Interim General Secretary - Thomas Bucher
(from December 2012 to October 2013)

Who I am

Let me just give a short introduction. My name is Thomas Bucher. I am married with Margrith and we have four adult children and two grandchildren. The Evangelical Alliance is well known and dear to me. I have been on the board of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance for ten years, six as chairman. Since 2008 I am a member of the EEA Executive Committee (ExCo). However, I have asked the ExCo to put my membership on hold until next October, since I cannot be a member of the body which oversees my work.

My main role is actually in OM as one of the Regional Directors of Europe. I have been in this role for nine years and I am reducing it to two days per week for the time being.

One day of my week goes into my role as a chairman of the board of a local Reformed church in Zurich. This leaves two days for my EEA role.

My desire

I see the EEA as a movement with much potential. There is so much more we could do together to bring God's love in word and deed to this continent. This needs continues striving, challenging and coordinating. There is a huge wealth among our members and if we can connect this even better we will be so much more effective.

Moving forward on this road is my desire.

My key focus areas for the next few months

1. A lot of good is going on through the staff members and working groups of the EEA. I want to support this in the best possible way.


2. Preparing the Week of Prayer 2014 has to be lined up. The prayer week is a focal point of the Evangelical Alliance's work and needs the necessary attention.


3. The General Assembly in October 2013 should be a highlight for the people attending. It needs careful preparation which has already started.


4. In wrestling with various issues in the past three and a half days it has occurred to me that the EEA needs to intensify its journey to get from a state of pioneering to a state of consolidation and further growth. This needs to happen in the area of good governance as well as building a well-functioning administrative backbone. Furthering this process will be one of my points.


5. Stabilising the financial situation is yet another challenge. The past two year we have run a heavy deficit. This cannot continue.


6. In the midst of all this I need to keep an eye on important issues arising and respond appropriately with the help of the respective experts.

Operations Manager - Hester Zoutman

Hester Zoutman-van der Burgh works as the Operations Manager for 2,5 days a week. Her main tasks: supervising offices in Driebergen en Brussels (including email systems, databases, personal data & legal requirements), developing communication systems (including website, newsletters, EEA brand etc), fundraising and coordination of the preparation of Gen. Assembly. Hester is married, with a daughter and lives in Haarlem. Hester's office days are: Monday and Wednesday.

Socio-Political Representative - Julia Doxat-Purser

Since January 1994, the EEA's Brussels and socio-political representative has been Julia Doxat-Purser. In March 2002 EEA expanded its socio-political team so that more could be achieved. A new Brussels representative was appointed and Julia is now focussing on the pan-European work.

The Future:

There are wonderful opportunities ahead. The EEA's expectations for the next few years include the following:

• Prayer for society and politics, for the EU and for Europe as a whole, will be a priority for many more Christians.

• Effective political monitoring and advocacy will happen more and more at national and European levels on a huge range of issues.

• There will be many think tanks and specialist socio-political networks which strengthen their members, help new ministries to develop and work together to talk to politicians.

• Those who want training in political advocacy or social action will have access to quality resources.

• Many more Christians will be involved in politics, law and the secular media, with an understanding of a biblical worldview and a Christian support network behind them.

• And, with God's help, the salt and light will be making an increasing difference.

Brussels Manager - Christel Ngnambi

Christel Ngnambi started as the EEA Brussels Manager in September 2007. He is a political Science graduate with a deep interest in developing a Christian mind and applying Christian thinking to public policy. His personal public policy interests include migration.

Human Trafficking - Jennifer Roemhildt Tunehag

For over a decade, Jennifer Roemhildt Tunehag has worked among women and men in prostitution and victims of human trafficking. In Athens, Greece, Jennifer started the ministry Lost Coin (now Nea Zoi, or New Life). Her experiences there led to an invitation in 2006 to testify before the US Congress about human trafficking.

After turning the ministry over to new leadership, Jennifer began focusing on the challenge of engaging the global church in Christ's mission of individual restoration and societal transformation.

She is now working to assist the EEA in developing the European Freedom Network (EFN). EFN works to connect national Alliances with active and emerging ministries and other stakeholders in their context, and serves those networks by providing the tools they need for effective cooperation and action.

Jennifer says, "I believe that we have the opportunity and the obligation to respond redemptively to this crisis. The global church, operating locally, can be a powerful force in the battle against human trafficking!"

Jennifer lives with her husband, Mats, in Stockholm, Sweden. She serves on the Human Trafficking Task Force of the WEA, and also works with other international organizations as a missions consultant on issues of prostitution and trafficking.

Central Asia Consultant - Derek Copley

My name is Derek Copley and I live on the South coast of England. My wife Nancey has recently retired from lecturing at a local college, where she was responsible for training teachers at post-graduate level. We have one daughter Sara (33), who is married to Jason (also 33). They live in North Carolina , USA . They have two children Reece (5) and Ben (2). They worship in a Baptist Church, where they are Prayer Coordinators and Home Group leaders. Jason is responsible for personal evangelism training.

I was principal of a Bible College in the UK for 27 years, until 1997, training people for missionary service. My original background was in science. I offer my gifts and experience to churches around Europe and the rest of the world as a Consultant, specialising in the Silk Road region. I have a particular love for Europe and the EEA, having attended the General Assembly meetings since 1983. In 1995 I became more heavily involved, when I was elected as President. In 1997, when Stuart McAllister left the EEA as the General Secretary, I did some of the work of General Secretary for 2 years, until the present General Secretary was appointed. After that I became Consultant to the EEA.

My commitment to the EEA is:

• To be a sounding board to the General Secretary on any issues he would like to discuss with me.

• To encourage and assist in the formation of new EAs in Europe and the Silk Road.

• To speak on the Bible and various topics at conferences and national EA gatherings.

• To run leadership training courses for church leaders. To be a resource for those EAs who would like some input.

• To represent the EEA on the International Council of the World Evangelical Alliance, together with Rudolf Westerheide, from Germany.

Muslims Ministries - Bert de Ruiter

Dr. Bert de Ruiter is the EEA Muslims Ministries Associate. He helps members of the EEA to:

a) be aware of the Muslims in their midst and encourage them to befriend them and share their lives with them;

b) understand the developments that are taking place among Muslims in Europe;

c) search with Muslims for central values in society, like justice, freedom, respect, cooperation.

He is available as a consultant on matters relating to relationships with Muslims in Europe and as a trainer to conduct training seminars and workshops on Christian-Muslim relations. Bert got an MA in World Evangelization and a D. Min. in Muslim-Christian relations in Europe. For over 25 years Bert has been ministering in about 50 countries around the world to help Christians share their lives with Muslims. Bert and his wife Jenny live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and have two children and two grandchildren.

Youth Consultant Team - Jussi Miettinen, Colin & Melissa Piper

Youth Consultant - Colin Piper

Colin Piper has a passion empower and train emerging young leaders to reach young people with the gospel of Christ. Colin heads a ministry called International Christian Youthwork (ICY) which links and serves like-minded Evangelical youth ministries around the world. Colin, a Brit, has been involved in full time youth ministry for almost 25 years and now spends most of his time advising, encouraging and supporting youth ministry around the globe. He is also a speaker and author of a number of books.Colin is married to Melissa and lives in England. He loves to travel and watch sports whenever he can!