SEOUL, South Korea – Leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) convened in Seoul this week, reaffirming a commitment to global evangelization with a goal of reaching every person with the Gospel by . The gathering, which drew over 5,000 participants, underscored a shifting landscape in Christian missions, with growing influence from the Global South and a renewed focus on inclusivity.
The assembly, marked by a procession of flags representing 161 member nations, highlighted the WEA’s increasingly diverse membership. Since its 2019 meeting in Indonesia, the organization has expanded to include 27 additional countries, primarily in Africa, Asia and Central Asia. According to WEA data, approximately 70% of the world’s evangelicals now reside in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
A significant theme emerging from the assembly was the reversal of traditional missionary flows. Historically, missionaries largely originated from Western nations, traveling to the Global South. However, the WEA meeting signaled a growing trend of evangelization and discipleship originating from Asia and spreading to both America and Europe. South Korea, once a recipient of missionary efforts, is now the world’s second-largest sender of missionaries, demonstrating this shift.
The target date for “The Gospel for Everyone” is strategically aligned with the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection and the Great Commission, a pivotal moment the WEA aims to commemorate with a globally evangelized world. WEA Executive Chair Dr. Goodwill Shana emphasized the importance of focusing on Asia, stating, “What hit me strongly is 60% of the world’s population is here in Asia. We have the largest Muslim nation here in Asia, largest Hindu and other religions here in Asia. When we say everyone, 60% of everyone is here and so we need to be thinking and praying for Asia a lot more.”
Beyond geographical focus, the assembly also addressed the need for greater inclusivity within the evangelical community. Cinthia Hieber, president and CEO of the Paraguayan Stuttering Association, appealed to the WEA to expand its outreach to people with disabilities. Hieber shared her personal journey living with a speech impediment, describing her conversion as a turning point that led her to establish a support group for individuals with speech disorders. “I am thankful to God for this condition. I am not ashamed of it anymore,” she said, urging churches to become more welcoming and accessible spaces for people with diverse needs.
Hieber called for intentional visibility for people with disabilities within church communities, advocating for training to equip members on how to interact with and support individuals with various conditions, including Down Syndrome, emphasizing their capacity for participation and understanding.
The WEA’s efforts are also yielding tangible results in regions previously considered challenging for Christian outreach. A notable breakthrough was reported in Qatar, where the government granted 4.6 acres of land to the Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar for the construction of a worship center, a development facilitated by WEA intervention. This represents a significant step forward for the evangelical community in the Muslim-majority nation.
The General Assembly concluded with a traditional Korean style of worship and prayer, bringing together leaders from across the globe in a shared expression of faith and commitment to the WEA’s ambitious vision. The event underscored the growing dynamism of the global evangelical movement and its evolving strategies for reaching a world undergoing rapid demographic and cultural shifts.
The WEA, founded in 1846, currently represents an estimated 600 million evangelicals worldwide. The recent appointment of Botrus Mansour, an Arab-Israeli of Palestinian heritage, as Secretary General, further reflects the organization’s commitment to diversity and global representation. Mansour’s appointment, confirmed in August , makes him the first Arab Christian to lead the global body.
