heading, and what resources they have as a country, as an alliance, and as individual believers.
I think this should be done carefully, with much prayer, study, discussion, and seeking of God’s will. He will move their hearts and lead them to what they really should do for their country in this season.
Kingdom efforts are often hindered by fragmented relationships and duplicated work. How does CALL33 provide a practical framework to move global Christian alliances and ministries from institutional competition to biblical stewardship and unity?
Duplication and fragmented relationships are why CALL33 exists in the first place. Duplication wastes God’s resources. Often we do what others are already doing, but not in the best way, and everyone struggles with their own weaknesses instead of working together and building on our collective strength.
Fragmented relationships are another issue we at WEA are trying to tackle. We’re going to offer training and hold special meetings to find the best way to avoid duplicating work and to work toward unity instead.
All of this should be bathed in prayer and in seeking God’s face, bringing unity of spirit among us as believers before we can move forward with CALL33.
National alliances sit at the core of the CALL33 framework. Is the WEA taking practical steps to equip national leaders to successfully lead the discernment and resource-mapping process in their respective countries?
WEA has been doing this for some time through our alliance engagement and the Global Institute of Leadership, using the seven criteria that Dr. Brad Smith has been using in his work with alliances.
We’d like to develop that further, because it is now very important. We will do that again and help equip national leaders to carry out this resource mapping. Yes, that’s very important before we move forward.
The questionnaire we sent to alliances is just a first step. After that, we will offer more training, refine the answers, and so on.
CALL33 describes God’s calling as inherently holistic, integrating evangelism with mercy, justice, and community transformation. How can evangelical churches maintain this balance without compromising either evangelistic zeal or social action?
This tension has always existed in evangelical churches: how can we keep the balance between evangelism and community transformation?
A holistic approach is central to the gospel, and I think many churches are succeeding at it. We should help one another to keep that balance. On the one hand, many churches drift toward social justice and later become more liberal; on the other, some are very evangelistic without caring about the social side.
There is no magic formula, but we can help one another through better teaching and by encouraging one another to keep that balance.
Step Five of the CALL33 framework speaks about “Walking Together” and building trust across diverse cultures, languages, and contexts. How does the WEA foster long-term accountability and healthy relationships among participating members?
CALL33 is an initiative—a work in progress—and we don’t have all the answers. But we will build structures to sustain that accountability long-term and foster healthier relationships. We know that differences in culture, language, and context can cause tension.
WEA will run special workshops, seminars, and commissions. We will always act as mediators, serving as a buffer zone and helping people from diverse cultures, across different organizations and alliances, work together well.
With 2033 only a few years away, how does CALL33 intend to engage younger leaders, youth, and emerging movements who will carry this mission beyond 2033?
While we cannot impose the issue of youth on national alliances, we will encourage them to involve younger leaders. I think it is essential, as we move forward, to emphasize the need for younger leaders to be part of the initiative.
Our Youth Commission will also be part of this. We will encourage alliances to make young people part of their ministry and to involve them in their initiatives and calling.
Looking ahead to 2033, what concrete transformation or testimony do you hope to see in the global Church as a result of CALL33?
I would love to hear a testimony that CALL33 motivated a national alliance—hopefully more than one—to really ask the Lord what their calling is, so that they can focus on it. I hope our alliance leaders and members can be humble enough to say, “We need help to fulfill that calling.” It would be wonderful to know that CALL33 really helped that alliance fulfill its calling.
So I pray that we will hear that kind of testimony. I also pray that we will move forward in a greater way and see results: more people coming closer to the Lord, people being saved, people becoming disciples and better disciples, and churches becoming more disciple-centered—and results in other areas too, such as justice, reconciliation, and greater effort for religious freedom.
I want to hear that CALL33 helped motivate the whole Church to work together, and helped alliances fulfill the calling the Lord has put on their hearts.
Learn more about CALL33. If you are part of a national alliance and would like to connect more closely with the WEA and share what God has been saying to you about your country, please complete our Alliance Survey, and we will contact you.
