As the year draws to a close, we are thankful for those who took time to contribute to byFaith in 2025. They are members, deacons, and elders connected to PCA congregations across the U.S. and even the world. They serve in congregations, higher education, campus ministry, and the mission field. In addition to our writers, we are thankful to the churches and members who let us tell the stories of what God is doing in and through them.
Here are some of our favorite articles — in no particular order — from the past year as chosen by Andy Jones (editor) and Megan Fowler (associate editor):
1. When Love Sparks at General Assembly
It is rare for a denominational gathering to serve as the occasion for romance. Yet, Sheldon and Laura Nordhues fell in love after meeting at the 2022 General Assembly. The story of how God arranged their encounter that ultimately led to marriage is a testament to God’s sovereignty and kindness.
2. The Hope of a Tearless Eternity
We have a lot to learn from people who’ve walked through a valley of sorrows. Pastor Stephen Magee shared what it has been like for him and his wife, Candy, to mourn their son’s suicide. Magee takes comfort in the Scripture that “Our Lord will not only take away the outer manifestations of sadness, he will also beautifully heal all of the inner pain that comes from guilt, shame, anger, fear, confusion, division, and so much more.”
3. “The Detroit Project” Establishes PCA Presence in Motor City
In 2025, we highlighted several encouraging reports of church planting outside the PCA’s traditional footprint in the Deep South. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of The Detroit Project, there are now seven PCA congregations in metro Detroit. This story provides a window into the faith-filled courage of this church-planting initiative.
4. How the Gospel is Transforming an Alabama Prison
We rarely have the opportunity to send a journalist on assignment to write a first-hand account of what God is doing. This three-part series comes from Benjamin Morris’ visit to the Bibb County Correctional Facility in Alabama, where PCA churches and members are involved in a unique discipleship program among prisoners.
5. Canadian Presbytery Plans Expansion into Spiritual Wilderness
In a denomination named the Presbyterian Church in America, it’s easy to forget about our friends in Canada. But Eastern Canada Presbyterian is trying to double the number of churches in its region over the next decade. Their bold vision in a church-starved geography has required some creativity. As one church planter puts it, “There’s just so much that needs to happen that only God can do for this to become reality.”
Joel Hathaway analyzed sermons by Kevin DeYoung, Ligon Duncan, and others to examine the length of their sermons, word count, and vocabulary. His takeaway for preachers is “these sermons provide some basis for comparing and contrasting the diversity in excellent preaching.”
7. Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor
Robby Plemmons has been living and serving in Utah for over 15 years. He leverages what he’s learned about Latter-Day Saints to help Christians understand what motivates them and what to consider when building relationships with them. He encourages readers, “If LDS missionaries do come to your doorstep, be kind to them and show them biblical hospitality as you pray for their eyes to be opened to the truth.
8. Steve Deboer: A Deacon on the Run
The Christian life is described in Scripture as a life of endurance. Steve Deboer exemplifies that with his commitment to running every day for over 50 years. We don’t normally feature shirtless men in our articles, but it is tough to find a picture of Steve apart from his preferred running attire.
9. From the Orchestra Pit to the Pulpit
Some pastors are called to ministry from some fascinating fields. We’ve profiled pastors who once worked on the police force, in Major League Baseball, and in the NFL. Nick Swan is a Juilliard-trained oboist who now serves in pastoral ministry in Chicago. This article profiles Nick’s unique journey and how God used his past to shape his present ministry.
10. Bitcoin and Christian Stewardship
This proved to be one of the most popular articles of the year. Tim Fox is a PCA pastor and advocate for churches making Bitcoin part of their financial portfolio. In this article, he provides an introduction to the role of Bitcoin as a financial instrument and the reason he thinks Christians should take it more seriously.