Paul’s words to the church in Corinth echo true in this heavy and uncertain moment as war once again casts a long shadow over the Middle East. Violence, fear, and instability have a way of affecting everyone – families, churches, ministries, and the most vulnerable in communities. No one remains untouched.

In such circumstances, it would be easy to despair and to give up hope. And yet, our partners throughout the Middle East are responding differently. Below is a brief update on our partners who find themselves in the midst of uncertainty and upheaval.

From January 18 to February 8, Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), visited the United States on a trip hosted by several congregations connected to The Outreach Foundation. Dr. Rusyn’s messages uplifted and challenged us with news out of Ukraine that is both heartbreaking and marked by terror. Yet he consistently said his purpose was not to focus on such things. In a quick pivot, he spoke in ways that gave us hope and inspired us because the church is shining with beauty as it sings the song God has given her to sing in such times. I am here.

Please join us as we pray for the people of Madagascar, including our mission and ministry partners with the Fiangonan’i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara (FJKM), Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.

In late January, and again on February 10, two cyclones battered most of Madagascar. This included a direct hit on Toamasina, which is the largest city on the coast. The damage was extensive to churches, schools, residences and agriculture. Tragically, we were reminded lightning really does strike twice. With two successive major storms smothering the island with rain and high winds, compounding the misery and extending the road to recovery almost beyond sight.

Every week, Michael and Nohemi Palomino drive three hours into the mountains with muddy terrain and no clear roads. Some days, due to landslides, they’re not sure if they’ll arrive at the village, but God always makes a way. 

“What would you like Jesus to do for you?” The Palominos asked children at the local school. The children raised their hands and answered: 

“For my dad to come back.”  
“For him to help me with school.”  
“For no more fighting at home.”  
“For my family to know Jesus.”  

In a country often described as spiritually dry, we see remarkable ministry happening in Barcelona with our new partner church, Centro Familiar Cristiano (Christian Family Center or CFC).  In the midst of a context where 42% of Spaniards identify as non-religious and less than 2% of the population identifies as Protestant, CFC is growing as a vibrant community of disciples and witness to Christ’s love. And now, they’re starting a new chapter in their ministry and life together.

The staff and board at Tumaini Children’s Ministry have continued to provide loving care and support for vulnerable children in Kenya’s Central Highlands during a season of transition.

In 2022, Tumaini began re-integrating children with relatives or guardians in compliance with government mandates. As of August 2025, most children have successfully returned to family care. Tumaini continues to provide school fees and uniforms; food supplements for families; and regular visits from social workers and a chaplain to ensure children are thriving. University students from Tumaini also receive tuition assistance.

In a time of transition, Namumu Orphanage Center is an oasis of health and life in their community. God is moving, and children are learning, growing, and flourishing thanks to your faithfulness. The following is just a glimpse of this inspiring environment for families. 

Graduation is not just a milestone. It’s a victory!  

As The Outreach Foundation learns more about our brothers and sisters building Christ’s church in Central Asia, we hear stories that inspire us, and some that bring us to our knees in prayer. Before He was crucified, Jesus foretold, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). One of our partners sent us this story that captures the situation many Christians face in this dark space in the world.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, donors through The Outreach Foundation have given more than $2 million with sacrificial love. This will be our third winter partnering with the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), holding fast for a just peace while bombs fall and power grids collapse. In a recent conversation with a partner who works with war-affected children and orphans, we heard grim words: “We would be willing to settle for peace now.” This signals weariness we’ve not heard before. Through this update, know hope continues to spread through our faithful partners whom we continue to support. We once again ask you to respond prayerfully and generously to this winter’s challenge.

In Matthew 13, Jesus paints a vivid parable: the gospel seed scatters everywhere, it is unstoppable. We can’t control its flight or the ground it lands on. In Pakistan, the land is rocky, where persecution looms like an immovable boulder. While we cannot change that reality, we can empower leaders to till that soil with bold vision and courageous faith.

That’s the heartbeat of The Outreach Foundation’s partnerships in Pakistan. We work with leaders like Eli Sardar, Director of Pakistan Bible Correspondence School (PBCS) in Faisalabad, so they can shine as beacons in one of the world’s darkest corners.

We have always believed that, like Daniel, God has sent us into the diaspora — far from our homeland, our culture, and our families — not by accident, but with divine purpose.

In this place of exile, God has been teaching us, blessing us, and shaping us to grow in wisdom and faith, so that we may carry those blessings back to the persecuted church.

Veronica and the Musalaha team see their mission as continually bringing the spirit of forgiveness and responsibility into their context – opening hearts, healing wounds, and helping build a more just, healthy, and whole society. With this conviction, the team works tirelessly with the Mixed Cities group, Young Adults, the Muslim-Christian Civil Society Group, and the Palestinian Women’s Group.

John 1:5 contains a beautiful promise: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” The Outreach Foundation is engaging congregations and donors to bring Christ’s light into some of the world’s darkest spaces. In such locations, Christian persecution is frequent and severe, and we must exercise caution in speaking of the gospel-centered work being done there. In these areas, there are tremendous opportunities to join in the miraculous story being written, yet the U.S. church allocates the least amount of its mission resources to them. We are privileged to have trusted partners in these hard areas, and to share some of their stories with you.

From the heart of the city where Jesus was born comes a testimony of hope and transformation, then we move south to the Arabian Peninsula — a region of attractiveness and wonder. Amid deserts and skyscrapers, God is at work through God’s people.

In recent years, Comas, a district within Lima, Peru, has become synonymous with violence and despair. Once a vibrant community, it now bears the weight of organized crime, as international gangs battle for control. Extortion, prostitution, and drug trafficking plague daily life.

But amidst the chaos, God is writing a new story.

Justice. Whenever we ask our partners in Ukraine “What do you want?” their response has been consistent: a just peace. Since the outbreak of full-scale war on February 22, 2022, The Outreach Foundation has stood with Christian leaders in Ukraine to exhibit justice and share the gospel in the darkness of war. Donors have given more than $2 million to make sure the darkness does not overcome the light! We give so they can be present. 

Under the leadership of its new president, Dr. Martin Accad, Near East School of Theology (NEST) has embarked on a new and promising chapter – one marked by hope and action.

Amid Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political instability, NEST persevered with remarkable resilience. During the violent conflict that shook the country between September 2024 and January 2025, the school kept its doors open and reached out in service to displaced families in the surrounding neighborhood.

During this past summer, The Outreach Foundation’s partner in Central Asia, the Center of Evangelical and Protestant Churches in Central Asian Countries, hosted its annual pastors’ conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Funds from The Outreach Foundation helped make this possible! 250 pastors from 12 countries attended. Pastors came from both registered and unregistered communities from multiple denominations.