Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour

Episode: Preston Morrison: The Quiet Faith Resurgence No One’s Talking About... | DSH #1708

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Pastor Preston Morrison
Date: December 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sean Kelly sits down with Pastor Preston Morrison, a seasoned pastor with over 25 years of experience, to discuss the resurgence of faith among younger generations, the role of fear and spiritual warfare, the necessity of community, and navigating faith in today’s complex world. The conversation weaves personal stories, biblical insights, and candid observations on contemporary struggles like anxiety, mental health, and the influence of social media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Impact of COVID and the State of the Church

• COVID as a Revealer

  • Preston shares how the pandemic laid bare the fragility of both individual and communal health, exposing pre-existing issues we “pretended not to have.”
  • Quote:

    "What COVID did... it exposed where people actually were. Humanity was not nearly as healthy as everyone was pretending to be."
    — Preston Morrison (02:18)

• Church Response & Acts of Faith

  • Arizona churches, including Preston’s, worked closely with local authorities to remain open and serve their communities.
  • Tells a powerful story of an elderly church greeter—despite being oxygen-dependent and in his 80s, he insisted on serving throughout the pandemic:

    “If I’m gonna go, I’m gonna go serving the Lord and being in the midst of my family.”
    — Congregant quoted by Preston (00:05, 04:52, 05:11)

  • Preston reflects:

    "That's a measure of strength that I don't know that I've ever seen in my lifetime."
    — Preston (05:11)

2. Wrestling with Fear & Spiritual Warfare

• Personal Battle with Fear

  • Preston vulnerably recounts his struggles with crippling fear and anxiety in his late 20s—moments so paralyzing he’d be “in the fetal position.”

    “I battled fear hardcore... days. Fetal position in the corner... I was believing a lie that if I said yes to the call of God on my life, everyone I love was going to get hurt.”
    — Preston (05:39, 07:05)

• Roots in Spiritual Warfare

  • Attributes these fears not just to mental/emotional issues, but to “spiritual warfare,” referencing biblical narratives (e.g., Jesus’s temptation).

    “There is a war being waged... it may just be full on spiritual warfare. I just felt like I took a lie from the enemy, hook, line, and sinker.”
    — Preston (07:39, 08:29)

  • Agrees the world is growing darker, but argues this heightens the need—and opportunity—for “the light” of faith.

• On Suffering and Growth

  • Suggests that adversity and darkness, while unpleasant, often drive people into deeper faith and personal transformation.

    “If everything was awesome, I’d be tempted to make myself my own God... I’m grateful for the challenges, for the stumbles, for the things that scared me.”
    — Preston (12:33, 12:39)

3. The Resurgence of Faith Among Young People

• Signs of Revival

  • Preston notes a notable increase in young men and women returning to or discovering faith post-pandemic.

    “There is an absolute resurgence... Especially with young men your age. Of your generation coming back or coming to the Lord for the first time. It’s wild.”
    — Preston (17:51, 18:10)

• Sean’s Personal Journey

  • Shares his own path—away from church for 15 years, now reconnecting and exploring the Bible with new eyes.

• Hearing God’s Voice

  • Preston encourages believers that God speaks to each of them (“My sheep hear my voice”), though it can take time to recognize His guidance.

    “Every person who believes in Jesus hears the voice of God. They just might not know what he sounds like.”
    — Preston (19:39, 20:06)

4. Faith in Practice: Community, Identity, and Vulnerability

• Need for Community

  • Asserts that faith thrives in community, that isolation breeds insecurity and struggle:

    "It would be like being in a canoe and trying to go upstream without a paddle... being disconnected from the local church."
    — Preston (23:07, 24:03)

  • Sean and Preston discuss how right community provides accountability, safety, and growth—contrasting it to the dangers and loneliness of going it alone (37:10).

• Identity and Insecurity

  • Points to lack of identity as a root of insecurity.

    “If you don’t know your identity... you’re always going to walk in insecurity. But the second I realize who I am, it’s a game changer.”
    — Preston (15:42)

  • Stresses God’s intentional design and affection for each individual, countering the common image of an “angry God.”

• Proving Commitment Through Action

  • Urges younger generations to move beyond aspiration to preparation and action, especially by cultivating strong, faith-driven communities.

    "Anybody who thinks they can do it alone is actually making the statement, what I'm doing is very small."
    — Preston (24:12)

5. Social Media, Mental Health, and Demonic Influence

• Social Media as Ministry

  • Shares a personal story of withdrawing from public life (“ten years in hiding”) at God’s direction, then returning to online ministry—now seeing social media as a vital tool for reaching the hurting.

    "Now I've seen so much hurt. I just want to help, and I want to point as many people to Jesus as I possibly can all over the earth. And social media, I've learned, is a powerful tool."
    — Preston (28:46, 29:01)

  • Talks about volume of people reaching out with issues ranging from marital problems to depression (29:14).

• Mental Health and the Spiritual Dimension

  • While affirming the reality of clinical issues, Preston insists many cases are not purely psychological:

    “I think there is more of a spiritual component than we give it credit. We’re not just mental beings... we're spiritual beings.”
    — Preston (30:19)

  • Points out that demonic attack often targets God’s children, especially those with influence, as a way to hurt what God loves most (31:18, 35:18).

  • Warns of the risk of addressing mental/spiritual struggles solely through medication or numbing:

    “The goal isn't to numb you. The spirit of God, the Holy Spirit has been given to every believer in Jesus… to be empowered.”
    — Preston (32:28)

• The Importance of Acknowledgment and Community

  • Both Sean and Preston share personal experiences of feeling “picked on” or attacked, overcoming by consulting their faith community and acknowledging the true source of struggle (36:04, 36:33).

6. Personal Growth, Identity, and Authenticity

• The Value of Self-Awareness and Authenticity

  • Preston advocates for self-study, challenging listeners to know themselves better to combat negative thoughts and be effective in their callings (37:28, 39:14).

    “You should know you better than any human who walks the face of the earth… Most people are so out of touch with themselves.”
    — Preston (39:14)

  • Both men note that feeling safe and accepted—especially with family and community—was crucial for their journeys away from insecurity and people-pleasing (40:28).

• Lighter Moments

  • The episode closes with basketball banter, NFL team rivalries, and laughs about the Dallas Cowboys’ and New York Giants’ fortunes—a lighthearted moment rounding out the in-depth conversation (41:20–43:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote/Theme | Speaker | |-----------|-------------|---------| | 02:18 | “What COVID did... it exposed where people actually were. Humanity was not nearly as healthy as everyone was pretending to be.” | Preston Morrison | | 04:52 | “If I’m gonna go, I’m gonna go serving the Lord and being in the midst of my family.” | Congregant, quoted by Preston | | 05:11 | “That’s a measure of strength that I don’t know that I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.” | Preston Morrison | | 07:05 | “…I was believing a lie that if I said yes to the call of God on my life, everyone I love was going to get hurt.” | Preston Morrison | | 08:29 | “There is a war being waged... it may just be full on spiritual warfare.” | Preston Morrison | | 12:39 | “If everything was awesome, I’d be tempted to make myself my own God.” | Preston Morrison | | 15:42 | “If you don’t know your identity... you’re always going to walk in insecurity. But the second I realize who I am, it’s a game changer.” | Preston Morrison | | 17:51 | “There is an absolute resurgence... Especially with young men your age. Of your generation coming back or coming to the Lord for the first time.” | Preston Morrison | | 19:39 | “Every person who believes in Jesus hears the voice of God. They just might not know what he sounds like.” | Preston Morrison | | 23:07 | “It would be like being in a canoe and trying to go upstream without a paddle... being disconnected from the local church.” | Preston Morrison | | 24:12 | "Anybody who thinks they can do it alone is actually making the statement, what I'm doing is very small." | Preston Morrison | | 28:46 | "[Now] I've seen so much hurt. I just want to help, and I want to point as many people to Jesus as I possibly can all over the earth." | Preston Morrison | | 30:19 | “I think there is more of a spiritual component than we give it credit. We’re not just mental beings, we're spiritual beings.” | Preston Morrison | | 32:28 | “The goal isn't to numb you. The spirit of God… the Holy Spirit has been given to every believer in Jesus… to be empowered.” | Preston Morrison | | 39:14 | “You should know you better than any human who walks the face of the earth… Most people are so out of touch with themselves.” | Preston Morrison |

Important Timestamps

• [00:00–05:31] — Opening story about the elderly church member’s courage during COVID
• [05:39–09:18] — Preston’s personal battle with fear and thoughts on spiritual warfare
• [12:33–15:42] — Why darkness and trouble can drive faith and the need for identity in God
• [17:51–19:39] — Faith resurgence among young people; Sean’s journey back to reading the Bible
• [28:35–30:10] — Social media as a tool for ministry, counseling needs
• [30:19–32:44] — Mental health, spiritual warfare, and holistic perspectives
• [36:33–39:14] — Overcoming isolation, the power of community, and self-awareness
• [41:21–43:08] — Lighthearted sports talk, closing remarks

Conclusion

Pastor Preston Morrison’s appearance on Digital Social Hour offers a blend of vulnerability, hope, and practical wisdom. Drawing from personal hardship, biblical insight, and years of ministry, he paints a candid picture of the challenges and promise facing today’s believers. Through stories of faithful courage, frank admissions of doubt and fear, and a call for authentic community, the episode stands as both an encouragement and a sober challenge to anyone seeking meaning, healing, or a deeper faith in confusing times.

Connect with Pastor Preston Morrison:

• Instagram: @PrestonMorrison
• Church: Pillar Church, Scottsdale, AZ

“Don’t go through it alone. If you feel you’re up under a dark cloud, just reach out.”
— Preston Morrison (43:15)