Evangelicals at the United Nations

After a year of near-record Christian persecution, the importance of the Global Advocacy Center, a small office at the United Nations operated by the World Evangelical Alliance, is all the more obvious, says the alliance’s global ambassador, the Canadian Brian Stiller.

Since 1997, when the alliance was granted consultative status by the UN, evangelical Christians have had access and opportunity to influence world leaders. Although many can wonder about the true effectiveness of the UN, Stiller argues, “There is no other place where officials from all countries of the world come together. Where else could evangelicals have a chance to pose hard questions to virtually every country on the planet?”

He compares the office’s work to Nehemiah – going directly to the “king” of these countries on behalf of God’s people. Last year, a private conversation with a UN ambassador from a majority Muslim country secured the release of three Christians held in that country, whereas a public outcry likely would have resulted in the opposite.

Support, prayer and awareness of the Global Advocacy Center help fill “the void of influence in Geneva,” Stiller says.