2020 has been a tough year, and most people will be happy to see it go. However, after the initial shock of the drastic changes caused by the pandemic wore off, 2020 afforded most of us opportunities that we may not have had otherwise. For me, the slower pace allowed me to engage in an activity that I love, but my other commitments usually prevented me from doing so on a regular basis.
You see, I love to write. And the silver lining from 2020 is that I have had more opportunities to write this year than ever before. In addition to publishing my first book, I have also been much more active on this blog, and the stats show it, with a 539% increase in page views from 2019 to 2020. If you are one of my regular readers, thank you for sparing a few minutes of your day to read what I have to say. I pray that each post equips and encourages you as you seek to glorify God in your life and ministry. If you haven’t already done so, feel free to subscribe so you won’t miss any new posts in the new year. If this is your first time here, thanks for stopping by!
As 2020 draws to a close, here are the top ten most read posts from this past year:
- 5 Bible Verses to Read When Life Doesn’t Make Sense – We’ve all had those times when our circumstances don’t make much sense to us. In fact, life didn’t make sense for all of us at times in 2020. This post briefly describes 5 verses to study during those moments.
- 30 Outreach Ideas for Your Church During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the Great Commission still applied to the church in 2020. This post lists 30 practical ways for your church to provide physical help and spiritual hope to your local community.
- 7 Bible Verses to Read Whenever You Face Temptation – We are all susceptible to the enemy’s allurements at times. This post lists 7 key biblical passages to help you overcome temptation.
- 9 Reasons Why Your Pastor May Need Your Prayers Now More Than Ever – The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but it has been particularly challenging for pastors. This post lists 9 reasons why your pastor could sure use your prayer support right now.
- When the Church is Silent During Pastor Appreciation Month – This post was published in 2019, but it was popular again this year. It provides a word of encouragement to pastors when their church is silent during pastor appreciation month, but it also provides suggested ways the church can avoid that mistake in the future.
- When the Church is Frustrated – 2020 was incredibly frustrating for the church. From online services to mask mandates to canceling scheduled events, both church leaders and members alike experienced seasons of frustration. This post provides 5 suggested ways to respond in those moments of frustration.
- The Recent Resurgence of Baptist Associations – For the past several years, the relevance and need for local Baptist associations have been called into question. However, as churches scrambled to pivot during the initial weeks of the pandemic, most turned to their local association first for help. This post highlights several reasons why Baptist associations have experienced a recent resurgence.
- Avoid These 5 Missteps During Pastor Appreciation Month – In addition to staying silent during pastor appreciation month, this post highlights several other mistakes that churches should avoid as they seek to honor their pastor.
- 5 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Worried – Recent studies show that the emotional health of Americans dropped significantly this year as many people are worried about what the future may hold. If that describes you, you’ll definitely want to read this post that lists 5 key Bible verses to help you overcome worry.
- False Starts: A New Ministry Challenge for Churches – A false start penalty in football can be incredibly frustrating. A false start in a church can be frustrating as well. This post describes how churches are likely to experience several false starts as they shift back and forth between in-person and online gatherings as COVID cases spike at the local level.
Thank you for taking the time to read one or more of my posts from the past year. I pray that this site has been a blessing to you during a difficult year. As we turn the page to 2021, I look forward to continuing to equip churches and encourage leaders in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Happy New Year!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash