Eighteen-year-old Ellen Chrystie Ferreira dos Santos lives in the city of Pirapora, population 56,229, in the central Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. But neither the relatively small size of her city, nor its location, nor even the current COVID-19 pandemic, keep her from sharing the good news of Jesus with people.
Although she calls herself “shy,” dos Santos is today a leading online evangelist, conducting Bible studies with 100 people thanks to digital communications. Sitting at a table in…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/-jOOGVFosq4/

As the world’s attention was captured by the asphyxiation death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, another notable event transpired earlier that same day in New York City. Christian Cooper — a writer, editor, and avid birder — encountered Amy Cooper walking her unleashed dog in a section of Central Park where regulations specified that dogs must be leashed at all times.
Unprovoked by nothing more than Mr. Cooper’s request that she leash her dog, she called the…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/u-BTRAD5cd4/

When historians look back and study 2020 what lessons will they learn? Will the communal experience of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the horror of the George Floyd killing be seen as drawing us closer together – or pushing us apart? Will the world, or will we as individuals be more caring as a result?
In this special edition of TED Words of Hope we talk with two experienced communicators, looking for lessons on the way ahead. Ken Burton Ken Burton is perhaps best known as conductor of…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/ZNo2ViakfYk/

A COVID-19 assistance plan will support mission offices struggling financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan was approved by the South Pacific Division (SPD) boards during their quarterly meetings last week.
Rodney Brady, chief financial officer for the SPD, said a number of missions have been adversely affected by a reduction in tithe and offerings due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, leaving some struggling to pay pastors’ wages.
“Other missions have not been…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/NUnBKgvQQIw/

My sister committed suicide when she was 14.
Overcome with grief, my mother decided to have another child, a girl. To her disappointment, she gave birth to me — a boy.
Mother raised me in the southern Portuguese town of Faro with a brother who was nine years older. Father lived in the Middle East, working in construction.
Mother was perpetually sad. That sadness deepened when Father got a divorce and my brother left home. Then she was hospitalized with cancer and I, only 11, was sent to live…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/D8T4sltpOKg/