Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott, Pastor, Sun Lakes United Church of Christ
June is a month full of life. The days get longer. School lets out. Families gather for cookouts and road trips. We celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month, both reminders of the long journey toward freedom and dignity. Even if the world sometimes tells us not to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion, June reminds us why we must. It’s a season of reflection, joy, and possibility.
It’s also a time when we celebrate Father’s Day—a chance to honor the caregivers, mentors, and father figures in our lives. And it invites a simple but powerful question: Am I just talking about what I believe or actually living it? For many of us, the people who shaped us most didn’t preach at us. They lived their values day by day with patience, presence, and quiet strength.
As a pastor, I hear a lot of conversations about faith. Some people are eager to talk about what they believe, others are unsure, and some have been hurt by people who talk a lot about faith but don’t live it in loving or honest ways.
The truth is, faith isn’t just something we speak. It’s something we live. Jesus didn’t walk around quoting Scripture to prove a point. He spent His time healing, feeding, listening, forgiving, and challenging injustice. He welcomed people others pushed away. He loved with His whole life.
He showed us that real faith is something people can feel in your presence, not just hear in your words.
That kind of faith doesn’t require a pulpit, a platform, or a perfect life. It shows in how we treat our neighbors, speak to the cashier, and listen to someone we disagree with. It shows up in how we celebrate others’ freedom and work for justice, even when no one is looking.
So, this June, I invite you—whoever you are, wherever you come from—to make your faith visible. It should not be flashy or forced, just real. Let it live in small acts of kindness, quiet courage, and honest love. Because in a world full of noise, people are hungry for something true. And when we live like that, we’re walking in the footsteps of Jesus who didn’t just talk about love—He lived it.