Faith is often discussed in moments of clarity, celebration, and breakthrough. But for many believers, faith is most deeply formed in the middle of pain, uncertainty, and everyday obedience.
In this Living My Faith with James Fenimore feature, Tom Hilpert of Life Together Churches offers a grounded and honest perspective on what it means to trust Jesus when life is difficult. As a pastor, ministry director, and author, Tom brings together church leadership, creative work, and personal endurance in a way that speaks to anyone seeking a more resilient spiritual life.
Faith That Is Lived, Not Just Spoken
Tom Hilpert serves as Pastor and Director with Life Together Churches. He describes his work as wearing many hats: pastoring a local congregation made up of two house churches, directing a ministry that provides resources and coaching for house churches, and writing thrillers and mysteries.
That combination gives him a meaningful perspective on Christian faith in real life. Ministry may make public expressions of faith more visible, but Tom also sees faith as something that must be lived honestly in daily relationships, creative work, and suffering.
Living Out Faith in Work, Home, and Community
When asked how he actively lives out his faith, Tom notes that being a pastor can make it easier in some ways because faith is connected to his daily vocation. Yet as a writer, he works to portray Christian characters as real people who live out faith in everyday situations.
That kind of storytelling matters. Faith is not limited to church gatherings or formal ministry settings. It is expressed in how people respond to conflict, pain, doubt, love, work, and family responsibilities.
For Tom, this season has also included walking with his daughter through her fight with cancer while continuing through his own long journey of pain. His example reminds readers that living faith is not about pretending life is easy. It is about trusting Jesus when life is not easy.
A Faith Shaped Through Suffering
One of the most significant experiences that shaped Tom
