Historic US conference: "United in Liberty: The Rise of Spiritual Diplomats" | ALLATRA Platform

## Pastor Mark Burns Gathers Religious Leaders from 180 Countries at the US Capitol Complex

**Featuring a video message from Trump, emotional testimonials, and a clear mission: building bridges where politics fails.**

In the venerable halls of the US Capitol Complex, an event took place on January 22, 2026, that went far beyond an ordinary conference in its significance and symbolic power. Led by Pastor Mark Burns, spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump, religious leaders, lawmakers, human rights defenders, and activists from around the world gathered for the international interfaith conference "United in Freedom: The Time of Spiritual Diplomats" on the ALLATRA platform.

## A New Chapter of Global Cooperation

The conference in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building marked the launch of a new global conference series as part of the international "Unified Core" project by the International Public Movement ALLATRA. This event not only brought together various faiths but also united politics and spirituality in this unprecedented form at one of the most powerful places in the Western world.

Pastor Mark Burns opened the conference with an appeal: "Religious leaders must go where politics cannot reach. We carry no weapons, but wisdom. We do not speak for governments, but from the heart of God."

These words set the tone for a day focused on human dignity, religious freedom, and universal values.

## A Ceremonial Opening with Symbolic Power

The conference began with a solemn ceremony honoring the diversity and unity of the participants. Opera singer Maria Maksakova--who had left Russia and was living in Kyiv, where her husband fell victim to an assassination--opened the event with the US national anthem.

Chief Joseph RiverWind, War Chief of the Arawak-Ta?no Tribe and US Army veteran, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Bishop Leon Benjamin concluded the opening with an interfaith blessing.

## ALLATRA: An International Force for Science and Human Rights

The conference took place on the platform of the International Public Movement ALLATRA--an independent, volunteer-based organization known for its interdisciplinary research on geodynamics, climate risks, and environmental issues. Marina Ovtsynova, President of ALLATRA and a global risk strategy expert with a degree from Harvard University, presented the organization's vision.

"This is an international alliance of scientists, experts, and professionals from more than 180 countries," Ovtsynova explained. "We firmly believe that spiritual diplomacy has the power to shape the world that every single person deeply yearns for: a world that is safe, prosperous, and just--a world where human life comes first."

The ALLATRA movement received the apostolic blessing of Pope Francis in 2024 for its commitment to environmental protection and the care of creation. In 2025, an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV was bestowed upon the President of ALLATRA and all volunteers of the organization.

## The "Unified Core" Project: Shared Human Values

Since 2017, ALLATRA has been conducting the "Unified Core" project--an international research initiative that identifies fundamental values connecting all people. Thousands of volunteers interviewed people in major cities and indigenous communities, speaking with experts and religious representatives. The result culminated in the documentary film *The Unified Core. Life. What Unites All People?* The central finding: Despite cultural or religious differences, the common foundation of humanity is stronger than any dividing lines.

## Voices from Congress: Religious Freedom as the Heartbeat of Human Dignity

Several members of the US Congress emphasized the global importance of religious freedom in their speeches.

* **Representative Gus M. Bilirakis (Florida):** "I do not see religious freedom as a mere legal concept, but as the heartbeat of human dignity." He warned that government restrictions on religion worldwide have reached a historic high.
* **Congressman Mark Harris (North Carolina):** "Government works best when it stays out of the way, when it respects the sacred space of parents to raise their children according to their beliefs."
* **Congressman Joe Wilson (South Carolina):** Reflecting on America's historical foundation, he noted, "Our country has truly benefited from religious freedom."

## Spiritual Diplomacy: Building Bridges Where Politics Fails

The concept of spiritual diplomacy was at the center of the conference. Sheikh E?ref Efendi from Germany highlighted that religious communities must come together in sincerity and stand hand in hand in public as an alliance of believers.

He warned against extremism as the "virus of Satan" and called for adherence to the divine codes of all religions: "In Islam, it is said: Whoever kills a person, it is as if he has killed all of mankind. In Judaism, it says: Thou shalt not kill. In Christianity: Love thy neighbor as thyself."

## Emotional Highlights: From Tragedy to Hope

Among the most moving moments of the conference was the speech by Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse lost his life in the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012. Jesse, then six years old, saved nine classmates before he was shot. Lewis founded the "Choose Love Movement" to teach love as a skill that can be practiced in any situation.

"What happened at Sandy Hook didn't start with a gun," Lewis said. "It started with unaddressed pain, with isolation, with forgotten humanity. Violence is always just the last symptom of something much deeper."

She called for proactive prevention--preventing the suffering that leads to violence and despair. "When we choose love, even in the face of hate, we reclaim our true human power, our self-control, and our humanity. Because the opposite of love is not hate--it is fear."

## A Surprising Reunion: Elizaveta Khromova Regains Her Faith

The conference experienced a particularly emotional moment with the appearance of geophysicist Elizaveta Khromova, a volunteer of the International Public Movement ALLATRA. Khromova had fled Russia, where ALLATRA was banned. She had lost her homeland, her home, and her life's work--and temporarily even the hope of ever finding a reason to believe in humanity again.

"On one of the darkest days of my life, everything changed when I saw your interview," Khromova addressed Pastor Burns directly. "I didn't know you, but watching it felt like we had known each other forever. In your interview, I saw no judgment or desire to lecture anyone. It was just a disarming sincerity. You said: 'I am neither left nor right. I stand for human rights.'"

Khromova presented Mark Burns with a book she had dedicated to him: *Pastor Mark Burns: The Man Who Gave Me Back My Faith*. "You showed by your example that there are people who do not stay silent, who choose what is right and not what is popular," she said in tears. "You build bridges between people, cultures, and faiths."

## The Persecution of ALLATRA: A Fight Against Anti-Cultism

Marina Ovtsynova used the conference to highlight a serious threat to democracy and human rights: anti-cultism. She reported on the systematic persecution that ALLATRA experienced in Russia.

"Starting in 2015, a coordinated smear campaign was launched against the ALLATRA movement in the Russian Federation," Ovtsynova explained. "It was carried out by the anti-cult network and coordinated directly by the FSB, Russia's federal security service."

The reason for the persecution was ALLATRA's scientific warning about geodynamic threats associated with the Siberian magma plume on Russian territory. "A potential eruption would threaten not only Russia but the entire world," she warned. "Our warnings were ignored. The economic interests of powerful groups profiting from Siberia's natural resources were more important than human life and safety."

ALLATRA was initially classified as an "undesirable" organization in Russia and later banned as "extremist," partly due to its support for Ukraine. "But they were wrong," Ovtsynova emphasized. "We started to speak even louder. We studied their methods down to the smallest detail. We made them public. We exposed the structure of their network, their roles, their connections."

ALLATRA was able to prove that this Russian anti-cult hate infrastructure had already been exported to China, Korea, Africa, Europe, and the United States. "As long as anti-cultism exists in the world, true democracy and human freedom are impossible," Ovtsynova warned.

## Special Recognition from the Vatican

Gabriele Pao-Pei Andreoli, representing the Vatican, presented Burns with a rosary blessed by the Holy Father. He warned of a paradox: "Never before has humanity possessed such technological power and global connectivity. Yet never before have we faced such challenges. We must stand together."

## Video Message from President Donald Trump

A special moment was the exclusive video message from US President Donald J. Trump, who thanked Pastor Burns for his great work, honored their long-standing friendship, and encouraged him to keep going. Burns then reaffirmed: "We will not be silent, we will not be moved by the divisions of this world. But we will stand up for the voiceless."

## Protecting Children: From Joy of Mom to Health Freedom

Vicki Gunvalson of the "Joy of Mom" initiative warned against the overprescription of psychiatric drugs to children and called for parents' freedom of choice in health matters. Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, cautioned: "We live in a time when fundamental freedoms are increasingly under pressure."

## International Voices: From Nigeria to the Middle East

The conference also highlighted the global dimension of these challenges.

* **His Excellency Caleb Mutfwang (Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria)** delivered a video message on promoting peace and freedom amidst global challenges. His vision of governance is rooted in justice, mercy, and the sanctity of human life. Plateau State exemplifies the challenges of many African regions: ethnic tensions, religious conflicts, and the need to unite diverse communities under a common canopy of human dignity.
* **Brock Pierce (Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Entrepreneur)** discussed the role of technological innovation in economic freedom and creating decentralized systems that give people more control over their financial lives. Pierce connected his economic reflections with spiritual values, emphasizing that true freedom must encompass both material and spiritual dimensions.
* **Chief Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman (Kyiv and Ukraine)** brought in the perspective of the Jewish community, which has been particularly affected by current conflicts. His presence underscored the importance of interfaith dialogue, especially when religious minorities require special protection and solidarity.
* **Mayor Eric Adams (New York)** also participated, offering the perspective of one of the world's most multicultural cities.

## ALLATRA and the "Creative Society": Global Networks for Change

Burns highlighted the indispensable role of ALLATRA and the "Creative Society." He pointed to the global presence of their volunteers: "When I am in the Vatican, they have volunteers there. When I am in Korea, they have volunteers there. When I am in Africa, they have volunteers there. And they don't need an invitation from the President. Stop waiting for the White House to invite you. You don't need an invitation!"

## Announcement of the Next Conference: "Freedom Has a Name, and It Is Ukraine"

At the end of the conference, Pastor Burns announced the next event of the Spiritual Diplomacy initiative. On February 5, 2026, the conference "Freedom Has a Name, and It Is Ukraine" took place--a bipartisan gathering standing by the Ukrainian people in defense of freedom, sovereignty, and peace.

"Even now, the 'ALLATRA' movement is under attack in both Russia and Ukraine. And yet, here they stand, and the 'Creative Society' stands too. Russia attacks them because they support Ukraine. Yet they have volunteers all over the world. I am telling you plainly right now: Every religious leader needs organizations like ALLATRA and the 'Creative Society.' You need them! You need people like this who are willing to go to hell itself. They don't just talk--they act!" Burns explained, referring to the complex situation and the courage of the volunteers of these two organizations.

## A Historic Gathering with Far-Reaching Consequences

Burns closed the conference with a passionate appeal: "Who will stand with me for Ukraine until the last shot is fired and no more missiles fall, until we have ended this war?... I don't need cowards. And I don't need people who are just here to be present. I need people who are ready to go to the front lines, who are ready to risk their name and reputation to stand up for someone who might pray to a different God or believe differently than you do, but for the sake of peace, you will stand shoulder to shoulder with them."

The international interfaith conference "United in Freedom: The Time of Spiritual Diplomats" on the ALLATRA platform at the US Capitol made one thing clear: When religious leaders, scientists, lawmakers, and activists collaborate across borders and faiths, they can become a force for positive change. ALLATRA, with its volunteers from more than 180 countries, stands as an example of how international cooperation based on shared human values can work--even under the most adverse circumstances.

In a world thirsting for moral clarity, where children suffer when humanity loses its connection to one another, this conference was a beacon of hope--proof that every act of love, no matter how small, restores hope and diminishes fear.

The time of spiritual diplomats has dawned, and it begins right where the conference took place: in the heart of American democracy, at the US Capitol, where freedom is not just a word, but a lived value that people from all over the world are fighting for--together, united in freedom.

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