The Defense of Religious Liberty has united Evangelicals since the start
In 1850, evangelicals campaigned to free Dr. Achilli, an imprisoned converted Evangelical who was a Dominican priest previously.
The Evangelical Alliance championed Dr. Achili, supported him in his libel suit as well as his imprisonment from the Roman inquisition.
His release marked a turning point. The young Evangelical Alliance began uniting around a shared cause: defending those persecuted for their faith.
They helped free prisoners jailed for reading the Bible, advocated for persecuted Baptists and supported religious freedom across Spain, Russia, Turkey and Japan—even defending those who did not share their faith.
One conviction guided their work: no one should suffer for what they believe.
For 180 years, the World Evangelical Alliance has continued to stand for religious freedom—and that commitment
remains today.
Sources
Howard, David M. The Dream That Wouldn't Die. The Birth and Growth of the World Evangelical Fellowship 1846-1986 Vol. 1 : Yearbook for Evangelical Theology, Volume 1, 1987.
Randall, Ian and David Hilborn. One Body in Christ. The History and Significance of the Evangelical Alliance. Great Britain: Paternoster Press, 2001.
Parker, David. Discerning The Obedience of Faith. A Short History of the World Evangelical Alliance. Theological Commission. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 2005.
Ewing, John W. Goodly Fellowship. A Centenary Tribute to the Life and Work of the World's Evangelical Alliance 1846–1946. World of Theology Series 23. Theological Commission. Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft 2022.
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