Churches, Denominations and Religions: [News Update] WEA Calls for Peace in Kazakhstan, Ceasefire in Ethiopia, Faith Leaders' Engagment in Sahel Region; WEA SG Visits Seychelles; Interview with New President of Latin America EA; and More News.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

[News Update] WEA Calls for Peace in Kazakhstan, Ceasefire in Ethiopia, Faith Leaders' Engagment in Sahel Region; WEA SG Visits Seychelles; Interview with New President of Latin America EA; and More News.

The WEA & Central Asia Evangelical Alliance Call for Peace in Kazakhstan

“There are many challenges around the world with the continuing economic impacts of COVID-19 that have led to tensions within many nations. However, we urge government officials in Kazakhstan to de-escalate social unrest and we urge the citizens of Kazakhstan to express their grievances peacefully. We specifically call for all those involved in the conflict to engage in a process of dialogue, working towards lasting peace and reconciliation and a resolution to the underlying issues. We assure the Kazakh people of our sincere prayers at this time.”

WEA Secretary General Visits Seychelles, Meets with Country’s President and Leadership of National Evangelical Alliance

On a recent trip to the Seychelles, WEA Secretary General met with the island nation’s President speaking about the country’s positive track record on fighting corruption, ensuring freedom of religion and belief and its efforts to protect the environment. He also held meetings with the leadership of the Seychelles Evangelical Alliance discussing the situation around Covid-19, the churches’ involvement in creation care and the Alliance’s leadership in the interreligious council, among others.

WEA Calls for Ceasefire, Peace Process in Ethiopia at UN Human Rights Council

WEA Secretary General, Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher, called for a ceasefire and peace process in Ethiopia in a statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Session on Ethiopia held on 17 December 2021. “The way to resolve conflict is not through taking up arms,” Bishop Schirrmacher said. “We stand ready to support a peace and reconciliation process, particularly engaging our regional branch, the Association of Evangelicals in Africa and our Peace and Reconciliation Network.”

WEA Joins Call for Broader Engagement of Local Faith Leaders in Peacemaking Across Sahel Region

The Secretary General of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa called for collaboration towards Peace and Prosperity of the Sahel region. He stressed the importance of regional framework for transnational action by the Sahel countries that would help addressing cultural and religious relations, migrations, illicit financial flows and extractive industries, organized crime and religious extremism.

WEA Global Ambassador Rev. Dr. Brian Stiller Interviews Newly Elected President of AEL

"Every day, we need more people to know Christ. But we need to work especially on discipleship. There are many people who hear the Gospel, but are not discipled, and they fall back," said Rev. Juan Cruz, adding, "I believe, as an Alliance, we may encourage the discipleship of the nations. I am hoping for major evangelism, major discipleship and that we may have missionaries all over the continent."

Russian Evangelical Alliance Exhibits Vitality and Spirit of Unity

Cornelia and Johannes Reimer of WEA, together with Vitaly Vlassenko, General Secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, recently visited Tatarstan, West,- Central- and Eastern Sibiria as well as Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation. The main purpose of the visit was to serve and teach in regional settings and study the Alliance dynamics in remote areas of this vast country.

The Persistent Widow and the United Nations

Sixteen churches have been forcibly shut down in Algeria, and several Christians were prosecuted and unjustly sentenced. Based on input from the Protestant Church of Algeria, a member of the WEA, our WEA Geneva Office reported these cases to the Human Rights Council, to the Human Rights Committee and to UN experts.

WEA Joins New Zealand Christian Network in Mourning the Passing of Glyn Carpenter

"Originally coming from the business world, Glyn was always pushing for Evangelicals to overcome the Sunday/Monday divide and pushed the theology department of WEA to make sure that the priesthood of all believers is at the heart of our theology," said Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary General of the WEA.