Turning Hearts in a Time of Conflict - When headlines speak of war, Scripture reminds us of redemption.

Dear Friends and Faithful Partners,

 

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. — Malachi 4:6

To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. — Luke 1:17

 

These verses stand at a powerful crossroads in Scripture. Malachi closes the Old Testament with a promise. Four hundred years later, Luke opens the New Testament by declaring its fulfillment. The final words before centuries of silence—and the first words announcing hope—both point to the same truth: God is in the business of turning hearts.

 

This past weekend, many of us woke up to startling news that Israel and the United States had launched major military strikes on Iran—a development that dominated headlines and underscored how deeply rooted this conflict is in history, tracing all the way back to the narratives of Genesis.

 

Abraham, the father of our faith, had two sons. Ishmael, born to Hagar, became the ancestor of many Arab peoples and holds a significant place in Islamic tradition. Isaac, born to Sarah, carried the covenant promise that led to the emergence of the nation of Israel. What began as family brokenness thousands of years ago still echoes across nations today.

 

But Scripture reminds us that conflict is not the end of the story.

 

Malachi speaks of God sending Elijah before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Luke tells us that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Jesus. The message at the center of both passages is restoration—hearts turned back to one another and back to God.

 

God’s ultimate plan has never been destruction. It is redemption.

 

At HIM, we witness daily the consequences of brokenness—poverty, exploitation, human trafficking, and spiritual confusion. Whether in Africa, India, or here at home, the root problem is the same: hearts separated from God and from one another. And the solution is the same: Jesus Christ.

 

The Gospel is not for one tribe, one nation, or one people group. It is for all. Jew and Gentile. Muslim and Christian. Hindu and Buddhist. Arab and Israeli. God’s desire is not simply political peace—it is transformed hearts.

 

As tensions rise in the Middle East, we pray for protection over our troops and innocent families caught in harm’s way. We pray for wisdom for leaders. And we remember that our calling remains unchanged: to share the hope of Jesus, to protect the vulnerable, and to bring light into places marked by darkness.

 

Even in times of global uncertainty, we stand confident in this truth: God is still turning hearts.

 

Amen.

Byron Whetstone

Executive Director, HIM

 

Exploring the globe together and discovering that while the distance between Zambia and America is great, God’s redemptive plan reaches across every nation—turning hearts and shaping futures.