Last week I had the privilege of gathering with pastors, ministry leaders, and servants of God from across the Middle East. Men and women who carry the weight of their cities and nations on their hearts. We came together in Dubai as part of Movement Day, reflecting on how we can partner with God in bringing the message of Christ’s love and transformation to our cities.

Dubai is often seen as one of the peaceful cities of the region — a place of stability in a turbulent Middle East. Yet even there, the realities of war reached us.

During the conference, the sound of bombing and the shaking of the ground reminded us that nowhere in our region feels entirely distant from the conflict that surrounds us. Many of the leaders present had already come from cities experiencing war and instability. Soon flights were stopped and travel was disrupted. Some of us were stranded.

But in the midst of uncertainty, something