A Devotional from Christianity Today

Rev. Courtney Ellis is a pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo, California, and the author of six books, most recently Weathering Change: Seeking Peace Amid Life's Tough Transitions. She also hosts The Thing with Feathers podcast, all about birds and hope. She and her husband Daryl have three children.

Stephen Witmer (PhD, University of Cambridge) is the lead pastor of Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, Massachusetts, and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of A Big Gospel in Small Places and In All Things Thee to See: A Devotional Guide to Selected Poems of George Herbert.

Eric Schumacher is a husband, father, author, and songwriter who lives in Iowa. He has written several books, including The Good Gift of Weakness: God's Strength Made Perfect in the Story of Redemption.

Dan Steel is a UK-based pastor and church planter. He is currently the Principal and Ministry Program Director at Yarnton Manor, just outside Oxford.

Jared Kennedy, ThM, serves as managing editor for books and curriculum for The Gospel Coalition and as co-founder and principal of Gospel-Centered Family. He is author of books like The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible, Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission, and The Story of Martin Luther.

Joe Thorn is the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles, IL, and the author of several books including, Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself.

Rusty McKie, Mdiv, is the men’s director of CrossPointe Church in Altamonte Springs, Florida, a trained Spiritual Director and Somatic Coach, and the author of Sabbaticals and The Art of Stability. He is also the founder of Steadfast Ministries and ManSchool.

Brian Croft is the founder and Executive Director of Practical Shepherding. He is also the Senior Fellow for the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has written or contributed to over twenty-five books on pastoral ministry.

Rechab Gray is pastor of preaching and spiritual formation at New Creation Fellowship in Orlando, Florida, and a contributor to the book Fulfill Your Student Ministry. (Rainer Publishing, 2019).

Steve Bezner, PhD, is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Theology at Truett Seminary at Baylor University, and the author of Your Jesus Is Too American. He is heavily involved with Glocalnet and writes regularly on his Substack.

Cory Wilson, PhD, is President of Emmaus Theological Seminary and Associate Professor of Global Christianity and Intercultural Studies.

Gretchen Ronnevik is an author and speaker living in Fergus Falls, MN. She’s the author of Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted and The Story of Katie Luther. She is also the co-host for the Freely Given podcast.

Rachel Joy Welcher is a poet, author, and book editor living in South Dakota with her husband, Pastor Evan Welcher, and their two children, Hildegaard and Richard.

Dr. Jonathan Pennington is a professor of New Testament at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, and also serves as one of the teaching pastors and elders at Sojourn East Church. He is the author of many books, including The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Holy Scripture, and Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life.

Andrea G. Burke is an author (A Bit of Earth, 2024, Lexham Press; The Quiet Resistance, 2026, Baker Books) and is on staff at Grace Road Church. She is married to Jedediah, and they are raising their two kids, two dogs, two cats, a few strays, six ducks, and a lot of chickens in an old farmhouse near Rochester, New York.