Will Work for Food

By Mike Faust Jagged hair framed the haggard face of a 30-year-old woman. She wore no cosmetics. Her bulky pants matched her XXL gray sweatshirt. I stopped to take a second look. In front of her she held a cardboard sign with four words scrawled on it: “Will work for food.” As I hurried into McDonald”s for lunch, my heart pounded as if I had just witnessed a car wreck. Who can think of food at a time like this? I spoke in chopped sentences: “There”s a woman . . . and a sign . . . she”s in trouble.”

Gifts from the Heart

By Ruth Herron and Anita Smelser The young mother hesitated as she and her toddler stepped quietly into the foyer. She sat down quickly on the closest pew, shushing him and pulling him near her. She smiled tentatively as a worker greeted her and asked a few questions for record keeping. “Yes, it”s just me and my son. . . . Yes, we have transportation. . . . I got a job and someone to watch my little boy. . . . I start tomorrow.” The young mother answered each of our questions, but we knew from experience the most

persecuted church in Indonesia

Modern Day Pauls

A short-term mission team visits believers in Indonesia and shares stories of courage, prayer, and perseverance in persecuted churches—then reflects on what Christians in the U.S. call “suffering.”

Commerce Without Morality

By Francis Nash Jesus called Christians to be salt and light in the world. We have often said the body of Christ should act as the conscience of the community. We are here to bring hope for eternity and help for the present. If you surveyed the general public about issues important to Christians, they would probably list abortion, stem-cell research, pornography, and homosexual marriage. Those are the ones we hear about in the news. While there are Scripture references leading us to speak out on these social problems, Jesus never actually mentioned any of them, specifically. But Jesus did

economic justice

God, Guns, and Economic Apologetics

Economic justice and the church’s witness Economic justice comes into sharper focus when living in poorer neighborhoods reveals how deeply economic standing shapes daily life, church challenges, and the way believers relate to one another. This article reflects on the Bible’s attention to justice and generosity, then offers practical suggestions for both wealthy Christians and poorer churches. Economic disparities can shape trust, opportunity, and long-term stability in a community. Scripture repeatedly addresses justice, mercy, and the spiritual dangers of favoritism. Both wealthy Christians and poorer churches can take concrete steps toward healthier relationships and clearer witness. By Jim Herbst Diane,

Demas loved this world

Demas Has Forsaken Me

A reflection on Demas’s desertion, Paul’s final imprisonment, and the quiet pull of “the world.” Learn why setting heart and mind on things above is essential—and how John Mark’s story offers hope.

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