Loving The Journey
Weekly Newsletter
March 29, 2023
LOVING THE JOURNEY WITH... Pastor Dustin
"A Light In The Darkness"
Hello Journey Friends and Family,
This past weekend a horrific tornado devasted parts of Mississippi. As I was praying and processing how we, as a church, can help, I was interrupted by another tragedy.
Sadly, on Monday morning, a gunman broke into a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, and tragically killed a total of six people; three children and three adults. I am heartbroken for the victim's families and for this community. Pictured below is the pastor of the church. Not only is he grieving for his congregation and community, but his daughter was one of the victims of this senseless attack.
LOVING THE JOURNEY WITH... Pastor Dustin
"A Light In The Darkness"
Hello Journey Friends and Family,
This past weekend a horrific tornado devasted parts of Mississippi. As I was praying and processing how we, as a church, can help, I was interrupted by another tragedy.
Sadly, on Monday morning, a gunman broke into a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, and tragically killed a total of six people; three children and three adults. I am heartbroken for the victim's families and for this community. Pictured below is the pastor of the church. Not only is he grieving for his congregation and community, but his daughter was one of the victims of this senseless attack.
This is heartbreaking. My goal is not to rain on your Wednesday parade with tragic news. My goal was to help us live out Romans 12:15, which says that we are to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” With tragedy comes questions. What can we do, and how can we pray?
What can we do to help?
As we pray, I am already in talks with ministry friends in Mississippi and Nashville to be ready if and when a need arises. As I sift through potential ways we can help, I will keep you posted.
This is heartbreaking. My goal is not to rain on your Wednesday parade with tragic news. My goal was to help us live out Romans 12:15, which says that we are to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” With tragedy comes questions. What can we do, and how can we pray?
What can we do to help?
As we pray, I am already in talks with ministry friends in Mississippi and Nashville to be ready if and when a need arises. As I sift through potential ways we can help, I will keep you posted.
How can we pray?
Over the past several years, Christians have been mocked and attacked when we offer thoughts and prayers in moments like these. If I didn’t believe in God or the power of prayer, I, too, would possibly mock the thought of it. However, we do believe in the power of God, and we do believe that prayer changes things. So, by all means, as believers, we should indeed give our thoughts and prayers. That is precisely what Romans 12:15 encourages us to do. That doesn’t mean prayer is the only thing we do, but it is the first thing we do.
In times like these, may we give hope away but never lose it.
This is why we are passionate about Easter. Because evil and darkness are real in our world, and there is only one hope, and His name is Jesus. We desperately long to help people find the love and hope of Jesus Christ this Easter. Here are two ways you can help.
1. Pray
2. Invite
What can we do to help?
As we pray, I am already in talks with ministry friends in Mississippi and Nashville to be ready if and when a need arises. As I sift through potential ways we can help, I will keep you posted.
This is heartbreaking. My goal is not to rain on your Wednesday parade with tragic news. My goal was to help us live out Romans 12:15, which says that we are to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” With tragedy comes questions. What can we do, and how can we pray?
What can we do to help?
As we pray, I am already in talks with ministry friends in Mississippi and Nashville to be ready if and when a need arises. As I sift through potential ways we can help, I will keep you posted.
How can we pray?
Over the past several years, Christians have been mocked and attacked when we offer thoughts and prayers in moments like these. If I didn’t believe in God or the power of prayer, I, too, would possibly mock the thought of it. However, we do believe in the power of God, and we do believe that prayer changes things. So, by all means, as believers, we should indeed give our thoughts and prayers. That is precisely what Romans 12:15 encourages us to do. That doesn’t mean prayer is the only thing we do, but it is the first thing we do.
- Pray for the victims.
- Pray for the victims and their families as they grieve. I can’t imagine the pain and heartbreak they are experiencing.
- Pray for healing.
- It is true that hurt people hurt people. Pray for mental, emotional, and spiritual healing to take place in the victim's families and all those impacted by this tragedy.
- Pray for those out there right now who believe in the delusion that suicide or causing others to suffer is the only way out. May they receive the help, healing, and hope they desperately need.
- Pray for hope.
- In tragedies like this, hope can seem distant. But we know, as Christians, hope is always available. Pray that people don’t lose hope in the midst of their pain.
- Pray for light to pierce the darkness.
- John 1:5 tells us that, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- Pray for the light and love of Christ to fill the dark corners of this world.
- May those who don’t know Christ find Christ. In the midst of our pain, we can turn to many things. All of them except Christ will disappoint us and leave us empty sooner or later. Pray that people turn to the ultimate source of hope, peace, joy, and love … that’s God.
In times like these, may we give hope away but never lose it.
This is why we are passionate about Easter. Because evil and darkness are real in our world, and there is only one hope, and His name is Jesus. We desperately long to help people find the love and hope of Jesus Christ this Easter. Here are two ways you can help.
1. Pray
- Would you pray that God prepares and softens hearts? That the spiritually homeless, clueless, or careless would be drawn to the hope and light of Jesus Christ.
- Would you pray that many people come to Easter at Journey? We want as many people as possible to hear the greatest story ever told. But more importantly, we pray that many will begin a relationship with Jesus this Easter.
- Would you pray for Easter baptisms? We are praying that many make the decision to follow Jesus and make it known on Easter through the waters of baptism. If you or someone you know are would like more information on getting baptized this Easter, you can click here.
2. Invite
- Would you invite someone to one of our ten Easter service options? Praying is asking God to do everything He can do, but inviting is our role in doing everything we can do to introduce people to Jesus.
I know these can be dark days for many, but I leave us with this Psalm, “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” Psalms 27:1
May we be the light in the darkness,
Pastor Dustin Aagaard
Lead Pastor
Journey Christian Church
This weekend we will conclude our series, Awaken, Volume II. We’ll see you Sunday.
May we be the light in the darkness,
Pastor Dustin Aagaard
Lead Pastor
Journey Christian Church
This weekend we will conclude our series, Awaken, Volume II. We’ll see you Sunday.