be.encouraged

be encouraged by stories from around the world

Learning To Love Boko Haram

Peggy Gish   In 2009, Boko Haram militants entered Monica Dna’s home in the middle of the night. Monica watched them behead her husband and slit the throats of two of her three sons. Then, turning to her, they slashed her left arm as she raised it in defense, cut her throat, and left her […]

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My fellow Baptist, favourite President, Jimmy Carter.

What he’s most proud of is that he didn’t fire a single shot. Didn’t kill a single person. Didn’t lead his country into a war – legal or illegal. “We kept our country at peace. We never went to war. We never dropped a bomb. We never fired a bullet. But still we achieved our […]

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Dan And His Love For Afghanistan

Deep Abiding Love in Afghanistan: the Life and Work of Dan Terry by David Wildman Before his death at age 64 in August 2010, Dan Terry had worked with Global Ministries in Afghanistan for nearly 40 years. He was one of ten volunteers who were conducting a Nuristan Eye Camp when they were ambushed in […]

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Letter From Nepal- Heroic Local Response

Marcy Noble (living in Nepal for the last 17 years, serving with TEAM) reflects on the week since the Earthquake that impacted Nepal on the 25 April 2015. “We’re all doing a lot of contemplating now that the shakes are subsiding and life seems to be returning to a new normal. We’re all asking what’s […]

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Some Famous Examples Of Pacifism

A pacifist is somebody who opposes war and refuses to kill. There are different levels of pacifism. • Absolute pacifists – Someone who refuses to kill whatever the circumstances. Even in self-defence. • Conditional pacifists – Someone who generally opposes war, but may accept there are times when it is necessary, for example, when you’re […]

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Nuns Train Peacemakers In Kenya

In Kenya, tribal tensions simmer just below the surface of every conflict. In December 2007, this tension exploded after a viciously contested election plunged Kenya into a three-month-long bloodbath of tribal conflict. Many activists and outside observers accused the Kenyan Election Commission of ignoring evidence of vote rigging to keep the current government in power. […]

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Jean Vanier & What Love Looks Like

Vulnerability, Disability and the Witness of Jean Vanier The challenge for anyone who would try to reflect on the suffering of those who are described as “disabled” is that they must do so from the presumption that they are not disabled. As a result, it is hard to avoid appearing pretentious and arrogant to those […]

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A Letter To Girls Joining ISIS

A Letter To Young Muslim Girls Joining ISIS Dear Sister, You won’t know me but like you I too am British and Muslim. Some of your friends may have gone out to join ISIS and you are also considering going out too. Social media is awash with accounts of how life is wonderful under ISIS; […]

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Mayerly & The Children’s Peace Club

“During the past 20 years or so, Colombia has been synonymous with violence. For many of us, it has seemed a hopeless place dominated by drug traffickers, right-wing paramilitary groups and corrupt politicians. Add U.S. support with a lot of weaponry and you have the makings of a tragic mess. A biblical prophet spoke of […]

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Praying With A Terrorist

Malik Neal January 8, 2015 – 6:01pm It was June 27, a Friday, and the sun was disappearing slowly into the clouds over Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Peninsula. A pile of trash smoldered on the dirt road, and as the heat of the day faded, a warm breeze carried the stench through the window of the […]

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The Religious Coalition Of Love

Resisting ISIS! Beyond Secularism and Religious Fanaticism NOVEMBER 13, 2014 / MARTIN ACCAD by Martin Accad The Middle East is in turmoil! That’s a bit of an understatement. Are you feeling frustrated and helpless about it? This has been an ongoing feeling for me since ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) hit the […]

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Christian Leaders Round Australia Seek Release Of Kids In Detention

We will continue asking to release kids in detention December 11 2014, ‪ #‎LoveMakesAWay‬ movement holds national day of action in MPs’ offices calling for ALL detained children to be released into the community – 53 Christian leaders arrested or forcibly removed from MP offices – Perth leaders – including a mother who was praying with her […]

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