Author: Shalem John

Anderson dos Santos’s Saturday nights are busy. After working all day balancing wheels and fixing tires at an auto repair shop, he walks a mile home, takes a shower, and spends time with his family. Then he heads out again. Santos makes several stops on his way to the Assemblies of God church on Rua da Horta in the city of Ilhéus. At each house, a child or teenager joins him. The church in northeastern Brazil sits in a dangerous area, surrounded by rival neighborhood criminal groups. But Santos and his young friends tread the dimly lit streets together to…

In September 2024, when Israel escalated its bombing campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite sheikh Rabih Koubayssi was one of the few clerics, Muslim or Christian, to stay in the targeted southern region. He was needed to bury the dead. His first Islamic duty was to wash the bodies, which were often charred or missing a limb. He laid the body on an elevated table, turned it to face Mecca, and washed each part three times. Then he wrapped it in a burial cloth. Finally, he recited a Muslim prayer for Allah’s mercy. Assistants enclosed the body in a green…

The Epistle to Philemon stands as one of the most personal and unique writings within the New Testament canon. Though brief—consisting of only 25 verses—it encapsulates profound theological and ethical themes, illustrating the transformative power of the gospel in human relationships. Written by the Apostle Paul, this letter provides a rare glimpse into the early Christian approach to social reconciliation, forgiveness, and brotherhood within the context of the Greco-Roman world. Beneath its seemingly private nature lies a message of universal significance, demonstrating how faith in Christ reshapes interpersonal dynamics and challenges societal norms. Authorship and Date The letter to Philemon…