Q: Why has the world experienced so many disasters lately? Are these events caused by God?
A: In the past months our planet has been wracked with numerous disasters, both natural and man-made. In the midst of human suffering it is not uncommon to question God, asking Him why we must suffer, or whether these disasters were actually inflicted by Him, possibly as a form of punishment.

Q: Why has the world experienced so many disasters lately? Are these events caused by God?
A: In the past months our planet has been wracked with numerous disasters, both natural and man-made. In the midst of human suffering it is not uncommon to question God, asking Him why we must suffer, or whether these disasters were actually inflicted by Him, possibly as a form of punishment.

Q. I know that we sense this call to "Make Christlike disciples of the nations," but I'm not sure we are doing a very good job of articulating exactly what that means. What does it mean?
A. Embedded in our Wesleyan-Holiness tradition is the firm belief that God expects the Church to participate in the full transformation of believers. We are not only to lead people to faith in Christ, but we are to walk with one another, be examples to one another, teach one another, and mentor one another toward genuine Christlikeness of character.

Kafoa Muaror is an attorney and lay pastor at New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Suva, Fiji, on the Asia-Pacific Region. He and his wife, Aggie, have six children. He is a Polynesian from Rotuma, a small island 400 miles from Fiji's main islands. Muaror serves on the Fiji TV board of directors. Also, he serves on the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary board.

A physician, a homemaker, an executive, a college student, and a pastor: what do all of these individuals have in common?

"Brother Mac, how are you?" I asked that question each Sunday. Brother Mac's answer seldom varied: "By the grace of God, and a whole lot of struggling on my part, I'm doing okay." I never knew who was supposed to receive the most credit—God or Brother Mac. He had gotten into the Kingdom by God's grace, but the larger project was proving to be something of a challenge.
 

"Brother Mac, how are you?" I asked that question each Sunday. Brother Mac's answer seldom varied: "By the grace of God, and a whole lot of struggling on my part, I'm doing okay." I never knew who was supposed to receive the most credit—God or Brother Mac. He had gotten into the Kingdom by God's grace, but the larger project was proving to be something of a challenge.
 

In the fall of 1997, I started my freshman year at a Nazarene university on an academic scholarship. Intent on becoming a pediatrician, I was studying pre-med. My goals were high, but not unattainable. I was dating a youth ministries major, and our relationship was progressing nicely.

As a theologian, I am amazed and astonished at the wonders of modern science. I am even more amazed and astonished at the immensity and intricate detail of the universe, which science reveals to us. But when the scientist looks through a microscope or telescope, the most amazing thing in the universe is not the microbe or the galaxy at the other end of the instrument, but the object a few inches on this side of the lens: the human brain.

"Therefore go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19).

All Christians are called to be disciple makers. But exactly how do we make disciples?

In recent years, Gallup researchers have reviewed decades of data on the topic of followers. Why does a person follow the most important leader in his or her life? Gallup's research uncovered three universal needs: trust, compassion, and hope.

1. Trust