What can we accomplish together that we couldn’t accomplish alone?
Far more than just opportunities to reconnect, these gatherings allowed us to discover what God is doing in other countries and to share tools and initiatives that have born fruit elsewhere. They also fostered new collaborations by reminding us that mission is not built in isolation, but grows through relationships, listening, and a willingness to move forward together.
Among the participants, we had meaningful conversations with, notably,
- Clément Diedrichs (CNEF),
- Reinhardt Schink (German Evangelical Alliance),
- David Vandenput (Belgian Federal Synod),
- Zdravka Samsonova Stefanova (ART+ Bulgaria),
- Andreas Wenzel (European Evangelical Alliance),
- Olof Edsinger (Swedish Evangelical Alliance),
- Deborah Van der Bij (British influencer),
- Beat Ungricht (Church for Others, Switzerland)
- Rudi Schott (Austrian Evangelical Alliance).
In an interview with Reinhardt Schink, Rev. Botrus Mansour talks about 2033.
CALL33: Discerning God’s Call Together
During the conference, Rev. Botrus Mansour, general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, also presented CALL33 (Collaborative Alliance for Living the Lord’s Call). This initiative invites national evangelical alliances to discern God’s call in their own contexts and to strengthen collaboration within the global Church as we approach 2033.
The goal is not to add yet another program to those that already exist. Rather, it is to better connect existing initiatives, make the most of available resources, and foster collaboration in the service of mission.
To learn more, read the JC2033 blog post: “CALL33: A New Acceleration.”.
Jiska Chin-a-Teh, wearing the JC2033 Resurrection necklace
Jiska Chin-a-Teh: Discerning Together the Path Toward 2033
Jiska Chin-a-Teh works with the Evangelical Alliance of the Netherlands in the areas of global mission and prayer. She also contributes to the deliberations of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Mission Commission, bringing a European perspective through her involvement with the EEMA (European Evangelical Mission Association).
What particularly resonates with her about CALL33 is the invitation to seek God together and to discern what He is calling the Church to accomplish in every nation by 2033. “What excites me most about CALL33 is that this process begins with God’s call rather than our own plans or goals,” she explains.
One question in particular struck a chord with her during recent discussions: “With whom will you celebrate in 2033?” She points out that mission is first and foremost about people - especially those who have not yet had the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus.
Jiska sees the ever-closer ties among churches around the world as a precious opportunity to learn from one another and to discern together what God is accomplishing. But this growing closeness also presents a challenge. As initiatives multiply, it is essential to maintain a big-picture perspective, to complement one another rather than duplicate efforts, and to prioritize collaboration over competition.
For the years ahead, she hopes to see deeper relationships develop, collaboration strengthen, and a more attentive listening to God and to one another. An important milestone will be the WEA Mission Commission’s global consultation, scheduled for September 2027. Mission leaders from different regions of the world and various Christian traditions will continue their reflection on the theme “The Local Church in a Global Perspective.”
Jiska hopes that these exchanges will help strengthen local churches and enable them to participate more faithfully in God’s mission as we approach 2033.
Toward 2033: Celebrating Together, Witnessing Together
From Hope for Europe to CALL33, a common challenge is emerging, learning to collaborate more effectively so that more people may discover hope in Jesus. As we approach 2033, the goal is not simply to increase the number of initiatives, but to build bridges among churches, share resources, and discern together how to respond to God’s call in every context.
This momentum is fully in line with the vision of JC2033: to make 2033 an opportunity for Christians to bear witness together to the resurrection of Jesus and the hope it brings. The question posed by Jiska Chin-a-Teh then takes on its full meaning: “With whom will we celebrate in 2033?” It invites us today to look beyond our usual networks and ask ourselves with whom we are called to walk, serve, and share this hope, in Europe and around the world.
