“Schools.” That was the consistent response I got when I asked leaders from the Nuba Mountains, a war-torn region of Sudan, the question, “What’s the most important way we can we help?” That request came before food or healthcare or other forms of humanitarian assistance. Even in contexts of extreme poverty, parents use whatever means necessary to pay school fees so that the next generation has opportunities they were…
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Why Should an Evangelist Plant a Tree?
Earlier this month, Pope Francis released an historic encyclical calling for a “revolution” in how humankind relates to the environment. In making his plea for radical changes in “lifestyle, production and consumption” that has pushed the planet to a “breaking point”, Pope Francis draws upon theology, science and history. He also brings special attention to…
North Korea: A Ministry of Reconciliation
70 years ago, opposing sides of the Cold War divided the Korean Peninsula, which led to the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea. North Korea is one of the most secretive and reclusive regimes in the world. There have been recurring famines and humanitarian crises, claiming the lives of millions of people. The…
What we call the edge, God calls the center
For our first post of 2015, we invited a trusted friend, Stephan Bauman, President of World Relief, to be our guest blogger. Mixing in personal reflection, Stephan reminds us that real change — beautiful, winsome, and profound — happens in those seemingly unimpressive communities of people who live with a sense of a “constant need of repentance and conversion.” For some…
What Happens on a Tuesday?
I came to faith, at the age of 33, advanced for most converts to Christianity, through the loving actions of my stepbrothers. They spent time with me, helped me during a rough period in my life, and they witnessed to me about the new life I could have through faith in Jesus. Soon after, I began…
No Longer Lost in Translation
Over the last 38 years in more than 100 countries, First Fruit has had a front row seat to witness how God is drawing people to Himself. It has been a thrilling privilege. One of our largest areas of investment, and one of the most touching to be a part of, is helping make the Bible accessible to more people in their heart language. The…
Africa’s Tension Belt: The Changing Face of Mission
Exploring a mission call in the early 1990s, I developed a romantic notion of what it meant to be a missionary — rural, rugged, sacrificial, cross-cultural, frontline. But also in my mind it was mostly the West to the rest of the world. Adding to the image was my own heritage — more than a century ago…
Iran: Behind the Headlines
Nuclear threat. Political and religious oppression. Human rights violations. Economic sanctions. Rogue state. What does the media’s fiendish portrayal of Iran’s power structures say, if anything, about its citizenry? David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, reminds us in the following interview to be careful not to conflate the two. First Fruit: What is the Iranian story behind the headlines? David:…
She’s My Sister (Part 2)
Camille and Esther Ntoto, founders of Un Jour Nouveau, continue their riveting challenge to the Church as they describe what it is like for girls and women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is the second of a 2-part interview. First Fruit: Why is the Church sometimes complicit in the problem of gender inequality? Camille: First…
She’s My Sister
In helping to launch the United Nations campaign called HeForShe, actress Emma Watson states: “Sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive [the same rights as men]. No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality.” Christians are the…