What I’m Reading During the Pandemic

by Josh Meyer, Leadership Minister

Like many other pastors, much of my mental focus in the last several weeks has centered on what a pastoral, practical, prayerful response to the coronavirus crisis might entail.

To that end, here are some of the most helpful things I’m reading right now.  The first three recommendations are geared toward pastors and leaders; the last three are geared more broadly to all people seeking a faithful response during these unprecedented times.

Andy Crouch: Love In The Time of Coronavirus 

Andy is one of my favorite thinkers.  He is thoughtful and thorough, rooted in his faith, and well-versed in a wide variety of disciplines.  This essay, intended as a guide for Christian leaders, captures the best of what I’ve come to appreciate about his work.  This is one of the best articles I have read about a Christian response to COVID-19. He addresses four questions: What is happening?  What should we communicate?  What decisions should we make?  What can we hope for?  It’s a lengthy piece, but well worth your time.

J.R. Briggs: Becoming a Distributed Church: Why it’s Worth the Shift 

For years, J.R. has been asking pastors and leaders a hypothetical question: “If your church were unable to gather in groups larger than 50, or even 10, what would your church look like? And how would it shape the way you think about how your church joins God’s mission?”  These are no longer hypothetical questions. This article is full of probing questions, thoughtful challenges, practical ideas, and helpful resources as we seek to become “distributed churches.”

Eileen R. Campbell-Reed: 10 guidelines for pastoral care during the coronavirus outbreak

Pastors are called to be torchbearers of hope and optimism.  And yet, we’re also called to accompany people through the valleys of anxiety, fear, and death.  This is always a delicate balance, but especially now. That’s why I found Eileen Campbell-Reed’s guidelines so helpful.  A must-read for all leaders seeking to provide emotional, relational, and spiritual care during this time.

René Breuel: In Italy, I’ve Rediscovered the Power of Three Types of Prayer 

How does our prayer life change when faced with a global pandemic?  Rene Breuel brings us inside a nation reeling from one of the highest COVID-19 death rates in the world and reflects on how prayer is transformed by tragedy.

Scott Berinato: That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

Since reading it last week, I’ve passed this article on to more family, friends, and colleagues than any other.  While not written from an explicitly Christian perspective, it offers massively insightful perspectives on how to name and manage the grief brought on by COVID-19.  The author interviews David Kessler, the world’s foremost expert on grief. Kessler discusses the importance of acknowledging grief, how to manage it, and – most importantly – how we might find meaning in it.

Linford Detweiler: Love in The Time of Corona

I’ll confess: I’m more of a prose guy than a poetry guy.  But I was immediately captured by the cadence and essence of this poem: “Breathe.  Go on and live your unexpected life. Inhale love. Exhale surrender. Trust: all that’s in between.”  The reminder to breathe is particularly powerful when we recall that the Old Testament word for Spirit can also be translated breath.  The idea that God is as close to us as our own breath is uniquely comforting during a time like this.

So, friends – read well.  And remember to breathe.