World Evangelical Alliance Marks 180th Anniversary with Global Online Gatherings
Updated 8 hours ago
On September 23, 2026, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) hosted online events to commemorate its 180th anniversary. The celebrations, held across two sessions to accommodate different time zones, drew hundreds of participants from over 20 countries. The WEA currently represents approximately 650 million evangelicals across 160 nations through nine regional alliances.
WEA Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour opened the gatherings by emphasizing the importance of unity amidst the diversity of evangelical cultures and national identities. Global ambassador Brian C. Stiller reflected on the movement's history, noting that the WEA originated from an 1846 meeting in London. Stiller highlighted the shift in the movement's demographics, noting that evangelical growth is now concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Korea, and China.
The event also featured a joint session with the World Chinese Christianity Alliance (WCA) under the theme "From Legacy to Horizon." This segment honored the upcoming 220th anniversary of Protestant missions in China, tracing the legacy of pioneers such as Robert Morrison, James Hudson Taylor, and L. Nelson Bell while looking toward future mission partnerships.