Partisanship is at an all-time high in the United States. A 2025 Pew Study showed that over 80 percent of Americans do not think Republicans and Democrats can even agree on basic facts. This has an effect beyond politics. 

“How divided we are as a country is not helping as it pertains to sharing the Gospel,” says Doug Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries.

Image courtesy of Alex Radelich on Unsplash

America’s idea of Christianity often becomes entwined with politics. Political polarization and siloing make it increasingly difficult to reach across barriers with Christ. Yet Hutchcraft believes these barriers can be broken through the power of story.

Hutchcraft Ministries’ small group curriculum, Your Hope Story, teaches ordinary people to leverage their story to evangelize.

“My dad, Ron, and I are hosting discussions with folks from lots of different backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities, saying, ‘It doesn’t have to be a fearful thing. You can know how to do it confidently,’” Hutchcraft says.

There are testimonials from all kinds of people available on their website.  

“You will see yourself in one of these videos,” he says. “I guarantee it.” 

Pray for the USA

Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Prayer is the most important weapon in cutting through political divides with the Gospel. Hutchcraft shares a time when he went to a concert with his dad, where artist Ernie Haase used his platform to ask God to heal divisions. 

Hutchcraft says, “This particular night, [Haase] said, ‘Folks, rather than singing God Bless America, could we sing God Heal America together?’ And it gave us goosebumps. Everywhere you would say God Bless America, it was ‘God Heal America, land that we love.’” 

Pray that God would soften the hearts of people on both sides of the political divide in the United States so they would be receptive to the Gospel. Pray also that people would be emboldened to share Christ through their personal testimonies. And pray that God would heal America. 

“I’m asking Him to heal the country I love,” Hutchcraft says, “and that’s a beautiful thing to be praying.”

Image courtesy of Dyana Wing So on Unsplash

Set Free Ministries walks alongside people through Freedom Appointments, helping those held captive in different ways. Some struggle with domestic violence, addiction, bullying, or childhood trauma.

Steve Vander Molen says, “our volunteers are the heart of everything we do here.” Freedom Appointments are led by two volunteers: one serves as a prayer partner and the other as an encourager, reflecting the way Jesus sent His disciples out two by two.

“We go through a seven-step process to lead men and women to freedom, only found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Vander Molen adds.

Three men talk (photo courtesy of Henri Mathieu-Saint-Laurent via Pexels)

The more volunteers get involved — the more people can be helped. “Many people will come in with the weight of the world on their shoulders and despair, and they’ll leave with the joy of the Lord in their heart,” adds Vander Molen.

Right now, the average wait time is 36 days for men. For women, the need is even greater.

“Right now, women signing up for a Freedom Appointment face an average wait time of 87 days. With additional volunteers, we can bring that down,” explains Vander Molen.

Volunteers need strong faith, sound theology, humility, and the ability to listen well. “Another area is to understand the power of prayer throughout the course of the day,” he says, adding that prayer warriors intercede throughout every Freedom Appointment.

“Through being the hands and feet of Jesus throughout the day, each of our volunteers gets a chance to see God work in mighty ways here,” says Vander Molen.

Set Free Ministries offers Freedom Appointments both in the U.S. and globally as requests continue to come in from around the world. Vander Molen says, “So far this year, we’ve received requests for freedom from people in 26 states, nine countries, and 59 requests outside the U.S. seeking Freedom Appointments.”

Pray that, as the need continues to grow, more workers will answer the call to walk alongside those Christ came to set free.

Visit Set Free Ministries to discover how Freedom Appointments help people find freedom in Christ.

Header photo: Support (photo courtesy of Thirdman via Pexels).

More than 360 people abducted during a deadly March attack by Boko Haram militants in Borno state have been released after months in captivity.

Nigerian authorities say the military rescued the captives from a militant hideout. However, local leaders insist that private negotiations secured their freedom – not the government.

“It looks like this situation may be the government using it as PR,” says Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. “I hope that’s not the truth. But there just seems to be credibility, for example, from the Borno South Youth Alliance – of course, Borno State is where this happened in Nigeria – saying, ‘No, we were the ones that were conversing with those groups that had done this.'”

Rebecca, a Nigerian woman, watched helplessly with her daughter as Boko Haram militants killed her husband and son, and burned her home.
(Photo courtesy VOM USA)

Either way, Musselman says, “These families are now being reunited. We know, of course, that’s not where things end in terms of getting back to normal. There’s just a lot of heartache and trauma and all those things that are involved. But we are grateful for that [release].”

These ongoing attacks by radical Muslim groups highlight a larger problem that plagues Nigeria.

“There’s misinformation that’s saying, ‘Well, both Christians and Muslims are also suffering from the insurgency,’ says Musselman. “Yes, Muslims are suffering because groups like Boko Haram and ISIS as well in the west part of Africa are also targeting anybody that doesn’t go along with their ideology. But Christians are targeted.

“You see groups like the Boko Haram that have clearly stated that part of their goal is to go after the Christians. So they target the churches, the Christian villages, the pastors, and other religious leaders, and really the group’s ideology historically has identified Christians as the primary target.”

The threat has evolved over the years as Boko Haram splintered and other extremist groups gained influence.

“They have become more radicalized, and it’s not just the Boko Haram. There have been split-off groups of the Islamic State West Africa Province. ISIS, of course, [has] networks all around the world. So their resources are greatly increased.”

Nigerian church (photo courtesy of Tosin Superson via Pexels)

Musselman says Christians can rejoice with families welcoming loved ones home while remembering that many others remain in captivity.

Pray for healing from trauma, protection for vulnerable communities, and wisdom for Nigerian leaders. Pray also for Muslim extremists to stop the violence and embrace Christ as Savior.

Learn more about The Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s work at vomcanada.com.

Header photo: Boko Haram militants (Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

The “Patient House” sits across the street from the air base used by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Joe Adams, MAF Lesotho director and pilot, explains, “The patients come from the mountains. They’re very, very low-income people. They don’t have enough money to afford being in the city. They couldn’t rent a room for the night.

“So when they’re done with their medical appointment – or sometimes they’ve been discharged from the hospital – they have no place to go.”

(Photo courtesy of MAF Lesotho)

Working closely with Lesotho Flying Doctors, MAF connects remote clinics to hospitals that would otherwise take hours to reach by road. In some cases, the journey by vehicle can take half a day across rugged terrain. By air, it takes minutes.

Years ago, MAF helped start the Patient House to give patients a place to stay while waiting for treatment or a return flight home. Today, the ministry is operated by Lesotho Mountain Discipleship, a Christian group focused on discipling local believers.

“They keep the patients there, [and] we make sure they have food,” says Adams. “Some of them don’t know how to use anything but an open fire, so we have people that will cook them food with an electric stove or whatever we have in there.”

The Patient House also creates opportunities for spiritual encouragement. Every worker at the Patient House “is also a follower of Jesus and is there to also pray with [patients] and to share the Gospel with them as appropriate.”

Partners in aviation

Pray for those who stay at the Patient House run by MAF’s partner, Lesotho Mountain Discipleship. The house offers patients and their families a place to stay while they receive medical treatment or recover. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

More than 80% of Mission Aviation Fellowship flights in Lesotho serve the medical needs of about 300,000 people living in remote mountain communities, many in partnership with Lesotho Flying Doctors.

Now, with a new leader at the helm of Lesotho Flying Doctors, Adams says the partnership has grown stronger.

“Karabo Lelimo, the leader of the Lesotho Flying Doctors, has been working at the Lebakeng clinic for eight years prior to being appointed as the director,” says Adams. “So he really understands what it’s like to be in the mountain context, to be supported by the aircraft, and be dependent on what is brought on the airplane. He’s also a fellow follower of Jesus – not everyone in Lesotho Flying Doctors is, but he is.”

Lelimo’s faith-filled leadership came out recently when he arranged for food to be delivered to the Patient House – something MAF has typically provided alone.

When Adams thanked him, Lelimo’s reply was simple: “Glory to God.”

For Adams, the moment represented something bigger: ministries working together to care for vulnerable people both physically and spiritually.

“It’s just amazing to have a partner like that in that position,” he says. “That is a blessing we’re thanking God for…. It’s really symbolic of how leadership is changing things.”

(Photo courtesy of Lesotho Flying Pastors, MAF)

Pray for patients served by MAF, Lesotho Flying Doctors, and the Patient House to know deeper spiritual healing in Christ. Pray also for the encouragement of MAF staff and their families.

“We can’t succeed if we try to do it in our own strength,” Adams says. “We need the Holy Spirit to guide us. We need Him to strengthen us and to empower us.”

Learn more about MAF Lesotho and support opportunities at their website here.

Header photo courtesy of MAF.

Murff was diagnosed with a brain AVM (arterial venous malformation). “You actually are born with it, but because it’s hidden, it’s not seen. And so it was kind of shocking, but God is still faithful,” she explains.

After many doctors hesitated to treat her, Murff met a surgeon from Harvard’s hospital who warned her, “You may have to relearn to walk, you may have to relearn to lift your arms, and this could affect this area of your life or this area.”

Murff replied, “Well, do you mind if I just go before the Lord in prayer and let me get back with you?” Prayer with her community brought peace to move forward.

“It was one of those moments where I had to hand everything over to Jesus, a total surrender and trust in Him, that I’m going to serve Him no matter what,” Murff adds.

Representative photo courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Recovery came with unexpected challenges. For someone leading an academic and capacity-building institution in the Christian space, the contrast was striking — having a healthy brain on paper, yet at times struggling with things as simple as remembering a password.

Murff says her faith — and the love of her husband and four daughters —c arried her through the hardest days and into healing. She adds, “My husband’s been fighting for me and walking very close with me through all this journey and always pointing to Jesus”.

The church also walked closely with her family, especially as her daughters needed encouragement.

Murff held onto this promise: “We can genuinely lean in and trust that God is going to work all things out to the good of those who love Him, and that He makes no mistakes”.

One meaningful moment came later, when Murff traveled to Switzerland with her family. She turned around and saw her husband crying. He told her, “I would have never, ever thought that you’d be hiking to the Swiss Alps!”

“And so God,” she adds, “is a Redeemer of all things. All of us have lost something in life, but God is a Redeemer. And this was one of those moments that this understanding of Redemption was completely changed in my life and in my mind!”

Praise God — and pray with hope for what He can do in your life!

Visit MENA Leadership Center to learn how their work is accelerating the spread of the Gospel around the world.

Representative header photo courtesy of Brandi Redd via Unsplash.

Sarani grew up battling serious heart problems that made her very weak and sapped her energy. Life was difficult for Sarani and her parents.

Sarani and her manger coloring scene. (Photo courtesy of Mission India)

Raina Miller with Mission India says, “The family spent every rupee they had on her treatments, and nothing was working. Her mom tried going to temples and praying to their gods, desperate for help — and of course, none of it worked.”

Then Sarani was invited to a Children’s Bible Club run by Mission India. There, she heard stories about Jesus, and especially how He healed the sick. Those stories stayed with her.

“So her Bible Club leader…encouraged her to pray, and Sarani prayed her very first prayer,” says Miller. “It was just the simple words, ‘Please, heal me.’ This time she was praying to the God who hears, not to idols and visiting temples and doing rituals.”

What happened next surprised everyone.

“Within two months, her strength returned — after a lifetime of these heart problems! Her physical heart got stronger, and her heart was also changed by the love of Christ.

“She had joy again, and she was so grateful to Jesus for healing her that she received Him as her Savior.”

Today, Sarani’s faith is spilling over in creative ways. She recently drew a Christmas manger scene — and Mission India turned her artwork into something families around the world can enjoy.

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

Miller says, “We actually turned it into a coloring page so that kids here in the US and their families can color it together. You can download a copy, print it off, make as many copies as you’d like, and you can color along with Sarani to celebrate with her!”

Download Sarani’s Christmas manger coloring page here!

While Sarani’s story is joyful, it’s also a reminder of the spiritual need in India.

“There are millions more children like Sarani who have never heard of Jesus, and they’re still waiting for hope.”

Mission India is inviting believers to respond through prayer and giving during a year-end matching challenge.

Miller explains, “If you’d like to give toward the matching challenge, you can go to missionindia.org/double, and every gift you give toward 10-Day Bible Clubs will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to December 31.”

Please pray that more children in India would hear the Gospel and experience the hope Sarani found in Christ.

Header photo courtesy of Mission India.

(Photo of Beirut, Lebanon courtesy of Jo Kassis/Pexels)

Just over a year ago, former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by an Israeli strike — an event that reshaped power dynamics. Now, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has brought temporary relief to the region.

Yet next door, Lebanon is in a fragile state as Hezbollah refuses to disarm.

Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says, “There is an agreement and everybody – the whole government now – has decided that Hezbollah needs to disarm. The international community is for that, so everything is going towards that end. But at the same time, Hezbollah is not willing to.”

Many Lebanese are weighed down by instability and disillusionment. “So many people are depressed,” Nuna says. “So many people are skeptical. So many people are in disbelief and in hopelessness…. So many people are feeling like it’s better for us to leave.

“It is strategic to pray at this time. We really want God to just show His power.”

As Lebanon grapples with transition, pray that the nation’s leaders will act with wisdom to stabilize the country. Pray for the Church to be a source of Christ’s hope and healing.

(Photo courtesy of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon)

Nuna says, “We’re seeing all these shifts in whole nations, and we’re just there asking God to release His glory and to have people’s eyes see His glory because it’s a really difficult time at this time.”

Learn more about Triumphant Mercy at tm-lebanon.com.

Header photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beiteddine_-_drapeau_libanais.jpg

A siren pierces the sky as servicemen rush to their mission. Fire, crime, tragic accident, or threat to the State cuts their rest short and sends them out like arrows. Meanwhile at home — hands busy with children, cooking, studying, or work — their loved ones carry on, hearts lifted in prayer for a safe return.

Kym Panquerne from Warrior Set Free says, “The men may be an active battle on the field, but the women are an active battle at home!”

Photo courtesy of Denniz Futalan via Pexels

That battle means carrying the weight of home tasks with a team weakened by the absence of a husband, father, or son. Wives often parent alone, keep the household running, and solve problems by themselves — while also carrying the heavy stories their husbands bring home.

“His PTSD spills over onto her, and so then she becomes wounded, not only from her own trauma, but then from her husband as well,” says Panquerne.

In response, Warrior Set Free is organizing a four-day retreat this March in Georgia.

“This is for active military spouses of military first responders,” says Panquerne, “police officers, and mothers and daughters of those in active duty as well.”

The goal is to bring these women into a place of peace and restoration with the Lord, without distraction. The problem is, we rarely give God four days of uninterrupted time.

“So what we do is literally take away all the distractions and place you somewhere you can hear the voice of the Lord. All we do is — what we call — set a table and just let the Lord minister to these women,” adds Panquerne.

An important aspect of this ministry is soul healing.

“It’s about the wounds and trauma and hurts and sins that take up real estate in our hearts, and asking the Lord to just come in and fill those places with his truth and with His forgiveness and with His love and with His grace,” says Panquerne.

Pray that many in need will hear about this conference and attend. Pray also for the preparation and for the team devoted to serving these women.

Visit Warrior Set Free to learn about their ministry to military, veterans, and first responders struggling with faith, identity, and feelings of loss.

Header photo courtesy of Dani Guitarra via Unsplash.

AMG will soon celebrate 50 years of work in Guatemala. AMG has built schools, medical projects, clinics, and hospitals, responding to others’ needs. Today, it works with a large network of churches and schools in the country.

Over the last ten years, one of the biggest focuses within the country has been combating the widespread abuse, neglect, and trauma in the lives of children.

Even more alarming are the numbers of children, both girls and boys, suffering at the hands of sexual violence in desperate situations.

The local statistics show that on average 17 reports of child abuse are filed daily, and numbers are much higher than this because so much goes unreported.

Brian Dennett with AMG says, “Much of the abuse is happening very close to home, with seven out of 10 aggressors being family members.”

Over 10 years ago, AMG partnered with International Justice Mission (IJM) from Washington, DC, to open a child protection facility that works to rescue children, prosecute abusers, and provide Christ-centered counseling for children and their families.

AMG also provides legal support for families by working to put abusers behind bars. 

To be a part of restoration and transformation and really focusing on their dignity and hope for them is such a blessing. 

Abuse is especially common in areas of Guatemala City. (Photo by Juan Carlos Pavon via Unsplash)

Dennett says that the organization has seen great results from their work in Guatemala City, and has become a model or test site in how they will combat these issues in other countries as well.

AMG and IJM are also both working to create systemic change within the government.

“Together with IJM,” says Dennett, “We’ve co-written a groundbreaking law that speeds up the process of child abuse cases and avoids re-victimization of those kids. The law was actually passed by the Guatemalan government, by Congress, and has been a major victory for children’s rights.”

“Our vision to restore these children and build a culture where abuse is not tolerated has been just one of the greatest endeavors that we have undertaken,” says Dennett.

As AMG seeks to provide the healing of Christ, their work is seeing fruit.

At just 10 years old Camille was being abused by her grandfather. Her world collapsing, her teachers and the AMG team noticed her complete lack of joy.

“She had lost her happiness, her voice, any hope,” says Dennett. “But through our child protection program and our team there, she found healing, including her family. She received counsel, legal protection, spiritual care, and really just a lot of love surrounding her.”

Today, Camille is smiling again. She has hope and is dreaming of a future, possibly even helping other girls like her.

“Her story really represents a lot of children in Guatemala and other countries, where we’re able to rescue, heal, and really provide a new life, all wrapped in the joy of the Lord, coming to know Jesus, and who they are in Jesus. And of course, like everything we do, the gospel is at the heart of our work. The love we have for and from Jesus motivates us.”

Restoration is beyond emotion and the organization uses a spiritually motivated methodology with a child’s identity being rooted in Christ.

“Every child we work with is hearing the truth about who they are and who Jesus is, and that they are loved, they are valuable, and that they are just beautiful masterpieces created by the Lord and never forgotten,” says Dennett.

AMG is trying to raise around $50,000 to expand its program in Guatemala to provide safe environments, counseling, individual and group therapy, and spiritual formation for children, bringing relief and restoration.

Please join AMG in prayer and advocacy for these victims of abuse and give if led to break the silence and bring hope and justice.

Header Image by Kaufdex from Pixabay

According to Pete Noor of Set Free Ministries, spiritual bondage is stifling discipleship in churches across America. And unless something changes, sermons will keep hitting walls instead of hearts.

Noor says, “I wonder how many preachers are coming up with these wonderful sermons and wonderful teachings — [yet] what percentage of their congregation is able to even take in what they are preaching because they’re not free yet? They are bound by some lie or sin that they believe. Until they’re free, they can’t take things in.

“You can only disciple a captive as far as he or she can stretch the chains.”

(Photo courtesy of Terren Hurst/Unsplash)

Set Free Ministries helps individuals find spiritual freedom through Christ. Now, they’re turning their focus toward churches — partnering with pastors to equip congregations with a tool called the Freedom in Christ course.

“What would happen if more and more churches got more and more of their congregants set free first?” Noor asks. “Then their messages, I believe, that are being preached would be so much more clearly understood and applied.”

The Freedom in Christ course is an 11-session journey centered on discovering identity in Christ and breaking free from spiritual lies and sin. Part way through the course is the “Freedom Appointment.”

Noor explains that the Freedom Appointment in this context takes place in a small group setting. “They’ll have group prayers and group declarations together. But then individuals split off into private areas where they can quietly pray to God for Him to continue to reveal to me areas in my life where I’m out of line…so that I can confess, renounce, and repent…. Then they come back together as a group and finalize that step, then go to the next step.”

The idea isn’t new — Freedom in Christ Ministries developed the Freedom in Christ course for churches in Europe and “it’s been effective,” says Noor. “So we’re thinking that this should work very well in the United States as well.”

(Photo courtesy of Jon Tyson/Unsplash)

Set Free is already working with several congregations. Noor says, “We would be happy to talk to more churches. They can contact us for more information. At Set Free, we’d be happy to talk to them, share our experiences, and maybe put them in contact with the resource.”

Click here to contact Set Free about the Freedom in Christ course for churches!

“Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue opening up the eyes of churches so they can understand the freedom that’s available to them and the beauty of walking out of their identity in Christ… and that we can continue to help more and more people find freedom in Christ.”

Header photo courtesy of Vlad Shalaginov/Unsplash.