The local church is a present outpost of the future, coming kingdom of God. This kingdom is unlike any the earth has known; it is led by Christ, and all are living in harmony with his will and his ways. The church is composed of living examples of God’s holy plan for human life and relationships. When Christian men and women work together to plant churches, their cooperation becomes a compelling witness to God’s goodness and grace.

In this article, we will explore the story of Tamar from Genesis 38 as a transforming woman from the Old Testament. After her husband dies, Tamar appears to be a helpless woman, but she knows that she has a right to have a son and does not easily give up on the idea despite the intentional oppression she receives from her father-in-law. Tamar’s appearance in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus demonstrates the importance of this woman in the story of salvation (Matt. 1:3).

What Christians believe about men and women matters to the literal survival of the church. That’s not just an interesting hypothesis. At Open Doors International, it’s our job (our being Helene and Elizabeth) to answer the how, why, and what-can-we-do-about-it questions about gender and religious persecution. By investigating the gender-specific aspects of religious persecution, we’ve uncovered the complex and detrimental impact that gender stereotypes and inequalities have on the stability of the Christian church under pressure for their faith.

Our theme for the summer issue of Mutuality intersects with our 2020 international conference in London, “Men, Women, and God: Theology and Its Impact,” which we have rescheduled for August 11–14, 2021. The timing of this issue may now feel strange, but we are excited to expand on these ideas with you.

Editor's Note: This is one of the Top 15 CBE Writing Contest winners. Enjoy!

Editor's Note: This is a Top 15 CBE Writing Contest winner. Enjoy!

In what began as a casual conversation in between sessions at the 2016 “Truth Be Told” conference on biblical gender equality in South Africa, Mimi Haddad and I discussed gender-based violence in Southern Africa, especially Zimbabwe. CBE International, moved by the story of what was happening in Zimbabwe, engaged the Courtship and Marriage Foundation (CoMaFo) to create a partnership.

This is an SOS call. We are in a state of emergency. And I am desperately crying out to my white sisters for help. I am writing on behalf of every Black mother, sister, grandma, aunt, cousin, wife. I am crying out for the sake of our future. I am crying out for the sake of justice. I am crying out for the sake of the body of Christ for help. Help! Our babies are dying.

Being a single adult during a global pandemic has been a very lonely experience. But in some ways, it has offered me an incredible gift—although it’s not the gift that most people assume. I have noticed some married folks, especially those with young kids at home right now during our stay-at-home orders, looking longingly to the single life, wishing for what they perceive to be a life of freedom and independence and oceans of spare time.

Last night, the nearly unending sound of sirens, aircraft, and broken glass engulfed Minneapolis and St. Paul. Power was shut off as buildings burned through the night. Two days running, communities are crying for justice! Where do we gather, in a world of COVID-19, to comfort our neighbors, support our colleagues, and right these systems of oppression? A broken humanity cries and searches for help.