Syria is now the questionable home to mothers and children who are either forgotten, ignored or condemned.

“There’s only one exit,” our guide tells us at the place where we’re staying. “If you need to evacuate, don’t turn left outside. That part of the street belongs to Assad.”

We landed in Qatar less than 24 hours before and were warned not to eat in public or carry water bottles, despite the air’s parching dryness. The entire land is in the grip of Ramadan, one of Islam’s most important religious observances.

Looking down at the bustling, dusty road, it’s hard to imagine pieces of this city belonging to a subset of al-Qaeda, one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups

World Challenge workers are helping families protect their young daughters from cultural pressure to marry too early.

According to the Human Rights Watch, “Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage of girls under the age of 15 in the world, with 29 percent of girls in Bangladesh married before age 15…”

In a study that interviewed hundreds of women across the country, researchers found a shocking number of girls who had been married off before they were 11 years old.

Although child marriages have been illegal for decades, the practice is alive and well, especially in poorer communities.

Child Brides in the Slums

For the Dalits—the “untouchables”—who live in Bangladesh’s slums, parents regularly struggle to feed all of their children.

One bishop has helped bring a wave of change to his city with discussion about new ways to approach problems.

Bishop Emile helps to manage and disciple the leaders of 50 churches in and around the city of Ngozi in Burundi. He also personally leads a church of about 1,500 members.

When he first met with World Challenge workers, he was intrigued by the approach to God’s Word as a transformative force for people’s everyday choices and lives. He took careful note of the biblical concepts behind the lessons, then he decided to adopt this wholistic ministry for his church.

Soon after, he headed out to the pastors he ministered to and shared this vision of whole-life ministry. His passion was to see all the churches apply this mindset and empower their congregations to see God’s blessings. 

Church leaders in Brazil are looking for ways to build up children and teenagers as vital ministry workers. 

The ministry of Jacob’s Well extends throughout northern Brazil, sharing the gospel alongside helping people get access to the clean water but also teaching them new agricultural practices, hygiene lessons and other community skills.

Reading lessons are one of their programs, meant to combat the high levels of illiteracy in Brazil’s rural areas. 

One of their missionaries goes to a village in her region twice a week to hold a reading and writing class for the children and then one for the adults. One day, two of the middle school-aged students asked if they could stay for the adults’ class.