Joshua Youssef

Communion between Christians and Muslims takes shape under the mantle of Our Lady of Africa. Here, in #Algeria, the maternal love of Lalla Meryem gathers everyone as children, within our rich diversity, in our shared aspiration for dignity, love, justice, and peace. In a world where division and wars sow pain and death, living in unity and peace is a compelling sign. #ApostolicJourney

Grandparents who help care for their grandkids may be keeping their minds sharper. A new study finds they score higher on memory and language tests and decline more slowly than those who do not. @TonyDokoupil, who has four children, called his mom for her reaction.

🚨I just introduced a resolution condemning the atrocities Christians are facing in Nigeria & supporting @POTUS' efforts to defend Christians who are being slaughtered. This is just a first step. To end the tragedy we must acknowledge the horrific persecution that is occurring🧵

This morning in Damascus, Syria, a suicide bomber took the lives of 22 Christians, including several children, women, and university students. They died worshipping Christ together in church. Another 63 were wounded. It has been confirmed that the bomber and gunman attackers were of the Islamic State. Our Field Ministers Daniel, Farid, Jala, and Maron shared with us, “This is truly a tragic disaster on all levels. Pray for the healing of the wounded and for the families of the martyrs. May God protect us.” We are currently arranging an emergency podcast with our Field Ministers to learn more about what happened and how we will minister to those affected as our team seeks to provide emergency aid, medical support, and pastoral care. We will share more updates as we have them. Please join us in prayer for: - Complete healing for the 63 wounded - God's comfort for grieving families - Protection for our brothers and sisters in Syria - Strength for our Field Ministers in Syria, and across the Islamic world, who are serving in unimaginable circumstances If you would like to contribute to our team's work in Syria right now, you can do so at htp.org/give. Thank you for anything you can do. We remember what it says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Although we grieve the loss of life and persecution, we remember that we are not forsaken. The Lord is with the grieving families, with the wounded, and with our Field Ministers who bravely choose to minister to those in a region where faith in Christ can cost everything.