Desperation
Does God cause desperate times in our lives?
No. They happen because we are human. But could God, in spite of the things that happen to us, be trying to use it all for good— trying to teach us not to turn on one another but to turn to God?
It’s a question worth asking ourselves.
Ryan Phipps is the Senior Minister at Church In Bethesda.
Raised in the church, becoming a pastor was the one thing Ryan vowed he would never do. After spending many years away from faith, he found that for all of its flaws, the church can still occupy a unique place of good in the world if it is willing to evolve with reason and empathy.
Ryan has a special place in his heart for those who have been damaged or disillusioned by the church, and longs to lead those within it toward a more just and generous expression of itself.