Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, Global Disciples’ Wendy Nagle explains that women are often a difficult group to connect with when it comes to the Gospel message.

“[Women] may be in household, not out in the marketplace, and we’re looking for unique ways that we can connect with them,” she says. However, through Global Disciples’ ministry, these women are becoming easier to reach. Global Disciples is an organization that mobilizes local churches among the least reached people groups all over the world. Their programs help churches thrive and multiply.

“We have facilitators who work for Global Disciples in their own countries, and those facilitators partner with the program directors that lead church programs throughout more than 57 countries,” Nagle explains. “Those program directors work inside their church to do trainings.”

These trainings include programs in discipleship, small business development, and leadership. This proven approach enables local churches to flourish and grow. The discipleship training in particular helps equip congregation members to effectively share the Gospel with their family, friends, and community.  “Many of those trainings will include the ladies [in the] church,” Nagle says.

She explains this is key to reaching other women in the community. “What we’re hearing more and more is women ministering to women is the perfect outreach strategy for them. Whether they’re ministering in the homes of family members, going to visit relatives, or in some cases domestic workers who are living in households, they’re being effective in reaching the people right inside their four walls.”

SOURCE: Mission Network News, Rachel Pfeiffer

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As the land is torn apart by conflict, the ancient church in Palestine has often been ignored by the West.

Who are we? Why is this happening? And what is our part in the story? These three questions face a beleaguered Christian minority in Palestine, says Yousef Alkhouri of Bethlehem Bible College.

To answer them, the college is offering a new course for this spring semester entitled “Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine.” AlKhouri says the course is open to the public and is separated into nine topics. The class has averaged 80 people attending per session. “Together, the audience consists of Christians and Muslims, women and men of all ages.”

AlKhouri says we understand theology based on our cultural and historical contexts, and Palestine is no different. He describes the Palestinian theological emphasis this way. “It’s a Christ-centered and Kingdom oriented, contextual theology. It holds firm to belief that God is just and God is loving. And we have seen and witnessed His love to the world through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It also stands firmly on Jesus’ command to love thy neighbor, Muslim or Jew.”

And this theology flows out of deep wounds Palestinian Christians have suffered since 1948 that have decimated the Palestinian church.

SOURCE: Mission Network News, Kevin Zeller

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Four-time world heavyweight champion boxer, Evander Holyfield, has opened up about how his faith in Jesus Christ helped him overcome a number of struggles over the course of his life.

Still the only man to have won the undisputed championship in two weight classes, Holyfield eventually garnered the nickname “The Real Deal.” But things haven’t always been plain sailing for the athlete.

Despite his tremendous athletic success, Holyfield has experienced financial ruin and even doping allegations. But though his career has been storied, his faith, he says, has remained an anchor through it all.

“Without Jesus, I wouldn’t be who I am,” he told ChristianHeadlines. “[My Grandmother and mother] always reminded me, ‘you’ve got to ask Jesus to help you.’”

Acknowledging that he experienced a whole host of “setbacks,” — including having fights given to his white opponents when he was the clear winner — Holyfield insisted that his faith was the comfort and the foundation on which he built the rest of his career.

“I could have had an attitude,” he said of the early defeats. “But I learned that God had a hand in it.. he knew.”

SOURCE: Faithwire, Will Maule

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Anyone who attended one church in Northwest Washington, D.C., on certain dates in February and March is being told to self-quarantine for 14 days because of possible exposure to the coronavirus, D.C.’s mayor said Monday morning.

Additionally, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she is considering declaring a state of emergency and will decide later Monday. The city secured a lease for a potential quarantine facility in the event that it is needed, she said.

A rector at Christ Church Georgetown tested positive for coronavirus, District officials announced this weekend.

The church confirmed later Monday that 550 parishioners who went to a service on March 1 were “in voluntary self-quarantine” through March 9. It wasn’t immediately clear how many others were observing a quarantine.

If you are one of hundreds of people who attended Christ Church Georgetown on O Street NW on Feb. 24 or between Feb. 28 and March 3, D.C. public health officials say you should self-quarantine for 14 days from the last time you visited the church. Also, you are recommended to call your health care provider immediately.

Bowser and health department officials said the recommendation was based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards.

Two positive cases of coronavirus in D.C. were announced Saturday.

The church rector and an international visitor to D.C. each tested positive for the novel coronavirus, church and city officials confirmed over the weekend. Both are men in their 50s.

The church rector appears to have not traveled outside the United States, Bowser said.

“At this point, he appears to have no history of international travel and no close contacts with a confirmed case,” she said.

The rector returned from a conference in Louisville Feb. 22 and participated in church services Feb. 23, the church said. He started to feel sick the next day.

He felt better on Feb. 29 and participated in a church retreat and church services the next day.

On Tuesday, the rector went to a doctor and was diagnosed with the flu. On Thursday, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to a hospital, the church said. He was diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday. He and his family were set to be quarantined for 14 days.

Officials are working to trace his path before he was diagnosed. They declined to say on Monday whether the rector gave out communion.

Christ Church, an Episcopal congregation founded in 1817, canceled all activities until further notice, Rev. Crystal Hardin said.

“Of course we are concerned, which is why we closed the doors to the church. We are taking all precautions that are offered to us, all that we have read about on the CDC website, and we will continue to monitor the situation,” Rev. Crystal Hardin said.

Source: NBC Washington

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