Anxiety is at an all-time high, and church leaders and pastors are not immune. If you were honest and expressed the fears going through your mind during COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, what would it sound like? How should leaders respond in the midst of this swirling internal storm of anxiety?

Almost everyone uses forms or principles of orality—whether or not they recognize it. Experiential education, action learning, guided discovery models, narrative methods, storytelling, and many other oral art forms are a part of the orality domain. With the current global pandemic, it’s necessary to rely more on modern, digital technology for communicating and training for advancing the gospel.

Some say, "a good friend is hard to find." But with over 300 diverse churches in our association alone, that shouldn't be the case for pastors and ministry leaders in Houston. One great example of pastoral friendship is that of Parris Patrick and Kevin Rizer. What began as a simple invite to lunch quickly became a true, lasting friendship.

The New Testament is conspicuously silent with respect to details on church governance and decision-making., but it does provide teachings that speak powerfully to the organizational needs we face. An imperfect system filled with people of integrity, humility, and grace will function far better than a perfect system filled with those who lack these qualities.

Across Houston, churches are making different decisions about whether or not to have in-person services. If your church has a plan to re-gather or is executing it, fantastic. If not, I offer a different approach: pray toward conditions being met rather than a specific date to be set.

Certain pressures accompany the role of pastoral ministry. If pastors don't have a way to relieve that pressure, their world can easily become dark, lonely, and isolated. It's similar to the one in the pool with their eyes closed calling out “Marco!" But they find no one to respond.

We often think that we need to be a long haul trucker to reach a long haul trucker. Or maybe we need to be a biker to reach a biker. Pastor Marty and Pastor David have shown us with their example that we can learn a new culture and (like Paul says) become like that culture for the sake of the gospel. In so doing, we will share its blessings.

Most of what we experienced this year echos a sense of loss—the fading music and the constant erosion of things we took for granted. I know I'm not alone in feeling the strain. Fortunately for me, however, God's grace in 2020 has reminded me of the things that are most important—and all the things that are not.

Christians are not unifying people. Or people who are not Christians don't think we are. We have certain beliefs and practices that put us at odds with the culture at large. However, Christianity is built on certain counter-intuitive ideas that inspire awe and draw people together in unity.

6 in 10. That's the number put out by Lifeway Research concerning the number of churches in North America that are plateaued or declining in number. That's grim news. We mourn the 6 in 10 because of the loss of gospel witness. So we must work to see church renewal starting here in Houston.