WEA

A delegation of 24 leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance met with leaders of China’s official church bodies Monday, building upon the relationships formed during the first visit by the alliance’s head, Geoff Tunnicliffe, in 2008.

The delegation, which arrived in Shanghai on Sunday, includes Tunnicliffe, European Evangelical Alliance General Secretary Gordon Showell-Rogers from the United Kingdom, National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson from the United States, and members of the WEA’s governing body – the International Council – among others.

On the first official day of their visit, the WEA delegation was welcomed by local Chinese officials and leaders of the state-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council, the umbrella organization for all registered Protestant churches. Among those present were CCC President Gao Feng, CCC General Secretary Kan Baoping, and Amity Foundation Board Member Bao Jiayuan. more >>

Millions of Christians around the world will pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ Sunday in observance of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

In its 14th year, IDOP is one of the largest prayer events in the world. Last year, an estimated half a million churches in 150 countries participated in the event, according to Open Doors, an international Christian ministry that supports persecuted believers.

“The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church presents a tremendous opportunity for millions of people to make a difference in the lives of those being persecuted for their faith in countries like North Korea, Iran, Iraq, China, India and many more,” said Open Doors USA President and CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. more >>

The Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church (KPEC) and the Evangelical Alliance of Azerbaijan have become the latest national church networks to join the wider World Evangelical Alliance.

“It is a great blessing for Azerbaijan to become part of such big families of the EEA (European Evangelical Alliance) and WEA,” commented Pastor Rasim Hasanov, general secretary of Evangelical Alliance of Azerbaijan. “We are very encouraged to know that we are not alone, but together with the worldwide evangelical churches and Christians.”

KPEC President Artur Krasniqi similarly welcomed the acceptance of his evangelical body into the WEA through the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA). more >>

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) officially recruited the largest alliance of churches in South Korea on Tuesday, adding to its network believers from the world’s second largest missionary-sending country following the United States.

Upon joining, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), a church alliance representing 64 denominations and 21 organizations, renewed its vow to co-operate in world evangelization nearly two years after it formed a “historic” partnership with the WEA.

“I believe God is glorified through this and He blesses us abundantly," CCK’s president, the Rev. Eom Shin Hyung, said during a speech welcoming WEA officials to South Korea. more >>

The head of the largest evangelical body in the world released a statement Sunday night on the Gaza-Israel conflict in which he avoided blaming either side for the current outbreak in violence but instead urged the international community to make all possible efforts to end the complicated hostility.

“The God who is near wants to bless the Jewish people but not at the expense of the Arab people and He wants to bless the Arab people but not at the expense of the Jewish people,” said the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance.

The statement was also signed by the WEA ambassador to the Holy Land, the Rev. Harry Tees. more >>