Lord, You meet us where we are, 
whether we rejoice or mourn.
Help us to meet one another there too. 

The Colossians Forum 

Religious Persecution in China 

Chinese police have detained dozens of pastors and members of Zion Church, one of the country’s largest underground Protestant congregations. Pastor Jin Mingri, the church’s founder, was arrested at his home and charged with “illegal use of information networks,” a crime carrying up to seven years in prison. Authorities have questioned more than 150 worshippers, denied lawyers access to detainees, and targeted both online and in-person worship. The targeting follows new government rules banning unauthorized religious teaching and reflects a broader state effort to bring all faith communities under control through the “sinicization of religion”, an official policy seeking to reshape faith practices to align with Chinese Communist Party (CPP) ideology and cultural norms. Sinicization can also involve coercive measures like re-education camps, surveillance, and the alteration of religious practices to conform to CCP ideology.

Lord, we pray that the church in China will be strengthened in faith and courage. We ask for protection from fear and for the Spirit’s presence to comfort those detained and their families. May China encounter the love of Jesus and find peace that only He gives.  

Ethical AI Usage

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers extraordinary benefits such as improved healthcare, faster data analysis, safer transportation, and more efficient public services. Yet it also brings dangers - job loss, misinformation, bias, privacy breaches, and misuse in surveillance or policing. In response, Canada is developing the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act and a national Code of Conduct to ensure fairness, safety, and accountability in AI systems. The U.S. has issued executive orders and proposed legislation to govern AI transparency, protect civil rights, and prevent harmful applications. Both countries are creating advisory bodies and standards to guide ethical use, aiming to balance innovation with justice. However, significant gaps remain: enforcement is often weak, ethical oversight lags behind rapid technological change, protection for workers and vulnerable populations is limited, and moral and spiritual dimensions are largely missing. Global coordination on AI ethics is also minimal, leaving opportunities for harm if technology outpaces policy.

God, we pray for wisdom and discernment for leaders and policymakers shaping AI. May ethical oversight keep pace with technology, and may human dignity, fairness, and compassion guide decisions. Help us steward these powerful tools faithfully, for the flourishing of all people.

Caribbean Communities Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

Communities across the Caribbean are still struggling to recover after Hurricane Melissa swept through the region. Jamaica is still reeling from the strongest hurricane in its recorded history, with communities grappling with destroyed homes, hospitals, and power systems. Thousands remain displaced, and recovery is slow. Haiti and the Dominican Republic continue to contend with flooding and landslide damage, while eastern Cuba faces rebuilding challenges and the Bahamas is assessing storm surge impacts. Communication and access remain limited in some areas. The most urgent needs are safe shelter, clean water, and medical care. Hurricane Melissa highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Caribbean nations to climate-driven disasters and the critical need for climate justice, aid equity, and regional resilience.

Psalm 13 - paraphrase for Caribbean Nations affected by Hurricane Melissa 

How long, Lord? Will you forget forever?
How long will you hide your face?
How long must we wrestle with our thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in our hearts?
How long will the enemy triumph?

Look at us and answer, Lord our God.
Give light to our eyes, or we will sleep in death,
and the enemy will say, “I have overcome,”
and our foes will rejoice when we fall.

But we trust in your unfailing love;
our hearts rejoice in your salvation.
We will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to us.

Lord, send mercy to the Caribbean.

Becoming (part of) the Answer to our Own Prayers

Red Cross Funds Hurricane Response

In September the American Red Cross awarded a grant to World Renew’s Disaster Response Services (DRS) program for its Restoring Homes and Hope in Florida project. With up to $760,935 USD, the Red Cross is fully funding a two-year response for World Renew volunteers to repair homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton with local recovery partners in southwestern Florida.

Supporting Families after Afghanistan Earthquake

On Sunday, Aug. 31, while families were asleep, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan, flattening homes and sending boulders crashing down mountainsides and onto roadways. After a careful assessment of people’s needs and situations, World Renew’s trusted local partner has been providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable families.