Christine Mangale is the Program Director at the Lutheran Office for World Community, an advocacy office that represents the Lutheran World Federation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the United Nations in New York.
Her rise to fame was gradual but one that has put her on the international platform.
Mangale, who started off as an intern in the Lutheran World Federation youth programme in 2001, impressed the Christian organisation for two years, and in 2003, she was chosen to represent the Lutheran Church in a general assembly in Canada.
The assembly in Canada turned out to be a stepping stone for Mangale, who then earned her space in other international meetings to advocate for the rights of Kenyan youth.
Due to her impressive performance, Mangale was elected as a youth leader for her church based in Kenya and as a regional youth secretary for East and Central Africa.
"As a young person, I was really passionate about addressing issues like poverty and unemployment so I volunteered in many different capacities," Mangale told Lutheran Church World Organisation on Friday, February 3.
"Both my parents were very active in the church, my father as an evangelist and my mother as a committed member of the women’s group. For me, the church was more than just a space to occupy on a Sunday morning, it was really a community that nurtured my desires and talents to be a church leader," she added.
In 2008, she was moved to New York and appointed a Coordinator before being promoted to Program Coordinator, where she was trained in networking, community organising and youth empowerment.
Four years later, Mangale was appointed Program Director at the Lutheran Office for World Community. She became the first woman to land that role, a role she officially took up in September 2022.
Now in her position, Mangale lifts the voices of local churches in promoting justice, peace and human rights.
Her achievements include amplifying Lutheran perspectives on gender justice within the United Nations processes.
"In the beginning, we worked with some other churches and interfaith groups but now we coordinate much more intentionally to amplify our voices," she told Lutheran World Organisation.
"I am a product of other women who have mentored me and given me a voice, so I spend time mentoring young people," she insisted.
