Nicaragua has been labeled a Country of Particular Concern by the U. S. State Department. From January 4-10, 21Wilberforce’s Executive Director John Gongwer traveled with BWA President Tomas Mackey (Argentina) and BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown to Nicaragua to attend the annual national Baptist Convention—Convención Bautista de Nicaragua (CBN). What follows is Gongwer’s first-hand account of the trip. We welcomed …

Beginning in November 2019, a group over 60 members from Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, called the “Mayflower Church” for their commitment in seeking the freedom, began arriving in the Republic of Korea from China after enduring repeated threats and interrogation from Chinese police. After being denied asylum in South Korea, the group moved to Bangkok, Thailand and are currently seeking …

As reported by the US Dept. of State, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the International Religious Freedom Roundtable and countless non-profits, the news is often bad and discouraging about the discrimination, marginalization and persecution around the world the individuals experience for living out their faith and beliefs. At 21Wilberforce, we continually highlight why we should stand by …

On December 14, 2022, 21Wilberforce Director of  Communications, Lou Sabatier, moderated a side event to the 2022 U.S. Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, DC. Titled “Women and IRF in Africa: Why Their Concerns are Overlooked”, the panel brought attention to women and international religious freedom in African countries. This event was a collaboration between the International Religious Freedom Roundtable Africa …

JOIN 21WILBERFORCE TO URGE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE THAT THE MAYFLOWER CHURCH BE WELCOMED TO THE UNITED STATES TO PREVENT THEIR DEPORTATION TO CHINA. TAKE ONE MINUTE TO SIGN THE LETTER BELOW TO SPEAK OUT! What you need to know: Beginning in November 2019, a group over 60 members from Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, nicknamed the “Mayflower Church” for …

In the 19th century, British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce identified the slave trade as the single greatest violation of human rights. Over several years he led a successful abolition movement through collaborative partnerships, grassroots empowerment, and policy campaigns. 21Wilberforce is employing this powerful model to train and empower others, facilitate results-based solutions, and work with like-minded partners to advance religious freedom …

IDOP resources are designed to help you effectively pray for the persecuted. Globally, one in seven Christians live in places where they face a high level of persecution for their faith. Godfrey Yogarajah, WEA’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, recently said, “The IDOP is a time set apart to remember all those who share our faith, but not our freedom.” Click …

21Wilberforce is spearheading a launch called The Global Defenders Network (GDN) in response to the growing need to provide legal representation and defend victims of unjust laws that violate everyone’s basic human right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). GDN is an association of individuals, organizations, and networks that will work collaboratively on individual member and group initiatives. It …

21Wilberforce is partnering with the University of Stirling on an innovative research project that will equip human rights advocacy groups with insights and proven pathways to successfully advance religious freedom through the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UN UPR process provides an opportunity for all UN Member States, sometimes in collaboration with human rights groups, to make recommendations …

By Ken Camp, Managing Editor Religious persecution in China today is worse than it has been in decades, former Chinese dissident and longtime international human rights advocate Bob Fu told a gathering at Dallas Baptist University. Chinese President Xi Jinping made clear in his Oct. 16 address to the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party what his actions already …