Passive. Aggressive. Passive-aggressive. These are not the men the world needs. Which begs the question: What kind of man does the world need?

In a few weeks, my firstborn son will walk across a stage. The same stage where he nervously shook handbells in the second grade Christmas pageant. The same stage where he reluctantly played one of Snow White’s dwarves in sixth grade. The same stage where he humbly strummed guitar for worship band in eleventh grade.

Ultra-processed foods now account for two-thirds of calories in the diets of children and teens, according to new medical research.

I’m excited to share this week's Mission Paid Time Off (MPTO) story of service and adventure, featuring one of our own, Debra Jones (Manager, Quality Provider Development). Debra recently embarked on an awe-inspiring journey to Israel, where she immersed herself in both the rich history of the Holy Land and the joy of giving back through volunteer work, in which she was able to use allotted MPTO hours.

The Spiritual Director and Chaplains of Christian Care Ministry have some favorites—

The sun reflected off the surface of the water as the weathered hands of two fisherman worked their nets hoping for a good catch to support their meager living. The Sea of Galilee was a hard taskmaster.

In the next section of our series featuring employees leveraging their Mission Paid Time Off (MPTO) for mission travel, we look at the touching story of Carlos Torres. Guided initially by his pastor's inspiration, Carlos makes an annual pilgrimage to Guatemala, where he serves as a vital translator on medical mission trips. While his team provides medical treatment to the locals, they also prioritize spiritual guidance, aiming to lead men, women, and children to the Lord. Carlos expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to allocate his MPTO hours, covering three days of the week-long journey. Let’s explore what makes this mission profoundly meaningful for him.

We all know what it’s like to be scared. Elevated heartrate. Sweaty palms. Sinking stomach. Racing thoughts. For most people, those and other sensations easily translate into one thing: Fear. But what does it feel like to become un-afraid?