When wildfires tore through Southern California in January 2025, they left a trail of destruction and disarray. An accumulated 14 fires resulting from a trifecta of incendiary conditions—drought, heavy vegetation build up, and strong winds—burned roughly 57,636 acres and destroyed over 18,000 structures in only 24 days. Sources of water were scarce, schools closed down, and many transportation systems were not functioning. Eerie scenes remained. Driving through residential areas, one could see a single lonely chimney standing among ashes, while homes nearby were seemingly untouched.

While all believers are on mission, the how and where look differently. Some are called to leave homes, land, and families and go to distant places. This usually requires learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. If you’ve never tried it, this is not an easy task! It can be quite humiliating and overwhelming even for those who enjoy the challenge; and not all do. This definitely requires the Holy Spirit’s power! I would suggest that it is also a perfect opportunity for the Body of Christ to respond to Jesus’s command by offering support to the cross-cultural missionaries’ language and culture learning.

SOMA is stepping into a powerful new season—bringing its Spirit-filled ministry not only to the nations, but now more intentionally to churches across the United States. What began decades ago as a global mission is now igniting renewal at home, equipping believers to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and respond to God’s call with boldness. Discover how God is opening new doors through conferences like REHYDRATE and the emerging “Transformed” workshops—and what it means for the future of the Church in America.

I recently received a wedding invitation in the mail. I was so excited as I began to think about celebrating this upcoming marriage. I spoke to the mother of the bride and she was excited too, but had struggled to cut down the guest list. Generally, invitations are exclusive – only those invited can participate. In our liturgy for Ash Wednesday, there is an invitation – an invitation to the observance of a holy Lent. Unlike most invitations, this one is not exclusive. Instead, it is open to everyone.