In February of this year, a local altercation in Manipur’s Ukhrul District escalated long-standing tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, leading to property destruction, militant attacks, and displacement. On Wednesday, May 13, our 21Wilberforce team woke up to a flood of messages from India. Three pastors from Manipur, India—Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, Pastor Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen …

Eight years ago, a 14-year-old Nigerian girl disappeared into captivity because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. Today, Leah Sharibu remains missing—and the world must not forget her. On June 18, Christian Freedom International, Jubilee Campaign, and 21Wilberforce will join with advocates, faith leaders, members of the Nigerian diaspora, and concerned citizens outside the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., …

Wissam al-Saliby, President of 21Wilberforce, recently shared this message at the First Baptist Church in Woodville Texas. Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1, Paul reminds believers that God is the source of all comfort, strengthening His people through trials and enabling them to extend that same comfort to others. This sermon encourages Christians to find hope …

May 13, 2026 21Wilberforce mourns and condemns today’s attack by an armed group on Thadou Baptist Association leaders in Manipur, India. Three Baptist leaders were killed: Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, Pastor Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou. We pray for comfort for the families and communities of those killed, and for healing …

May 4, 2026 In June 2026, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea, will conduct an official country visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the government. As part of this visit, the Special Rapporteur will seek to develop a first-hand understanding of the realities shaping freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria. In her …

In April 2026, 21Wilberforce President Wissam Al-Saliby connected with Texas Baptists through two meaningful opportunities to strengthen awareness and engagement around global religious persecution. At the CBF Texas Spring Gathering in Austin (April 17–18), Wissam led a workshop titled “Christian Persecution and Baptist Responses.” Drawing on firsthand experience and deep relationships with local partners, he offered a clear-eyed look at …

We, the undersigned organizations, mourn the tragic loss of life following two attacks carried out around Palm Sunday that killed dozens of innocent civilians and left many others injured, or abducted. April 1, 2026 Late on Saturday night, March 28, 2026, armed attackers assaulted a wedding ceremony in Kahir Village, Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA), in Kaduna State, an area …

In March 2026, a delegation from the First Step Forum (FSF) traveled to Abuja, Nigeria, for a series of high-level engagements with religious leaders, civil society organizations and government officials. The visit — co-facilitated by 21Wilberforce in partnership with local Nigerian organizations — marked the forum’s first official visit to the country and an important step in strengthening international collaboration …

March 26, 2026 In this episode of Live from the Siburt Institute, host Myles Werntz, Associate Professor of Theology and Director of Baptist Studies at Abilene Christian University, welcomes Wissam al-Saliby, President of 21Wilberforce. The podcast, produced by the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, brings together scholars and practitioners to explore the challenges facing the global church and the ways …

March 19, 2026 Early in his career, Camp had an experience that helped define his sense of purpose. He traveled to Mexico City following the 1985 earthquake (photo above), where he spent time with disaster relief volunteers serving people affected by the devastation. For more than 40 years, Ken Camp has built a career around one central calling: telling stories …

March 6, 2026 The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2026 Annual Report documenting religious freedom conditions around the world in 2025. The findings are sobering. Yet the report is more than a catalog of atrocities—it is a warning and a call to action. For pastors, ministry leaders, and advocates who care about the persecuted …

February 19, 2026 By Wissam al-Saliby We are pleased to share the following review by our President, Wissam al-Saliby, originally published in the International Journal for Religious Freedom, Vol. 18, No. 2 (2025). In this thoughtful and timely engagement with Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom by Knox Thames, al-Saliby reflects on the book’s call for principled …

February 9, 2026 This article is based on remarks presented at the Christian Conference of Asia Consultation on Myanmar in November 2025. The Myanmar military coup of February 1, 2021 rekindled a conflict that has since engulfed the country. Five years later, the conflict still rages in the streets and jungles of Myanmar, yet the country’s faith communities are working …

Feburary 5, 2026 Reprinted with permission from Baptist News Global. This article explores the peacebuilding work of Dan and Sharon Buttry, whose framework informs the peacebuilding trainings facilitated by 21Wilberforce through partnerships with International Ministries trainers. These workshops equip church leaders across generations to articulate shared visions for peace and to work collaboratively to address division in their communities. By …

January 30, 2026 By Alexia Kollar My Internship with 21Wilberforce The summer of 2025 did not look like a highlight reel from a coming-of-age movie. I did not backpack through Europe, rescue anyone in dramatic fashion, or stumble into a wildly successful side hustle. Instead, I spent my summer behind a laptop—reading reports, joining video calls across time zones, and …

January 29, 2026 As international concern grows over attacks on Christian communities in India, 21Wilberforce President Wissam al-Saliby offered perspective on the broader trends driving persecution and the urgent need for churches worldwide to respond. The Baptist Standard article below, reprinted with attribution, includes his comments. Kendall Lyons/Baptist Standard MIDAPALLI, India—Villagers in Midapalli, located in the Gadchiroli District of India’s …

January 29, 2026 As part of coverage on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, our president, Wissam al-Saliby, was invited to respond to the findings and place them within a wider global context. We are pleased to reprint the Baptist Standard article below with attribution. Kendall Lyons/Baptist Standard International Christian nonprofit and ministry Open Doors released its World Watch List …

January 7, 2026 Twenty-three young leaders from across Southeast Asia recently gathered with a shared calling: to take part in Christ’s work of healing deep divisions within their communities. They arrived carrying the weight of complex histories, social pressures, and unresolved conflict—but also a readiness to learn, to listen, and to lead differently. Together, they stepped into a week designed …

December 5, 2025 Mae Sot, Thailand — November 21–23, 2025 In late November, Kawthoolei Hope Theological Seminary (KHTS) of the Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Convention hosted its inaugural Peace and Unity Festival in Mae Sot, Thailand. For three days, Karen students, pastors, civil society advocates, and international partners gathered to pray, learn, and envision a more peaceful and unified future for …

December 1, 2025 Around the world, far from headlines and political debate, people are suffering in silence for one reason: their faith. In too many places, simply gathering to pray can lead to surveillance, harassment, imprisonment, or worse. Churches are shuttered. Families are torn apart. Communities are pushed into the shadows. In Eritrea, across Africa, and in parts of Asia, …

November 5, 2025 By Trent Martin The three-week Human Rights Workshop (October 6–24, 2025) successfully concluded under the joint facilitation of 21Wilberforce and the Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom at Dallas Baptist University (DBU). The workshop brought together students from three Christian universities across the globe—Dallas Baptist University (USA), North East Christian University (India), and Bowen University (Nigeria)—forming a …

November 5, 2025The Denison Forum, a Dallas-based ministry, was founded in 2009 by Jim Denison, PhD, and Jeff Byrd to equip Christians to engage with current events from a biblical perspective.   In this episode of Faith & Clarity, host Mark Turman welcomes Wissam al-Saliby, president of 21Wilberforce, for a rich conversation about God’s heart for religious freedom and the hope …

November 3, 2025 Yesterday marked the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church — a global reminder to lift up in prayer those who suffer for their faith. 21Wilberforce President, Wissam al-Saliby, was grateful for the opportunity to speak at First Baptist Church in Marble Falls, Texas, where he shared powerful stories and practical ways we can stand in …

October 17, 2025 As part of its 71st Anniversary and 66th Graduation Ceremony, the Indonesian Baptist Theological Seminary (STT Baptis Indonesia) in Semarang marked a major milestone on October 14-15 with the official launch of two new academic centers — the Center for the Study of Freedom of Religion and Belief and the Center for Baptist Historical Studies. Representatives from …

October 13, 2025 First established by the World Evangelical Alliance in 2001, the International Day of Prayer (IDOP), highlighted on the first Sunday in November, encourages collective prayer for the needs of the global persecuted church. Observed by Christian denominations worldwide, each year focuses on a theme. The Texas Baptists Center for Cultural Engagement, in partnership with 21 Wilberforce, invites …

September 30, 2025 21Wilberforce President Wissam al-Saliby has announced that the 2025 honoree of the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award is Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Founded in 1984, CMEP is a coalition of more than 30 Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical denominations and organizations. CMEP mobilizes U.S. Christians to promote equality, human rights, security, and justice for …

September 5, 2025 As persecution intensifies against Christians and people of other faiths, the call to prayer and advocacy has never been more urgent. The Global Religious Freedom Gathering held on the campus of Dallas Baptist University will provide a space for believers to come together—lifting up those who suffer for their faith and bearing witness to God’s love that …

September 8, 2025 A core part of 21Wilberforce’s mission is equipping you—and your church or faith community—with free resources to stand in solidarity with those facing discrimination, marginalization, and persecution for their faith. Across the globe, millions of people are denied the freedom to worship, gather, and live out their beliefs without fear. The stories of the persecuted church are …

September 2, 2025 This fall, 21Wilberforce and The Global Religious Freedom Center at Dallas Baptist University, in collaboration with partner universities in Nigeria and Southeast Asia, will launch a three-week online workshop designed to equip students with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for effective human rights reporting. The program is tailored to address the unique socio-political landscapes …

August 25, 2025 By Ryan Foley, Reporter for The Christian Post The Embassy of the State of Eritrea refused to accept a letter advocating for the release of Christian leaders imprisoned in what is often called “the North Korea of Africa” for more than 20 years without charges, as demonstrators worldwide are calling attention to one of the world’s worst …

August 25, 2025 In a powerful expression of solidarity and faith, Ukraine hosted its second National Prayer Breakfast this year at the Mystetskyi Arsenal under the patronage of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day, the event concluded a 24-hour global prayer initiative that brought together people across continents in collective intercession for Ukraine’s peace and future. The Prayer …

August 1, 2025 In the lead-up to August 22nd, the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we are joining the #Voices4Justice campaign. This global initiative calls on Eritrean authorities to release seven unjustly imprisoned church leaders and end egregious violations of religious freedom in the country. Access the #Voices4Justice Release the 7 …

July 19, 2025 By Ashley Berryhill What the American Church Must Hear from the Global Body of Christ  “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” —1 Corinthians 12:26  This summer at the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Australia, I sat shoulder to shoulder with leaders from Syria, Indonesia, …

June 19, 2025 By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press. Reprinted with permission. YELEWATA, Benue (BP)—June 17, 2025. The 500 Christians already had fled terrorism at home and found temporary shelter in storefronts transformed into living quarters in downtown Yelewata. But as they slept overnight June 13, men identified as militant Fulani attacked from multiple sides. Shouting “Allahu Akhbar (God is great),” …

June 17, 2025 By Alexia Kollar, 21Wilberforce Summer Associate What helped shape my passion for justice and human dignity Growing up, I often traveled to Brazil as a child, but a hiatus kept us away for several years. I returned in 2017 for my 18th birthday and saw my country through new eyes. I remember encountering young children alone on …

May 21, 2025 Reprinted from Baptiststandard.com Almost daily, news surfaces of Islamic extremists or Fulani militants killing Christians in northern or central Nigeria, with law enforcement either lacking or inadequate to intervene. Even so, the U.S. Department of State largely failed to pay attention to the religious dimension of violence in Nigeria in recent years. “The U.S. government has not …

May 19, 2025 Pastor Brad Lacey hosts The Great Message radio program, which airs on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia—one of only five 50,000-watt clear channel stations in the country. The broadcast reaches listeners across 38 states and into Canada. Recently, Pastor Lacey sat down with Wissam al-Saliby, President of 21Wilberforce, for a compelling conversation about global religious freedom. …

April 14, 2025 Nigeria continues to face serious challenges in safeguarding religious freedom, especially in the face of rising violent extremism. Nigeria is ranked seventh on the 2025 World Watch List as one of the worst places for Christians to live. Radical ideologies, weak institutions, and deep-rooted social divisions have created an atmosphere where individuals—particularly religious minorities—are at constant risk. …

April 4, 2025 21 Wilberforce team members recently attended the graduation ceremony of Kawthoolei Hope Theological Seminary near the Thai-Burma border. It was an impactful event, witnessing 48 young leaders from the Karen community graduate from the theological and political studies programs. Their launch into their communities comes at a turbulent time marked by civil war, a devastating earthquake, and …

March 14, 2025 With widespread persecution impacting Christians and other faiths worldwide, there is an urgent need for prayer and advocacy. We are called to be the lights of the world and to love our neighbors—regardless of their religious beliefs — who face daily suffering and persecution. Leading international religious freedom experts, including 21Wilberforce President Wissam al-Saliby, discuss why Christians …

March 4, 2025 Ashley South, who has been involved in events in Myanmar as an observer and participant in events for nearly thirty years, recently wrote a country overview in the Global Day of Prayer for Burma guide. Here are excerpts: “Four years after the February 2021 coup, Burma is in deep crisis. The illegal and illegitimate State Administrative Council …

February, 21, 2025 Informing and mobilizing Christians and the Church in America to support religious freedom underpins our mission and our work.  21Wilberforce President Wissam al-Saliby recently spoke in Temple, Texas at Meadow Oaks Baptist Church Sunday morning service.  He shared his testimony and our work partnering with the local persecuted church in communities around the world. Meadow Oaks Baptist …

January 10, 2025 Securing religious freedom in South Asia poses a challenge. Religious minorities are specifically targeted for their beliefs, which greatly compromises their religious freedom. The discrimination against religious minorities within each of these countries fosters a culture of impunity toward human rights violations. While there are a lot of differences among countries in this subregion, generally speaking, Christians …

21Wilberforce President, Wissam al-Saliby was quoted in this article written by Ken Camp for Baptiststandard.com about the future of Christians in Syria. December 18, 2024 Many human rights advocates greeted the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with relief and optimism, but some groups focused on international religious freedom view Syria’s future with more questions than answers. The overthrow of …

December 4, 2024 Together we thrive: Join us in equipping local communities who actively experience persecution to advance and protect their religious freedom. Over the last decade, countless individuals and communities have been impacted by the inhumanity of religious persecution. To continue our mission and expand our reach, we are seeking financial support. Our goal for 2025 is to work …

November 20, 2024 Pakistan’s brickmaking industry employs over 3 million men, women, and children…often indentured laborers… who produce 82 billion bricks by hand per year. This back-breaking work is dangerous and the child and bonded labor work in an unhealthy environment. The air is toxic and most families live in 9″ x 12″ huts with poor water and no sanitation …

October 29, 2024 21Wilberforce is pleased to announce the appointment of J.T. Lent Jr. and Dr. Rev. Bruce Webb to the organization’s Board of Directors during the organization’s fall board meeting held in Dallas. The new board members began their three-year terms with 21Wilberforce effective October 24, 2024 and can serve a maximum of three terms. “We’re excited to expand …

October 28, 2024 By Talar Haidostian, 21Wilberforce Operations and Program Coordinator “Jesus calls us into the context of suffering,” said BWA General Secretary and CEO Elijah Brown during the “Praying for ALL the Persecuted” conference hosted by Dallas Baptist University’s Institute for Global Engagement on October 24-25, 2024. Dr. Brown spoke at the opening worship service during which he inspired …

October 28, 2024 By Trent Martin, 21Wilberforce Advocacy and Training Coordinator As 5,400 people raised their voices together on the opening night of worship, I was swept up in the truly global picture of the body of Christ. It was the start of the 4th Lausanne Congress in Incheon, Korea, a continuation of a movement started in 1974 with an …

Dallas Baptist University’s Institute for Global Engagement will host a power-packed conference, “Praying for all the Persecuted,” in late October focused on inspiring the church to pray and advocate for anyone facing persecution for their faith. Knox Thames, an international human rights lawyer, advocate, and author who has dedicated his career to promoting human rights, defending religious minorities, and combatting …

September 4, 2024 21Wilberforce board member, Knox Thames, is the author of ENDING PERSECUTION: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom published by the University of Notre Dame Press. “A pandemic is sweeping the world, but not just COVID; a pandemic of persecution is impacting every faith community globally,” said Thames. “ENDING PERSECUTION exposes the reality of religious repression while …

August 16, 2024 By Chris Eyte, Reprinted from ChristianDaily.com Wissam al-Saliby never dreamed of leaving his beloved country of Lebanon, but the call from God to help the persecuted church was strong. With a background in law, the newly appointed (May) president of Virginia-based Christian human rights group 21Wilberforce had served as director and advocacy officer of the U.N. Office …

July 20, 2024 “Religious freedom is a defining value of Baptists and advancing it globally is a central missional commitment of the BWA,” BWA General Secretary and CEO Elijah Brown said recently. “At a time when 30% of all BWA Baptists face the reality of war, persecution, and extreme hunger, the need is as great as ever.” [21Wilberforce has been …

July 9, 2024 Fruitfulness, faithfulness and vision characterize the persecuted church in many parts of the globe, an advocate for international religious freedom told a Houston-area Baptist church. Wissam al-Saliby, president of the 21Wilberforce human rights organization, spoke at The Woodlands First Baptist Church the Sunday before Independence Day. Al-saliby sought to dispel some misconceptions about persecuted believers globally. “More often than …

July 2, 2024 “Christians are the new scapegoat in India’s political battles,” said Smita Narula, author of the report and researcher for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. “Without immediate and decisive action by the government, communal tensions will continue to be exploited for political and economic ends.” While this quote is relevant today, sadly it was written in …

June 12, 2024 Baptist leaders from across the globe will soon gather on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria to worship, pray, learn, build relationships, and collaborate through shared ministry. Programming includes plenaries, Bible studies, regional ministry updates, and small group reflections developed by 14 BWA Commissions. 21Wilberforce President, Wissam al-Saliby and Executive Director, John Gongwer, will attend the gathering and participate …

May 8, 2024 By Achamba Lisham (name changed) In the summer of 2023, 21Wilberforce’s Ambassador for the Asia Pacific region updated the 21Wilberforce team about the growing crisis in the northern Indian State of Manipur and the resulting widespread devastation and trauma faced by the local Christian population. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that the ongoing …