Read Time: 5 min 41 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

A rare type of Ebola virus is spreading quickly across central Africa.

Ebola is a contagious disease that causes flu-like symptoms, internal bleeding, and organ damage. It leads to death in about half of cases. This specific strain is called the Bundibugyo virus. 

The disease started in a region in Congo called Ituri, which is next to Uganda (see the outbreak map here). It spread for several weeks before health workers realized what it was. It has already killed over 130 people in Congo and Uganda, and over 500 people are suspected of having it. There is no approved vaccine or medicine. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a global emergency. That’s not the same as a pandemic like COVID-19. It means the disease is spreading across borders, and the WHO needs other countries’ help to stop it, but it’s not everywhere like COVID-19 was.

Authorities expect this outbreak to last months. Meanwhile, Congo is experiencing a civil war, making it hard for health workers to get into certain places, and rebel groups have also destroyed a lot of clinics. The WHO sent resources like medical equipment, cleaning supplies, and masks, but doctors say that isn’t enough. They are asking other countries for more help.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
As Ebola spreads, it can be easy to feel anxious. Remember the LORD’s promise to be with His people through troubling and uncertain times all the way into eternity. Nothing is out of His reach or surprises Him.  

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” 
Isaiah 41:10 (CSB) (read full passage)

What gospel habit can be seen in this story?
One of the people who has Ebola is an American missionary doctor who caught the disease while working at a hospital in Ituri. He stands within a long tradition of believers who have moved toward the sick at great personal cost. 

Just a couple generations after Jesus’s resurrection, Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria wrote this during a massive plague: “Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life supremely happy…”

We may never find ourselves in the middle of an outbreak, but these brave believers can spur us on to make small (and big) choices that serve others instead of ourselves.

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Sometimes prayer can feel like trying to topple a stone wall by lobbing a cotton ball at it.

But God says His people’s prayers are more like an excavator with a hydraulic breaker—“powerful and effective” (James 5:16). God has chosen to tie His action in the world to the prayers of His people… So come boldly before God in prayer, knowing that He hears you (Hebrews 4:16).

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What We’re Using
Summer-sized Studies from FamilyLife*

Summer has a way of swallowing your small group. Schedules shift, attendance gets spotty, and suddenly the momentum you built just… fades. FamilyLife has low-prep, no-homework options designed for exactly this season—whether you’re keeping the group going, scaling down, or just staying intentional with your spouse. 

Vertical Marriage offers short, practical conversations for couples; Love Like You Mean It is a simple way to invest in your marriage; and No Perfect Parent is an honest course for parents who want to stay grounded.

You don’t need to launch something new. You just need to find something that fits. Stay intentional this summer with these studies!

How Our Kids Are Learning God’s Word
With Teach Me the Faith*

Discipleship doesn’t have to mean another hour blocked off on your calendar.

Teach Me the Faith is a Bible memory podcast for kids and families. Each episode builds biblical understanding in a simple, memorable, and easy-to-repeat way. It’s paired with resources that help parents disciple their kids through short, Scripture-based questions and answers—one verse at a time.

The best part? It’s designed to make Scripture memory a simple and joyful part of your everyday rhythm at home.

If you’re looking for a low-lift, high-impact way to help your kids learn what they believe (and why), this is for you. Learn more here!

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