Flourishing Under Pressure

by AGWM Communications

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told His disciples, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus would work through His disciples to accomplish this task. However, He did not tell His disciples that this task would be easy. He explained, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). In verse 20 He continued, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Jesus had earlier told His disciples, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9).

The Church today is experiencing challenging circumstances—persecution, ministering in a wartorn world and a world rocked by natural disasters. So how do we approach gospel witness when experiencing opposition to the gospel? How can we effectively present the gospel in these situations?

The stories in this issue of WorldView show how the Church is proclaiming the transforming work of Christ in a world filled with conflict and disaster.