More than two years ago, I was handed a slip of paper with the name “Nguba Buba” on it.

I recently served as a leader at a Christian retreat for teenagers. Over the weekend, we were asked to take off our watches and shut off our phones so that we could focus our attention on what God had for us over that three-day period. Though it wasn’t as easy to do as I thought it would be, I was glad for the brief reprieve.

It was difficult to know what to expect as we met with the family of Yklas Kabduakasov, a Christian convert from Islam who is serving two years in a prison labor camp in Kazakhstan for sharing his Christian faith with Muslims. I hoped to both find out how his wife, Karlygash, and their children have been coping in his absence and to convey God’s love and our support.

“The peace agreements between the government and Colombia’s largest rebel group are just talk,” “Milena” told me emphatically.

Are you tired of stories about Syrian refugees? It’s been all over the news since Paris was attacked and around 130 people were killed in three separately coordinated attacks.

Several years ago, I was working at an Illinois grocery store on a particularly cold and snowy day in February where everyone was asking the baggers to load their groceries in their car. As I waited for customers, I protected myself from the cold by standing inside a small heated alcove. The automatic door to the alcove was broken and I had to push it open by hand.

In a stunning and controversial announcement on Aug. 5, a judge in Sudan ruled that two South Sudanese church leaders would not face execution for their crimes. Following eight months of waiting for an outcome, Pastor Yat Michael and Pastor Peter Yen were charged with less serious convictions, given credit for time served and told that they could go home.

It is the fourth week of Ramadan, and Muslims around the world are fasting and praying. Muslims are required to cease eating and drinking from dawn until dusk. Only those who are traveling or who are sick are exempt from the requirement of fasting during this time.

Two of my friends recently attended a conference to learn about outreach ministry to Muslim women. They had the opportunity to visit a local mosque. They did not participate in the prayers, but they were still welcomed by the Muslim women. My friend shared with me that the hospitality the Muslim women displayed astonished and humbled her. She didn’t expect to be welcomed at all, but instead, the women warmly greeted her, asked questions about her life and her family, and demonstrated an openness that went beyond her expectations.

On a recent Sunday, I arrived at church early and noticed two women that didn’t appear to be regulars in our church. They wore hijabs.