Our nation has witnessed a number of tragedies in recent months that have highlighted the racial inequities that still exist in our society today. As a ministry dedicated to the God-ordained value and beauty of each race, we stand heartbroken as we have witnessed the hurt and pain these inequities have caused our brothers and sisters of color.

Truly, I have seen how much I have taken for granted the liberties and freedoms we have in America. Abiding in God looks so much different here, having to gather discreetly, safe language, praying with the blinds shut, and not being able to worship out loud. But even in the midst of limited freedom, God is present and God is good.

Through my teammates I have seen and experienced the intimacy of the Father in ways that I have never experienced before.

Whether you decide to do all 1 or all 10 of these ideas, be creative and have fun!

We must refocus our thoughts, training, and activities on our mission. We must bring the hope of Jesus to those who are hopeless.

This idea has changed through classes and personal reflection - first and foremost, the Father wants me to draw near to Him, and to continue to learn about who He is and who He wants to be to me.

Cafe 1040's mission was formed around the reality that there are almost 3 billion people who have little to no access to the gospel. That’s 42% of the entire world’s population and the majority of these people groups all live in one area of the world – the 10/40 Window.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:4

The transition has been exciting and challenging in so many ways. The first week, we spent some time as tourists, getting acclimated to the time change, while also seeing some of the beauty here in South Asia. After the first week, we got settled in basetown, which I have begun to call home.

“Once per year, for a period of thirty days, Muslims disrupt their daily rhythms by fasting from sunrise to sunset during a month called Ramadan. This fast consists of abstaining from food, drink, tobacco, and sexual relations for thirty days each year. Families will wake and gather before the sunrise to feast for the day. Then, each night, families, neighborhoods, and communities gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar) at sunset. In the places I have lived, the atmosphere during the iftar is festive, welcoming, and hospitable for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.” – 40 Questions About Islam by Matthew Bennett

It wasn't until part of our team took a trip and we stayed with a Muslim family during Ramadan did I feel the weight of a new culture.

It has been really great having the ability to step out of a frantic season to just sit in stillness with God. We have had space and time to abide in the Father and learn more about Him, which has been wonderful.

Are you looking for creative ways to stay connected or connect with friends and family during this time? Our team has some creative ways to connect while we are socially distancing.

Ultimately, I want to remind us all that even though this is a strange and unprecedented time, that God is still so much better than we can ever know, and we truly can “take courage, be strong, and remember where our help comes from.”

Cafe 1040 and their leadership have been and will continue to monitor the situation. We are adhering to the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Ramadan is 30 days set aside every year for Muslims to fast from sun up to sun down. For some places in the world, this could mean over 18 hours of fasting each day. Fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam. It’s a time set aside to focus on prayer and the reading of the Qur’an in an effort to seek God.

Raising support to sustain a life of missions can be overwhelming. As we are continuing to feel the effects of COVID-19, we wanted to provide some vision and guidance when it comes to caring for your supporters and using this time to engage them well.

God is the author of my story...if only it were easy becoming a blank page.

I wept there, by a chain on the bank of a river, broken for the people, thankful for the good news of the cross and resurrection of Jesus, remembering how he also brought me from death to life, from this chain and river of slavery to true freedom in himself.

I'm not someone who frequently questions or doubts God, but I was overwhelmed with so many 'why?' questions. Why is there so much gender inequality? Why is there so much poverty? Why has my life been so easy compared to the people here?