We hope you will join us on September 30th or October 3rd for two powerful evenings to stand in solidarity for religious freedom. 21Wilberforce will present the “2019 Frank Wolf Speak Freedom Award” to Bishop Dr. Ben and Dr. Gloria Kwashi in recognition of their extraordinary sacrifice and service to society’s vulnerable and those who suffer for their faith.
 
In their native Jos, Nigeria, the Kwashi’s have experienced persecution and violent attacks, including having their home being burned to the ground. Their response was to bring hundreds of Boko Haram orphans into their home and to continue to look after and educate them. As an amazing husband and wife team and as individuals, the Kwashi’s have overcome personal hardships, opposition, and tragedy to serve as inspiring global examples of forgiveness, grace, and servant leadership.

During the dinner, Dr. Randel Everett, President of 21Wilberforce, will announce the launching of the 21Wilberforce Center for International Religious Freedom and ways which we can join the Kwashi's - standing as advocates for survivors of religious persecution.
 
Location: The Dallas Baptist University, Great Hall
Date: September 30, 2019
Time: 6:30pm reception, 7-9 pm dinner

Location: Midland Country Club
Date: October 3, 2019
Time: 6:30pm reception, 7-9pm dinner

 
Register to become a table sponsor and host a table of eight attendees. You may also purchase individual tickets. Reserve your spot today! If you are not able to attend, please consider a donation in support of efforts to stand with survivors of religious persecution.

From January through August of this year, 21Wilberforce has continued to advocate for, challenge and empower people of faith to support persecuted communities, challenge religious repression and expand religious freedom globally. This Fall, in an effort to expand our footprint and capacity globally, we are launching the 21Wilberforce Center for International Religious Freedom. You will be hearing more about the Center in coming weeks.
 
In early August 21Wilberforce President Randel Everett and six other inter-faith coalition representatives met with U.S. Vice President Pence, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and members of both staffs to discuss religious freedom violations in China.
 
Topics covered during the meeting included the fact that China is violating fundamental human rights and provided cover and legitimacy to other human rights violators; the need for a consistent, long-term U.S. human rights strategy towards China; the critical need for access to information via the Internet in China and how the U.S. can better facilitate that happening; and the need for regional religious freedom advocates in China to receive support, cover, and leadership from the United States.
 
Specific asks of the group included Magnitsky Sanctions for Xinjiang leaders; Ambassador Brownback to visit Xinjiang; China to release Prisoners of Conscience, and use of international religious freedom tools with the country of particular concern designation.
 
Read more about the meeting on Christianpost.com.

 
The Emerging Leaders Student Conference, hosted annually in the Spring by 21Wilberforce, brings students from strategic partner universities and churches across the nation to Washington, DC for a five-day intensive program. Graduate and undergraduate student participants receive training on trending religious freedom issues, leadership and career development, and advocacy strategies in support of persecuted peoples. While in the Capitol, they also meet lawmakers and staff members, network with other young professionals, and learn from individuals who have faced persecution first-hand.
 
The 21Wilberforce Associate Leadership Program offers robust training in international religious freedom advocacy for an elite group of young professionals. Participation in 21Wilberforce mission execution aims to catalyze their leadership in future organizations, while integrating a zeal for religious freedom for all people. Two students, Rachael Boyt and Trent Martin, joined 21Wilberforce as associate staff members this summer. Each received personal mentoring in a professional environment that augments their academic work.
 
Prior participants in our Emerging Leaders Conference or 21Wilberforce’s Associate Leadership program continue to demonstrate leadership on policy and human rights. These include various positions of employment, such as in the office of two members of Congress, a fellowship at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and applications to the Marshall Fund to focus on International Religious Freedom issues. Here are sample comments we have received from participants:

 
In July, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosted the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C. Approximately1,000 leaders—105 foreign government delegates, civil society, religious leaders, activists, policymakers and others—attended the largest religious freedom gathering of its kind in the world. Below are highlights of our involvement with the Ministerial up to and during this historic event:
 

• Co-hosted five side events during the Ministerial as follows: British Embassy Meet and Greet, Congressional Reception, Parliamentarians Best Practices Panel Discussion, Advocacy Training, and a Roundtable Leaders Workshop.
• Created and updated daily the official IRF Roundtable Events Program for over 80 events during the week of the Ministerial. Ambassador Brownback highlighted the importance of this guide during a pre-Ministerial press conference.
• Provided day-of and planning logistics for “Second Stage,” the IRF Roundtable’s official overflow and conference space for the Ministerial.
• Released the 115th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard, with support from Christianity Today, a vital tool for helping engage Americans on international religious freedom.
• Released a joint report on establishing a new coalition of religious freedom leaders in Nigeria which formed the basis of how the State Department engages with IRF civil society networks.
• Spearheaded a communications NGO and faith organizations working group to promote key messages to their constituents during the Ministerial.
• Executed the social media strategy in partnership with a digital agency and our Summer Associates providing the main live tweeting of Ministerial official events.
• Provided expertise on other panels, including on Evangelical responses to persecution and strategy for securing a vocation in religious freedom.

 
“On behalf of USAID's Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives Director Kirsten Evans, CFOI Deputy Director Brian Klotz, Christina Li and the rest of our CFOI colleagues, a warm shout out to 21Wilberforce colleagues and volunteers for both assembling and expeditiously distributing the International Religious Freedom Round Table Events Program, covering the period July 15-19, 2019. In cataloging some 82 substantive side events around Washington, D.C. over this past week, your exemplary work did much to help ensure the overall success of the 2nd Ministerial.”
—Blessings, Timothy Lavelle, USAID  

 
21Wilberforce released our 115th Congress FINAL IRF Congressional Scorecard during a reception held in the Hart Senate building during the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. This informative tool measures the important steps taken by members of Congress in their fight against worldwide assaults on religious freedom.
 
Here are the goals of the Scorecard: a) to recognize and thank members of Congress who have championed international religious freedom in tangible ways; b) to encourage legislators to take bolder actions in support of religious freedom and the restoration of human dignity around the world; and c) to provide interested citizens with a concise, informative, nonpartisan summary of the public actions take on international religious freedom by both houses of Congress.
 
In September we will deliver copies of the Scorecard to the offices of the 40 Notable Leaders we identified, and we will deliver a Scorecard overview to the other 490 offices of Congress. In addition, planning is underway to hold a Scorecard information session for Hill staff.
 
In the past, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has distributed our Scorecard to Parliamentarians who visit from other countries. The International Religious Freedom Roundtable Congressional Working Group has also identified the IRF Congressional Scorecard as a key resource for its work.

Download the Scorecard at: https://IRFscorecard.org. This project was made possible by the generous support of Christianity Today.

Thank you for your contribution to these vital efforts. We also want to thank our board members and welcome Michelle Smith to the board of trustees.
 
Michelle is Chief of Staff of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC. She joined the Fed in 2001 and also serves as the institution’s chief spokesperson and Director of its Division of Board Members. She advises Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Board Governors, Federal Reserve Bank presidents and senior staff on all aspects of external relations, strategic communication and a wide range of policy issues and is responsible for media relations, Congressional relations and other external communications.

Copyright © 2019 21Wilberforce, All rights reserved.