From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin

In Embracing the Uncertain, Rev. Magrey deVega invites readers to engage and wrestle with life’s uncertainties, not ignore them. The six chapters focus on six post-transfiguration, pre-Passion stories in the Gospels. Each of these stories is a signpost in the Gospel narrative, pointing down at a world filled with uncertainty but pointing us forward to a cross that can show us how to follow Jesus with courage, hope, and obedience. 
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What Christians Do: Living Like Jesus in a Divided World reclaims discipleship as an active way of life rather than a set of beliefs to defend. Drawing on Scripture, John Wesley's wisdom, and modern insights, Rev. Mark Reynolds shows how everyday practices at home, in relationships, in service, and in the pursuit of justice become means of grace that reshape us into Christ's likeness. This book offers practical guidance for moving beyond shallow belief into a transformative faith that embodies the love, mercy, and justice of Jesus. What Christians Do invites you to discover what it truly means to follow Christ in a divided world.
The book is now available here.
 

In Let the Children Lead, Rev. Dr. Nelson Cowan explores how churches can move beyond simply creating programs for children and instead invite children to be active participants in the life and worship of the congregation. Through practical examples and theological reflection, Let the Children Lead shares models for engaging children and families in worship, including approaches like pray-grounds, sensory-sensitive worship practices, intergenerational outreach, school partnerships, and opportunities for children to lead in worship.
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Rev. Dr. Sarah Campbell discusses Rooted Methodism, a new online course from the General Commission on Archives and History that launched in February 2026. Rooted Methodism explores the story of Methodism in America, from its colonial beginnings to the present-day United Methodist Church, while examining how our faith has been shaped by culture, history, and lived experiences. Sarah helped develop curriculum for the course and shares why understanding our Methodist roots is essential for the church today and tomorrow.
Link to more info and course.

In Jesus Is Lord: Living in the Lordship of Christ, Bishop Tom Berlin offers a six-part study that challenges Christians to move beyond nominal faith into a life genuinely shaped by the authority of Jesus. The book begins with a deceptively simple question: What would happen in my life if I truly thought about what it means to say “Jesus is Lord” — wherever I go?
Get the book here.

In 2024, Dr. Daley-Salinger published God’s Match. The book argues that the church has become too focused on systems, structure, and management, and in doing so has often lost dependence on the Holy Spirit. Debbie Salinger points to historic revivals as evidence that real renewal begins with persistent prayer and a deep hunger for God’s presence.
Her central message is that church decline won’t be reversed by strategy alone, but by returning to a Spirit-led, prayer-filled life—and that everyday believers play a key role in that renewal.
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In 2025, the Chilcotes released On Love: 20 Lessons for the World We Seek. In a world that often feels divided and dark, On Love reveals how everyday moments can become transformative acts of love. Drawing from their rich life experiences, Paul and Janet Chilcote offer twenty essential practices that anyone can begin immediately―no special training required. Each chapter shares relatable stories and simple practices that fit naturally into your daily routines, from making meaningful eye contact to creating beauty in ordinary spaces. 
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In this episode, Bishop Tom Berlin sits down with author and theologian Dr. Steve Harper to explore Little Lights, a collection of daily meditations born from a simple but profound conviction: God often meets us not only in dramatic moments, but in the quiet, steady rhythms of everyday life.
Drawing from his 2024 book, Dr. Harper shares how brief reflections can offer encouragement, deepen spiritual awareness and help believers recognize God's presence in the ordinary. Together, they discuss the importance of daily practices, finding hope in small moments and discovering the “little lights” that illuminate our journey of faith.
Get the book on Amazon.
Check out Steve's blog.

In this episode of From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin, Bishop Tom Berlin welcomes Rev. Dr. Andrea Byer-Thomas, senior pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Fort Pierce and chair of the Florida Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women, to discuss her deeply personal book, Tears at the Altar, Lament in My Breasts: This Pastor Confronts Grief from the Pulpit.
Written in the wake of the 2019 death of her son, Arleigh, the book explores the universal experience of grief through the lens of Byer-Thomas’ Afro-Caribbean heritage and her calling as a pastor. In this honest and hope-filled conversation, she reflects on leading while carrying profound loss, the role of lament in the life of faith, and the ways God meets us in seasons of sorrow.
Available on Amazon.

In this episode of From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin, Bishop Tom Berlin sits down with Rev. Dr. Michael Beck—pastor, church planter, and leading voice in the Fresh Expressions movement—to discuss his latest book, Distortions: How to Recognize and Refute False Christian Claims in American Culture: A Visual Guide.
Together, they explore how cultural narratives and misinformation can shape faith and why Christians need the language and confidence to recognize and respond to false claims. Drawing from the themes of the book, Beck shares practical insights for navigating conversations in everyday life, ministry settings, and even on social media.