The PCA is filled with considerate, proficient individuals utilizing the items God has given them within the locations the place God has positioned them to serve his kingdom. Because the 12 months attracts to an in depth, we’re grateful for individuals who took time to contribute to byFaith in 2024. They’re members, deacons, and elders linked to PCA congregations from coast to coast. They serve on campus, within the academy, in congregations, and even in different nations as missionaries. We’re additionally grateful for individuals who allow us to share the story of what God is doing by means of their lives and their church buildings.
Listed here are a few of our favourite articles from the previous 12 months as chosen by Andy Jones (editor) and Megan Fowler (affiliate editor):
1. Why College Students Need the Local Church
I (Andy) cried after I learn the preliminary draft of this text by Monse Santiago. It’s a stunning story of how God introduced her to religion throughout school and used the church to evolve her to the picture of Christ. Her story is heartening in and of itself, however it’s a reminder of how Christ is constructing his church to achieve individuals we wouldn’t anticipate.
2. Infertility and Longing for Restoration
Vulnerability doesn’t come naturally to me (Andy), however the older I get the extra I recognize it. Catherine Duffin provides us a glimpse into her longing to be a mom solely to appreciate, “What I so deeply lengthy for, I could by no means have.” She additionally permits us to see how Scripture has been a supply of consolation and the way God makes use of disappointment to make us lengthy for issues extra everlasting.
3. Samuel Miller and the Perils of Presidential Politics
In a 12 months outlined by a presidential election, it was a privilege to have Brian Franklin, a presidential historian, present this account from Presbyterian historical past. He factors out how keen Samuel Miller was to take pleasure in proximity to the president in his ministry’s early years, solely to remorse it later.
4. Pastor’s Wife Gives Husband Kidney
We’ve all heard tales about sufferers in want of a transplant. The surgical process is advanced and includes months of restoration. However the story on this case is private and never merely medical, because the pastor receives a kidney from his spouse. It’s a transferring account of sacrifice and dedication that includes Tom and Liz Gastil.
5. Hope in the Midst of Generational Poverty
God is utilizing Alton Hardy in Fairfield, Alabama, to develop a church that’s addressing the problems that linger over a generationally impoverished neighborhood. After you learn this story, you’ll pray to see it multiplied in comparable cities throughout America, because the church disciples younger males to change into leaders at dwelling and within the church.
6. Artificial Intelligence: Toward a Christian Perspective
This text is in contrast to something byFaith has ever revealed. Since synthetic intelligence is poised to play a much bigger, not smaller, position in our lives, I’m grateful the PCA can flip to an information scientist like Jonathan Barlow, who can be a ruling elder. Barlow provides readers a transparent rationalization of how this expertise really works and a few of its moral and ethical parts.
7. Ministry at the End of Life: Shepherding Aging Congregations
This subject gained’t brighten up your New Yr’s Eve social gathering, however the PCA just isn’t exempt from the “silver tsunami” hitting church buildings throughout the U.S. Elizabeth Turnage provides sensible recommendation on how ministry leaders may also help their individuals to finish life nicely: to face the truth of decline, dying, and demise whereas making ready for glory virtually, emotionally, and spiritually.
8. Butler-Area PCA Pastors Respond to Shooting
Residing half-hour from Butler, Pennsylvania, I (Megan) felt like Trump was virtually in my yard when he was shot on July 13. However for PCA Ruling Elder Matt DeLorenzo and his spouse Karen, this nationwide tragedy was actually of their yard. The PCA church buildings closest to the taking pictures web site made the many of the alternative, looking for to assist the neighborhood make sense of evil and pointing individuals towards Christ.
9. From Punk Rocker to Reformed Pastor
We at byFaith take pleasure in listening to about pastors with fascinating “pre-pastorate” experiences. Matt Morginsky is a type of pastors, having spent a lot of his 20s fronting the Christian ska band the O. C. Supertones.
10. “Love Could Not Be Found in Allah”
Earlier this 12 months Hamid Hatami turned the primary PCA instructing elder of Iranian descent ordained within the PCA. His story of coming to religion is an encouraging reminder that God is at work in surprising locations, utilizing surprising means to attract individuals to himself.
