When everything is going well in a pastor's life, spiritual vitality isn't immediately obvious. We expect joy in a leader whose family and ministry are healthy. It's when circumstances start to disintegrate that character becomes most visible. As Paul, suffering from a painful affliction, learned from the Lord, "My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely" (2 Cor. 12:9, Phillips).

One pastor who has shown vitality in weakness is Bob Davis. Sixteen years ago he came to Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, a splintered, 46-member congregation in Miami, and over time he helped it become the largest Protestant church in the city. But then he began to notice something was wrong-dreadfully wrong-with his mind.

Bob's story is not the usual LEADERSHIP article. But we think it helps demonstrate the grace of Christ released within a minister who trusts him.

Bob had already preached twice this Christmas Eve, but he didn't feel tired; in fact, he was getting ...