Advocate Botrus Mansour named first Arab Israeli to lead the World Evangelical Alliance

Legal Advocate Botrus Mansour from Nazareth has just been appointed as the new secretary-general and CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). The organization represents and connects some 600 million Evangelicals in over 148 countries, but this will be the first time the top position will be held by an Arab Christian citizen of Israel.

The global organization was founded in the United Kingdom in 1846 with a strong commitment to the Bible, a passion to deal with injustice and a focus on the Great Commission, wanting to see “The Gospel for Everyone by 2033.”

However, WEA's search for a new leader had been underway since March as the previous secretary, Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, had stepped down in February due to health reasons. Dr. Goodwill Shana, chair of the International Council, was holding the fort until the right candidate could be found.

Dr. Shana affirmed, “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.”

Mansour has worn many hats and carries long experience with significant responsibility. Trained in Jerusalem, he practiced law in Haifa and later in Nazareth, was ordained as an elder in the Baptist church he helped establish, and for many years has served as operational director of Nazareth Baptist School.

He steps into his new appointment with gratitude to God, saying, “I felt as if the Lord was opening this door in an amazing way.”

In an interview with ALL ARAB NEWS, Advocate Mansour spoke about his background, life in ministry, reflections on his new appointment and its challenges, as well as his hopes for the future.

Mansour explained that he served as the chair of the Convention of Evangelical Churches in Israel from 2018 and 2024. From his work, he said he became familiar with the World Evangelical Alliance.

“It's a good network for encouragement, fellowship, for supporting and helping one another.” 

“I saw the advertisement of the search committee for the position of secretary general, and prayed about it, spoke with a few people about it, and they encouraged me to apply.”

“I thought, wow, that's a long shot,” he recalled after sending in his application. “I felt the Lord was leading, and it went well.” 

Describing the panel interview for the WEA position, Mansour said, “I was very open. Sometimes when you're under pressure, you try to be very diplomatic… but I was really just sharing my heart. I felt as if the Lord was opening this door in an amazing way. They chose me after months of interviews and prayerfully waiting… It’s as if the Lord says this is for you, for such a time like this.”

Mansour spoke with enthusiasm about his work at the Nazareth Baptist School, where he oversees the logistics and daily operations. The school has around 1,000 students, and Mansour supports the staff and helps raise resources. He also leads assemblies and takes responsibility for what he describes as “the spiritual side.”

“It's a special school, I tell you,” he said.

“God has given favor to the school over the years. We combine the academic excellence of the school – we get very high scores – with the spiritual side. We give Bible classes and chapel for all students, including Muslim students, 20% of them, and including students of all traditions, mainly Catholic and Orthodox.”

Like the general picture of Evangelical Christians amongst the Arab Christian population, the number of Evangelicals enrolled in the school is low. “Maybe 10%, barely 10% from the student body,” he said.

When asked to estimate the number of Evangelical Arab Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Mansour said there are likely around 5,000 in Israel, describing the numbers as small. He noted that the main denominations represented within the WEA include Baptist, Assemblies of God, Open Brethren, Christian Missionary, and the Church of the Nazarene, with others linked through the Holy Land Alliance. In Judea and Samaria, he estimated the number at no more than 1,000; however, Mansour added that it’s not always easy to know, because many are coming to faith in secret.

“The Lord is doing something with Muslims,” Mansour explained. “He's appearing in dreams and visions and things like that. Numbers – nobody can give you numbers of the secret church, but we hear reports that God is doing things among Muslims all around. In Israel, a little bit, in the West Bank, a bit more. Where there’s more persecution, you see more people coming to Jesus.”

Mansour explained that, for many years, Evangelical Arabs in Israel were regarded with suspicion and often faced exclusion from other Christian communities. Recently, however, this has begun to change, with greater openness and acceptance emerging.

“I think people have become more open because of difficulties Christians in general are facing as a minority in Israel, so they feel that it's so silly just to exclude this group or that group – let's come together and try to be together. God has given me favor in this because of my position at the school here, the school is very respected… that opens doors and for us, the people with the Catholics and Orthodox know us, and that changed things a bit.” 

Mansour added: “And another thing is that they claim – that we have different political positions or we don’t believe in Mary, or that we are very American, things like that. This has changed through the years by getting to know us. They've seen the fruits of the ministry that we do in the school, in churches, different organizations, relief work, and so on, and it’s made us more acceptable in society in general, and in Christian society.”

During the interview, Mansour described what he believes are some of the major challenges for the global church.

“I think right now, of course, unity…. I’m not against diversity and for there to be more than one church and so on, but if it could happen without attacking one another, in a good way, where… we can cooperate, we can work together, we can love each other, and pray for each other. Every now and then, be connected for missions or some regional program that we do, or supporting one another, and so on, that will be great.”

Speaking of the Evangelical Alliance networks, he said, “There are 146 alliances around the world… Africa alone has 52 alliances. So, we're going to try to through the regional alliances, which have under them the national alliances, try to encourage them, try to support them, try to see them in the problems.” 

Mansour continued: “Some areas have religious persecution, other areas maybe postmodernism, maybe AI everywhere… churches becoming very liberal or young people are getting distanced from the church and don't care, so it's going to be different. Maybe some places have more social issues – war, for example. We don't want to fall into politics, and this is very sensitive, but this is what they are facing. We can just ignore that.

So there might be help and relief for supporting the churches, as well as justice issues, abortion and so on…I know you can’t spread yourself to solve everything, but through the regional alliances, they can identify the problems that they have in their own region – we will try to help and support and connect.”

When asked which passages of scripture are especially meaningful to him, Mansour shared two – one from the Old Testament and one from the New.

From the Old Testament, he pointed to Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations,” and added, “It shows that the Lord is good. We forget that sometimes; we get so absorbed with our challenges and difficulties, but the Lord is good, and His mercies are forever. He gives us a second chance and is there for us.”

From the New Testament, he highlighted Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Reflecting on it, he said, “Everything that we do – in the morning, at night – to do it as if you’re doing it for the Lord, to honor Him. I like that one also.”

Mansour also reflected on biblical figures who have inspired him. “I used to like Elijah very much because he was fiery, but today maybe a bit less,” he said with a smile, conceding that it might be because he is getting older. “I was preaching about the story of Joseph… the Lord elevated him and he stayed so gracious with his siblings and with his father and everybody. I like this.”

At the conclusion of the interview, Mansour shared that what excites him most about his global role with WEA is the opportunity to serve and make an impact within the worldwide church.

He spoke of the beauty of diversity – “sweet followers of Jesus from every tribe, every color, every background” – and the privilege of being able to encourage, connect, and empower them.

Even something as simple as linking a stronger alliance in one country with a weaker one elsewhere, he explained, can bring blessing and growth.

"This will make me very happy. This connection, this possibility of serving the Lord on this global scene, is mind-blowing for me," he admitted. “It’s still overwhelming. I still don't understand it exactly, but I'll try to do my best.” 

This article originally appeared on ALL ARAB NEWS and is reposted with permission.