Advocate Botrus Mansour appointed as the next Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Advocate Botrus Mansour as its new Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, concluding a six-month global search that was marked by prayer and careful discernment.

The process, conducted by the Search Committee under the mandate of the WEA International Council (IC), began with 25 highly qualified applicants representing the worldwide evangelical community. Following an extensive review of credentials, interviews, and broad consultations, the candidate pool was narrowed to three finalists. At its recent meeting, which included interviews with the final candidates, the IC elected Advocate Mansour by majority vote, affirming his leadership gifts, experience, and commitment to WEA’s mission.

Since April 2024, the WEA has been without a permanent Secretary General and CEO. During this transitional period, Dr. Goodwill Shana, Chair of the IC, has served as Executive Chair to ensure continuity of leadership while the search progressed.

Dr. Shana expressed appreciation for the committees involved in the process and for the prayers offered around the globe:

“This has been a journey marked by diligence, transparency, and prayer. The IC were extraordinarily included for the final interview. Advocate Mansour brings national and regional evangelical experience that is rooted in local grassroots church and community engagement. He has demonstrated humility and a servant’s heart that will bring servant leadership and strengthen collaborative efforts to WEA. We believe he will lead the WEA with wisdom and courage into the next season of our shared vision and mission.”

Advocate Mansour, a lawyer, leader, and advocate for Christian witness, will officially assume office at the General Assembly, succeeding Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher.

Reflecting on his appointment, Advocate Mansour stated:

“I am deeply humbled by the IC’s choice and trust in me and I am acutely aware of the immense responsibility it carries. I am keenly aware that this will need hearts, minds and hands to join together across the global WEA family. With God’s grace, I will work relentlessly with others to remove any obstacles that may seek to hinder our unity. I will be reaching out to my brothers and sisters around the world so that together we may rally behind the vision ‘The Gospel for Everyone by 2033.’ Your prayers and support will go a long way in making this vision a reality. Our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, is worthy of us glorifying Him. His Gospel of peace, justice and righteousness is the true solution for our aching world. Let us allow nothing to stand in the way of proclaiming this life-changing message.”

The WEA invites its network of National Evangelical Alliances, Regional Alliances, Affiliates, and Partners to welcome Advocate Mansour and to pray for his leadership as he advances the vision of uniting evangelicals worldwide in Gospel witness and service.

Born in Nazareth, Israel, in 1965, Mansour spent parts of his childhood in Jerusalem, Oxford, and Nazareth. He came to faith during his high school years. After graduating from Nazareth Baptist School, he earned a law degree from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1991), was admitted to the Israeli Bar Association (1993), and practiced law in Haifa and Nazareth. In 2009, he completed an MBA in Non-Profit Management at Haifa University.

In 2004, he was invited to lead Nazareth Baptist School as General Director (later titled Operational Director in 2021), a role he continues to hold. Mansour co-founded the Local Baptist Church in Nazareth in 1996 and was ordained as elder in 2001. He has also served as Chairman of the Convention of Evangelical Churches in Israel, Secretary and Chairman of the Alliance of Evangelical Conventions in Jordan and the Holy Land, Member of the Executive Committee for Christian Schools in Israel, Deputy Chairman of the Nazareth Village board, Member of the Global Council of Advocates International, and Co-Chairman of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation Israel-Palestine.

In addition to his leadership roles, Mansour has spoken at churches, universities, and conferences worldwide, and has published extensively in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. His work has appeared in Christianity Today, Haaretz, and other outlets. He is also the author of several books, including When Your Neighbor is the Savior (Hope Publishing House, 2011) and Looking from the Precipice (Paraclete Press, 2021), as well as books in Arabic.

Mansour and his wife, A’bir, live in Nazareth and are parents to three adult children.