Part Four of the series, “When Creation Groans” By ICC Fellow Lisa Navarrette Throughout this series, we have explored how climate-related challenges can complicate the lives of Christians already suffering because of persecution. We have examined how changing environmental conditions can make recovery more difficult after attacks, how fragile governments and ongoing conflict create opportunities for extremist groups, and how humanitarian crises often overlap in regions where Christians face persistent violence. Yet these challenges tell only part of the story. The defining characteristic of the global church is not persecution. It is perseverance.