One of the best parts of running the SOLA Editorial is collaborating with writers who share a genuine desire to encourage our readers. It’s especially meaningful when we welcome new contributors. This year’s Top Ten most read articles reflects that joy! Half of the list features first-time SOLA authors (Mike Ruamthong, Josh Oh, Melvin Huang, Praise Lee, and Prairie Park). Below, you’ll find brief comments from our Editorial team followed by excerpts from each piece.
1. Consider the Birds: The Jesus Way to Combat Anxiety by Chris D. Lee
While Inside Out 2 gave life to the somewhat cuddly character of Anxiety, actually dealing with anxiety in our lives is an ongoing challenge. Unfortunately, we do not have a window into the drama of each of our personified emotions to know how to deal with them. However in the early part of 2025, Chris brought us another thoughtful piece, including practical ways to combat the temptation to give into our anxious thoughts.
We are living in anxious times. Anxiety follows us around as a daily companion and, in today’s fast-paced, uncertain world, it is often an uninvited guest in our minds. Yet, Jesus offers us a powerful remedy for our debilitating thoughts—one that offers peace, not because the storms stop, but because we choose to trust the One who calms it. In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that worry accomplishes nothing, and that our Heavenly Father sees us, provides for us, and holds our future in His loving hands.
2. Combating Imposter Syndrome by Embracing God’s Presence by Josh Oh
Many of us quietly carry the fear of being “found out”. We think someone will notice we’re not as capable, gifted, or faithful as others think. In his personal article, Josh removes the looming threat of shame by reframing imposter syndrome as an invitation to rest more deeply in God’s presence.
Combating imposter syndrome is easier said than done. Sometimes, we need mentors, friends, and peers to affirm us for the many gifts that God created us with. Affirmations are balms to a weary soul. It was just recently that one of my own mentors had to gently confront me of my overly self-deprecative tendencies. Other times, we need to learn to be comfortable with our shortcomings. As much as our gifts make up our personhood, our shortcomings are also key components of our uniqueness. And above it all, we can learn to live with our insecurities if we have the assurance of a steady presence that would never leave us for our faults.
3. The Hidden Blessing of Being a Single Parent by Mike Ruamthong
Mike’s writing is tender and a balm for weary souls. While not downplaying the difficulties of being a single parent, he so beautifully highlights God’s amazing grace in creating us with limitations, and how those limitations has deepened his trust in God.
Coming to terms with my limitations was only the beginning. The deeper shift came when I realized that overcoming those limits wasn’t the answer—but neither was despair. I didn’t need to conquer my weakness, and I didn’t need to be crushed by it. I needed to trust the One who has no weakness at all. When I couldn’t carry the full weight of parenting alone, I began to not just know theologically but actually experience in real life that God could. In the long days and quiet nights, in the missed milestones and messy moments, I saw that His strength really is made perfect in weakness.
4. Pastors, What Do We Owe Our Congregations? By Daniel Jung
Daniel is no stranger to our SOLA readership, and he brought us another heartfelt piece this year. With the general weariness that has plagued the clergy ever since COVID, not to mention every crisis after it, it can be easy to want to resign and go into something different. While that may be God’s leading for some, Daniel considers what pastors owe their congregations, and bids the doubting heart to press on.
It comes down to what my role as a parish minister requires of me. In other words, as a pastor, what do I owe my congregation? For me, being a pastor means my congregation has a stake in my life. As their spiritual leader, they own shares of me. And because I have chosen to serve in Asian ministry contexts—where blurred boundaries are not only expected, they are encouraged—they are stakeholders of my conduct, my schedule, and even my finances. That’s the reality. But at a bare minimum, even if I wasn’t a pastor of an Asian American church, what I really owe my congregation is access to the more vulnerable pieces of my soul. At least, offering more vulnerability than I’m comfortable giving.
5. When Seminary Comes Later by Jason Min
For some, going to seminary is part of a life-plan or a set of goals. Sometimes, things don’t go to plan and we may feel like we missed our window of opportunity. Or maybe like Jason, the realization that God is calling you to seminary has come later in your life, past the time when your mind felt sharpest, or you had boundless energy to stay up and study. Through sharing about his own journey, Jason calls out some key benefits that going to seminary later in life may have.
I didn’t take the “traditional” path to seminary. In fact, I didn’t even know I was called to be a pastor until I was in my mid 30s. This realization brought more insecurity and doubt than I’d like to admit. As an over-achieving second generation Korean-American who often prided himself on being ahead of the curve, the thought of starting over in the classroom—while friends who had gone straight into seminary out of undergrad were already a decade into their respective ministries—left me feeling exposed, even disqualified. At the time, I was already serving as a worship director in a local church juggling family life with two young kids at home who demanded every ounce of my bandwidth and attention. I kept telling myself that I should just accept that the window to pursue a seminary education had closed. In my mind, seminary was something you did before ministry, marriage, and parenthood—not in the middle of it. Thankfully, God had other plans. I soon realized that what I initially thought was a liability was actually the greatest gift God could have given me.
6. Mary & Elizabeth: Why God Gives Us to Each Other by Praise Lee
In a culture that prizes independence, Praise Lee turns our attention to a biblical friendship that reminds us why we aren’t made to walk alone. Drawing from the story of Mary and Elizabeth, she beautifully explores how God uses relationships among sisters to strengthen one another in Christ.
God gives us the church body so that we can point each other to God. Six years ago, my husband and I were going through a rough season in our marriage. So many sisters in Christ encouraged me, listened to me, and walked with me. In the moments where I could not see God’s love and goodness in my life, I needed other sisters to point me to Jesus and his Word. They reminded me of God’s promises, his character, and his faithfulness. I’m so thankful for the body of Christ.
7. Even as the Fires Rage, God is with You by Melvin Huang
The LA fires dominated the month of January in 2025. The terror and devastation caught on camera did not do justice to the many individual tragedies. In the midst of this horrendous time, Melvin Huang shared a word of encouragement for those who might have been facing confusion, or even anger.
The fires ravaging much of LA County are horrendous. But they do not have the final word. When we are at a loss for words during this dark and anxious time, looking to the Spirit to intercede for us and leaning on our friends can be among the most courageous things we can do. The temptation to isolate and suppress our feelings can be strong and persistent. Please resist that temptation and flee into the embrace of God, whose love burns with passion for his children.
8. Doing International English Ministry in South Korea by Leo Rhee
English Ministry (EM) in South Korea is often overlooked, but it plays a vital role in the local and global church. Leo Rhee tells us how it developed, the unique gospel opportunities it provides, and why collaboration is essential for its future.
One of the exciting things about English ministry in Korea is the collaboration, networking, and friendships forged among pastors and leaders, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area. In the early 2000s, what began as a fellowship of EM pastors and army chaplains who missed Western food birthed a network of churches called AIM-Korea (Association of International Ministries in Korea). We gathered on the U.S. military post to eat and fellowship. As this became a regular meeting, we began planning joint services and events. Today, about 30–50 pastors gather every month at different locations in Seoul to worship, pray, and eat.
9. Ministry Doesn’t Have to be a Spectacle by Josh Oh
If the name sounds familiar, it should be! In this second of Josh’s articles to make our Top Ten, he considers the future of the church at a macro-level.
We live in a world where production defines efficacy. Musicians are judged according to their streams. Authors are judged by how many times they’ve appeared on the NYT best seller list. Our world is enamored by production and spectacle. The past few years have been an interesting time for the evangelical world, particularly because we are witnessing a changing of the guard. We’ve witnessed beloved and well-known pastors pass away. We’ve seen respected ministers fall into disgrace. The platform that had been holding up the stalwarts of 21st century Evangelical Christianity seems to be giving way to a world of Christianity that we’re largely unfamiliar with. The question that I hear in response is, “who’s next”?
10. Even If He Does Not: Trusting God with Breast Cancer by Prairie Park
Prairie’s courage and faith in God through her cancer journey resounds with encouragement and exhortation for anyone who is facing uncertain circumstances.
In 2023, I had some alarming symptoms, but a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound showed no cause for alarm. I was sent home with a clean bill of health. So when I felt a small growth in my breast in the spring of 2024, I wrote it off as nothing. Then a few months later, I noticed that it had doubled in size. I almost didn’t go in to see the doctor because I thought they might just send me home after seeing my clear scan from less than a year prior—they almost did. Sitting on the crinkly paper on the seat in my doctor’s office, I hesitated when the doctor asked if I wanted to get another mammogram. She said that I had a very low risk of cancer, and that my body may have just changed shape after having kids. I wanted so badly to believe her and to quietly accept her diagnosis. But my gut wouldn’t let me, so I insisted on getting another diagnostic mammogram for my “peace of mind.” The mammogram led to a biopsy, and my biopsy led to a cancer diagnosis: stage 3, triple-positive breast cancer.
Header Photo Credit: Jason Leung