Vernon and Ashley are literally recording this one from the airport, flying home from their very first trip to Charlotte. In this episode, they walk through the last few days day by day — meeting the missionary family who hosted them, the discouraging moment with private school costs, and a wild emotional swing between faith and fear. Then Sunday happens: a visit to a thriving church plant, a sermon on joy that hits closer to home than expected, and a journal entry that marks the real beginning of Extended Grace. If you've ever waited for God to make something "obvious" before taking a step — this episode is for you.

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode:

• Recapping the trip to Charlotte, NC — the first time either Vernon or Ashley had visited the area
• A day at the JAARS campus (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), including a helicopter ride over the region
• Driving neighborhoods, researching schools, and the sticker shock of private school tuition
• The emotional back-and-forth between faith and fear — and what it looks like when a marriage carries both at once
• Meeting a church-planting couple in Waxhaw who are becoming "kindred spirits" and future sister-church partners
• A Sunday visit to a 5-year-old church plant now running 1,400 people across four services
• The sermon, the worship set, and the moment it all clicked — including the journal entry marking July 12th, 2026 as the start of Extended Grace

Mentioned in this episode:

• JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) — [jaars.org]
• The Berg Church, Harrisburg, NC
• Matthew 9 & 10 — the harvest is plentiful, the workers are few
• Genesis 12–16 and Acts 15–16 — Vernon's parallel study on control and God's redirection
• Galatians 5 — the fruit of the Spirit, and the sermon on joy
• Devotional: Through the word - https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/42220

Connect with us:Follow along, get updates, or find out how to get involved with Extended Grace at extendedgracechurch.com