August 23, 2026 - September 6, 2026
The words of Jesus in the New Testament can be a source of enormous comfort: “I will give you rest.” “I am with you always.” “I give you my peace.” But Jesus wasn’t just a one-note positivity preacher – he was also known to use his public speaking to shock and challenge his listeners to teach them vital spiritual lessons. Happening upon these lesser-understood passages from the Bible can confuse us even to this day. During this 3-week end-of-summer series, we’ll dive into exploring three of these more startling sayings of Jesus. For each verse, we’ll let Jesus stun and perplex us, but then work together to unpack the core of truth he wants us to learn. What we’ll discover is a Jesus who wants to jolt us awake so he can teach us vital spiritual lessons that will fuel our experience of him this Fall and beyond.
Messages: 3
September 6, 2026
Series: Wait, Jesus Said What
Speaker: Alex Grahmann
Jesus often used pleasant, natural symbols to share about God’s love, like flowers, sheep, and birds. But how should we approach the verses in which he uses more dramatic and visceral symbols like blood and flesh? In the final week of the series, we’ll explore how Jesus shocked his original audience to help them think about their shared humanity and invite them into a more spiritually rich experience of God.
August 30, 2026
Series: Wait, Jesus Said What
Speaker: Jason Cusick
Throughout the Bible, God is described as just – which we usually take to mean that he is fair and right in all of his actions. But when it comes to the forgiveness we can receive through Jesus, it turns out God isn’t “fair” at all! Instead, he gives us forgiveness even though we’re incredibly undeserving. This week we’ll face into God’s lavish love for us, and learn how that can motivate us to spread that love into our world.
August 23, 2026
Series: Wait, Jesus Said What
Speaker: Jason Cusick
The words of Jesus in the New Testament can be a source of enormous comfort: “I will give you rest.” “I am with you always.” “I give you my peace.” But Jesus wasn’t just a one-note positivity preacher – he was also known to use his public speaking to shock and challenge his listeners to teach them vital spiritual lessons. Happening upon these lesser-understood passages from the Bible can confuse us even to this day.
JAY R.
Jay R. lives and serves in India with Bible Believing Churches and Missions and REAP INTL, where he brings mentorship and leadership to support the growth of indigenous, reproducing churches across India and South Asia. His work focuses on training, deploying, and mentoring movement leaders who are passionate about seeing the Gospel take root in their communities. In addition to directing a missional church, Jay also leads a network of 60 training institutions that provide accredited theological and missiological education to equip the next generation of church leaders.
JONATHAN & SUZANNE WRIGHT
Jonathan and Suzanne Wrights serve across Europe and surrounding regions with World in Need International, a mission focused on discipleship and indigenous church planting. When the refugee crisis escalated in 2014, they were ready to respond—stepping into evangelism and long-term discipleship among displaced communities. Today, they’re investing in first-generation church leaders and helping develop new churches, while continuing to see their ministry grow in strategic and unexpected ways that are advancing the Gospel far beyond what they imagined.
DAVE & SANDY WHITE
After 40 years serving in the Philippines, Dave and Sandy White have transitioned back to the U.S.—but their work hasn’t slowed down. They now serve virtually, continuing to coach and multiply Filipino trainers who are helping plant churches nationwide. Their efforts include producing culturally relevant training materials and supporting a growing movement to see faith communities established throughout the Philippines.
JAMIE T
Jamie T. serves in some of the hardest-hit areas of the world—places recovering from natural disasters, conflict, and instability. Despite the challenges of frequent relocation due to visa restrictions, she continues to follow where she’s called, bringing hope and care to those in need.
Her work focuses on women’s ministry, church planting, and offering creative outlets through English, music, and art classes. Through each of these, Jamie creates space for healing, connection, and a deeper understanding of God’s love.
MATT & JESS S.
Matt and Jess serve in a small UK town with a large Pakistani-Muslim population, building friendships and offering support to those who’ve come from all over the world. Jess, who grew up at Journey of Faith, volunteers as a chaplain at the local foodbank, supports refugee families, and runs an intercultural coaching business that helps people connect across cultures with care and understanding.
Matt leads the Mobilisation Team at Frontiers UK, helping others explore cross-cultural missions. He also hosts the Raw Mission podcast, where he shares real stories from the field—heard by thousands of listeners across the globe.
M & L
Serving in the Middle East, M. and L. are passionate about reaching people who’ve never heard about Jesus. Through their mission organization, they help send and train new church planters to serve in unreached areas.
M. works as an Associate Director, equipping refugees with the tools they need to start faith communities of their own. Together, M. and L. care deeply for the refugee population in their neighborhood—helping families find stability, get kids into school, and experience the hope found in Jesus.
PAUL & HOLLY ZWIERZYNSKI
Paul and Holly Zwierzynski serve at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, North Carolina, where they support Bible translation efforts around the world. Paul specializes in solar power and computer networking. He helps missionaries use low-power computers in remote areas and sets up reliable internet connections using tools like satellite and radio links. His work has supported over 180 field sites, allowing translation teams to collaborate across long distances. Holly works in the translation office as a project assistant. She helps develop Old Testament translation guides and reference materials used by Bible translators worldwide. Before moving to North Carolina, Paul and Holly served in Cameroon, where their passion for this work first began.
JERRY & BETH TUCKER
Jerry and Beth help prepare new missionaries for the field by leading orientation, providing training, building teams, and offering mentorship during the first year of overseas service. They serve with Wycliffe, a Bible translation organization, and bring years of experience to this important work. Their work began in 1995 in the Philippines, where they served as dorm parents and teachers. Both Jerry and Beth grew up at Journey of Faith, and the church has been supporting their ministry for 30 years. They remain committed to serving for many years to come.
TOM SHECK
Tom serves as the South Bay Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His goal is to see lives changed through the influence of athletes and coaches on middle school and high school campuses. FCA focuses on values like integrity, serving, teamwork, and excellence. The ministry equips students and coaches to grow in their faith and lead others by starting small group gatherings on campus, known as “Huddles.” These groups become places of encouragement, leadership, and spiritual growth within the school community.
CODY & LEXI SCRIVENS
Cody and Lexie are serving in Ireland, partnering with a local church to build relationships and share the message of Jesus. Their work takes place in a culture shaped by both deep religious tradition and growing secularism. Navigating this tension is challenging, especially in light of Ireland’s complex religious history, but they remain committed to reaching people who often feel distant from faith.
BRYAN & JACINDA MARTIN
The Martin family is planting churches in the Philippines through World Team. One of the key ways they serve is by caring for creation. They work with vulnerable communities that are struggling as natural resources become scarce. By teaching sustainable practices for managing the environment, they help meet practical needs while also creating space to share about God’s design for humanity and introduce people to the Creator.
BARBARA LEE
Barbara supports missionary families by helping their children access quality education and navigate the many transitions that come with cross-cultural life. She currently leads the Indonesia MK (Missionary Kid) Care and Education Team, providing guidance, resources, and support for families across the region. In late 2025, she will join the U.S.-based MK Care and Education Team, where she will train new missionaries, equip education consultants, offer academic testing, and provide personalized educational help for families preparing to serve.
K & L
L and K are working to start churches among ten large, unreached, and unengaged people groups in Southeast Asia. They also lead a growing team that has expanded from 11 to 22 units since the pandemic, increasing their reach and impact in the region.
TIM & ERICKA HARRIS
Tim and Ericka Harris understand the preparation, training, and lifelong commitment it takes to serve in missions. Their work has included cross-cultural ministry throughout Latin America, including eight years living and serving in Costa Rica with their family. Out of a desire to support those serving in demanding ministry roles, they provide pastoral care to missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders around the world. Through their R.E.S.T. initiative—Retreat, Encouragement, Safety, and Transformation—they offer spaces for leaders on every major continent to step away, recharge, and return to their work with renewed strength and clarity.
MARK & BRENDA HALL
Mark and Brenda Hall moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2018, where Mark now serves as a teaching pastor at English Fellowship. The church brings together people from different cultures, backgrounds, and denominations, serving both international residents and Mexican nationals living in the city for work. Although their focus is now in Mexico, they remain connected to their previous work in Guatemala, where they spent 18 years investing in the lives of young people. Their move to Guadalajara opens new doors to build relationships, support the local community, and share the message of Jesus in meaningful and relevant ways.
RICH FRAZER
Dr. Rich Frazer leads Spiritual Overseers Service (SOS) International, a global Christian leadership development ministry. Since 1979, SOS International has been driven by our Lord’s desire to reach every person with the gospel of Jesus Christ, develop believers into confident, credible and connected followers of Jesus and demonstrate compassion in times of need. SOS International is directed by the biblical mandate to equip leaders efficiently to carry out their ministries effectively. More than 7,000 leaders in more than 55 countries are equipped and resourced every year through SOS International’s expanding network of indigenous and Western-based trained Associates.
MARK & LISA DENEUI
Mark is a Bible teacher focused on the New Testament who trains church leaders and church planters in French-speaking Europe. Lisa teaches English as a Foreign Language and French, using her skills to build relationships and serve the local community while sharing her faith. Together, Mark and Lisa serve with a network of church plants in the city of Strasbourg. They are committed to making Christ’s love known by partnering with the local French church to love their neighbors, share the gospel, and disciple new believers.
D & J
D and J are building relationships with an unreached people group in Southeast Asia. They hope to see a new community of believers grow through intentional disciple-making and personal connection.
JOSEPH BRADFORD IV
Joseph launched his nonprofit, B.A.R.E. Truth, Inc., in 2018 to serve individuals and families in Los Angeles facing homelessness, food insecurity, and other critical needs. Through mentorship, independent living support, housing assistance, and wellness services, Joseph and his team help people move toward healthier, purpose-filled lives. They also host weekly feeding events on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. B.A.R.E. stands for Balance, Ambition, Respect, and Encouragement.
BILL ANKERBERG
Bill leads a missions movement in the Nordic-Baltic region, focusing especially on Estonia, where fewer than 2% of people identify as Christian. His work includes supporting church planters, developing local leaders, strengthening compassion ministries, and mentoring pastors and missionaries across both the Baltics and Scandinavia. This ministry began in 2008 and continues to grow in reach and impact.
PAT & BETH ANDREWS
Pat serves with Seed Company, a subsidiary of Wycliffe Bible Translators, as Director of Field Projects for the Pacific Region and as a Translation Consultant. He helps oversee translation work in more than 60 languages, coordinating efforts across 11 organizations and 28 internships. Many of Pat’s teams are based in remote island communities, which often presents communication and travel challenges. Even so, Pat makes it a priority to visit his project teams and interns each year.
DENNIS & DENISE AHERN
Since 1992, the Aherns have provided counseling and care to missionaries in more than forty countries. They have a deep understanding of the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities that come with full-time ministry. Their commitment to supporting ministry workers led them to open a retreat center in Washington state called Selah Glen, where they host and lead pastoral care retreats. Through this work, the Aherns can care for those who spend their lives caring for others.
MIGUEL & MARIA ADAME
Pastor Miguel leads a growing church in Mexicali, Mexico, where he and his family have been serving the community since 2013. Their church runs weekly Bible studies, and monthly outreach events, and provides a steady, welcoming presence in the neighborhood. In 2024, they opened a free private Christian elementary school that supports students with special needs or who are considered at-risk. Journey of Faith has partnered with this ministry through more than a dozen short-term mission trips.
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