The Religious Freedom Commission of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is chaired by 21Wilberforce Ambassador for Latin America, André Simão. The Commission hosted three meetings during the BWA’s annual gathering held last month in Norway. The first meeting focused on the work for freedom of religion or belief that is being done by Baptists leaders in the European Baptist Federation …

21Wilberforce is pleased to announce that Pastor Bob Roberts, Jr. is the recipient of the 2023 Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award.  We will honor this renowned bridge builder who has dedicated his life to promoting and advancing religious freedom, peacemaking and civic engagement at a dinner on Thursday, October 5th in the Great Hall at Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, …

Coptic Solidarity hosted its 11th annual conference The Indigenous Copts: Past Denied and Future Unknown in Washington, DC June 15-16. Legislators, academics, advocates and policy experts convened to share their views and recommendations to provide greater protection and equality for the Copts of Egypt. Policy Day, hosted in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, included a panel focused on International Advocacy Partnerships. …

Randel Everett, founder and president of 21Wilberforce, shared stories of courage and engagement by people of faith who came together and assisted persecuted communities during two luncheons recently in Waco and Temple, Texas. The Western Church is largely unaware of the plight of our brothers and sisters around the world suffering for their faith. Individuals have been killed, harmed, imprisoned, …

Associates are an integral part of the 21Wilberforce team. Our internships include assisting with research, writing, advocacy, and programming support. Associates are also likely to attend congressional hearings, think-tank briefings or other events as the eyes and ears of 21Wilberforce. The Winter 2023 Associates, Dim Sian Ngai, Sanjana Sharma and Josh Young, completed their internships the last week in April. What …

Two years ago, 21Wilberforce entered into a strategic partnership with the Baptist World Alliance and one of the key goals was to develop a mobilization and support program to equip faith communities to engage in protecting religious freedom and defending the persecuted. Central to this program are regional representative 21Wilberforce Ambassadors that work with churches, organizations and individuals to help identify and …

Ken Camp / Reprinted from Baptiststandard.com The Easter promise of new life holds special meaning for members of a persecuted Chinese church who arrived in Texas on Good Friday, in preparation for resettlement with the help of Tyler-area churches. Members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church—nicknamed the “Mayflower Church” for their commitment to seeking religious freedom—arrived Friday evening at Dallas-Fort …

Ken Camp / Managing Editor April 3, 2023 Reprinted from Baptiststandard.com Authorities in Thailand fined but did not immediately deport members of a persecuted Chinese church, but the Christians continue to be detained three days after their deportation hearing of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church—nicknamed the “Mayflower Church” for their commitment to religious freedom—were arrested March 30 and faced deportation …

The First Global, Muti-faith Study on the State of Women and Freedom of Religion or Belief Women and girls worldwide face compound persecution and discrimination due to their religion or belief.  Yet, until today there has been no global landscape analysis of the state of women and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). FoRB Women’s Alliance’s Women At the Table: …