May 2026 Every pastor and ministry leader experiences “slump” times when ministry feels like a struggle; it is part of the human experience and is accented in church work. Christian writers call it the “dark night of the soul.” These seasons of sadness, dryness and weariness can usually fit into one of four categories: (1) Burnout (total exhaustion from over-functioning). You feel like you have nothing left to give, and even small tasks feel monumental. (2) Compassion Fatig

April 2026 A long line of starving people stretched into the street while they waited for bread to be distributed from one of the only bakeries still open in Sarajevo. The sound of nearby explosions and gunfire kept them alert, but their hunger kept them in the line. At exactly 4 pm, May 27, 1992, a mortar shell fell directly into the middle of the line, killing 22 people and sending flesh, blood, bone and rubble indiscriminately over the area. When Vedran Smailovic heard

March 2026 When disaster strikes, human beings help those most vulnerable to despair through a variety of actions. We rush to the scene with offers to help, or give money so needs can be met. Our assistance might be a meal brought to a home or just sitting with someone who has experienced significant loss. But we must not minimize or forget to do what our critics call “senseless, magical thinking;” we must remember to pray , which keeps alive the watchfires of faith on d

February 2026 One of the most difficult choices to make can be choosing joy when life becomes unstable and unpredictable. Yet, the believer whose faith has endured decades of disappointments and setbacks has learned to guard his or her mind from the dark recesses of despair when things get really tough. The prophet Jeremiah acknowledged the depths of his sorrow as he witnessed the sacking of Jerusalem, his beloved city . He did not pretend he was not grieving

January 2026 Ruth Chou Simons, in her book, “The Way of the Wildflower,” points out that some translations of Matthew 6:28 use the word “wildflowers” in the place of “lilies” in Jesus’ teaching about freedom from worry . “Consider how they grow,” Jesus said. The Lord directs our attention away from the hustle and bustle of life and ministry and toward the less significant and often overlooked flowering plants that flourish in the wild places, along the less-traveled paths.