For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced violent persecution. Much of this stems from Islamist extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), operating in the northern regions.

In Christian films, illustrated Bibles, and museum art, biblical figures are often portrayed as white or European. This repeated imagery can lead many to believe that the people in Scripture were all white and that Black people had no role in biblical history. But that is far from the truth. In fact, much evidence suggests that many biblical figures were people of color.

Our brothers and sisters are suffering, yet little is being done to stop the violence. Many read the headlines and feel helpless, unsure of how to respond. But God’s Word offers hope and guidance; it shows us how to cry out to heaven when crisis strikes our global family.

The 21st century has seen a rapid shift in cultural attitudes toward homosexuality. In 2015, for the first time in American history, same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. Acceptance of homosexuality has also increased among conservative and Christian communities.

Between 1950 and 1980, a cultural shift occurred that many sociological conservatives identify as the crystallization of “ghetto culture,” a set of attitudes and behaviors that erode morality, destroy families, and uproot values.

When we delay surrender, when we postpone obedience, the enemy fills the gap. And the years we lose, the wounds we carry, and the consequences we face remind us that drifting from God comes at a cost.