14 PERSECUTED NATIONS AT THE WORLD CUP: why the church should pay attention
Fourteen nations participating in the World Cup are places where Christians are persecuted and the gospel is restricted, opposed, or dangerous to share. This is a divine opportunity for the church to reach out as athletes and fans travel to the biggest Christian nation on earth. Imagine it: as the world fills the arenas with noise, the Church fills the heavens with prayer. Here are the 14 nations and how we can pray for them
FROM PITCH TO PULPIT : 10 World Cup insights from the Apostle Paul
On 11 June 2026, the soccer‑loving world will once again turn its collective gaze toward the FIFA World Cup. Yet beneath the spectacle lies something ancient: the pursuit of excellence, the discipline of training, the endurance of the long race. Something Paul understood long before the world knew stadiums, sponsorships, and digital scoreboards. When he looked at the athletes of his day he dared to say: This is what faith looks like. Here are 10 lessons from the pen of Paul
ISRAEL EN PALESTINA: wie het die olifant aan die stert beet?
Die twee vrae wat die afgelope jaar my pad die meeste gekruis het was: “Wie kan ek glo? Watter media bron kan ek vertrou met die waarheid?” Die Israel/ Palestina kwessie het meeste Christene in ‘n afwaartse spiraal van verwarring en suspisie geplaas. Beide Israel en Palestynse ondersteuners haal erkende nuusbronne met ewe oortuiging aan…
WORLD HUNGER DAY: a world of empty stomachs, a church with full hands
For those who may not read the article all the way through, allow me to begin with an urgent conclusion. 28 May is World Hunger Day. And the call is simple, tender, and deeply Christian: feed at least one hungry person TODAY. Make it more than a thought. Make it personal. As if it was…
8 LESSONS: celebrating Pentecost in the context of war
In just two weeks we will again have the glorious privilege of visiting the church in Lebanon and Syria. We do not take these visits lightly. For us, they are sacred opportunities to learn, to encourage, and to witness the beautiful harmony of the body of Christ across borders and circumstances. It was exactly a year ago that we returned from a similar journey, and the lessons remain vivid in our hearts and minds. As we prepare to travel once more, we pause to recall eight lessons that shaped us then and continue to shape us now. We offer them again in the hope that they will echo the message of Pentecost.
FROM NORTH KOREA TO AMERICA: when idols appear, cults are exposed
Let’s begin with the obvious point that many commentators seem to be missing. The issue is not about President Donald Trump putting up a statue of himself on his own private golf-course. The issue is about those who sanction it – the religious leaders who praise it and bless it. The issue is not the object but the CULT that elevates it. The golden statue is only the SYMPTOM of a far greater spiritual challenge facing America at the moment.
THEY TALKED TO THE TREES: but no one listened to them
The most profound interaction between Pres. Xi Jinping and Pres. Donald Trump took place during a visit to the cypress groves near the Circular Mound Altar and the Imperial Vault of Heaven in Tiantan Park, Beijing. But for those with eyes to see, the moment carried a deeper truth. Trees do not flatter. Trees do not perform. Trees simply stand — patient, enduring, unshaken by the ambitions of men.
The Christian Faith in the Context of Gaza
Rev. Katanacho: The reason why I used the title “The Christian Faith in the Context of Gaza” is a deep personal conviction. I do not want to live out my faith in isolation from my political reality, nor do I want to face my political reality in isolation from my Christian faith.
USA: praying light into darkness
We conclude our 6‑week journey of prayer this week by turning our hearts toward the one nation that holds the key, the future, and, to a large extent, the military arsenal shaping the war in the Middle East: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WHATABOUTISM: the art of dodging the issue
Whenever I post an article on the suffering of the innocent in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and, recently, Iran, I would always receive a standard response from the pro-war lobbyists: “But what about Hezbollah firing missiles at Israel?” “What about Hamas using civilians as human shields?“ “What about the oppressive regime in Iran?” Or,…