JESSE and JOURNEY
Jesse Duplantis has been coming to Journey Fellowship Church for the last 10 years. He first came to our church when we were meeting in an old bowling alley. Our church was really small then and I was a bit surprised that Jesse would put us on his schedule. But he did. Jesse speaks to large overflow crowds around the globe as well as millions more on television. And for the last 10 years he’s been coming to Journey.
It all started with a letter. I wrote Jesse in 1998 and invited him to come speak to our little church. I felt in my spirit that he would come, and he did. The opening paragraph said this,
‘Dear Jesse,
My name is Doug McAllister and I pastor a church of 10,000 people, but 9,700 of them don’t know it yet….’
He came and spoke to us the following year and has returned every year since then. Jesse and Cathy Duplantis have become good friends and spiritual mentors to Rachel and I. We owe them a debt of gratitude for all the things that they has taught us about faith.
Jesse is the real deal. He is the same in person as he is on stage. He loves Jesus and the church. He always displays such passion for the unsaved. I’m glad to call him a friend. Thanks Jesse and Cathy. We love you.
Come hear Jesse at Journey on November 22 at 9 am & 11 am.
Jesse was very instrumental in my accepting Christ 27 years ago. A co-worker handed me a tape by him and I took it home and listened to it. As a backslidden PK, I heard him describe a personal relationship with Christ in a way I never imagined could exist. I gave my co-worker the tape back the next day and said, “I’m not ready to become a Christian, but when I do – I want to know God like that guy.” 3 months later I gave my life to Christ. His teaching helped shape my theology early on and I’m blessed to call him a friend. I hope you guys have an INCREDIBLE weekend!
Comment by Jeff Ables — November 22, 2009 @ 7:58 am
Pastor Doug,
Just a few months ago I was a struggling Catholic that lost faith in the beliefs of the Catholic Church, but a friend introduced me to Journey and I felt very comfortable with my faith and my relationship with God again as you deleived his message. When you preached I fell compassion and sincerity in your teachings and with the goals and mission of our church, but not with the message today. I felt like Jesus did in the temple as merchants made profit in the house of God, for the first 30 minutes I heard how I could purchase a book, cd so Mr Duplantis can eat out every night or have money to fuel his private jet. I heard how great god had blessed Mr Duplantis and how all his ministries are all debt free and how he was saved from the wrath of Katrina as all the rest of us suffered that wrath. Then after all that next came the thithe in support of his ministries. I understood the message that by giving it to god and his works we rest in his faith that we will not want, but I came to learn and grow, instead I felt like I was back at the catholic churh as I left feeling as if I wasnt a good enough christian.
Comment by Dennis Clark — November 22, 2009 @ 9:43 pm