02 shalom, jax beach

Letter 02 | September 1, 2026

Hey, it’s Jake.

From the time I write this, I move-fly to NYC tomorrow. Yes, I made up that term. But I hope it communicates the point! And yes, I’ve booked that one-way ticket we’ve all talked about doing, right?

But before I leave, I want to share this note because the people I have met in the community I have served have had a life changing impact. If you’re reading this—and we know one another—you’re likely one of them. Please allow me to say here what I would say to you in person: Thank you. You are someone of impact. May God radically dwell with you.

a Chapter at Beach church

Three years ago, I moved to Jax Beach and joined the mission of Beach Church. Wow, three years have flown by. I cannot overstate what an honor it has been to serve this community through the Discipleship Department. Where I worked primarily in spiritual formation and administration.

In 2023, I began ministry in Jax Beach genuinely wanting to make the mission of this church my own. I remember studying Beach’s five pursuits before my interview and praying that God might open the door for me to join the staff.

A few short years later, I’m reminded of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90 (particularly verses 10, 12, and 17). Seasons are brief. May Moses’ prayer be ours!

God, give me your heart

Here’s what I asked when I first moved to the beach. I had just been hired. I remember standing in the back corner of the church one Sunday just asking God to give me His heart for the people…for the place.

He not only did that…but He really changed my life through the people I came to serve.

Over these years, I’ve done a little bit of everything—from administration, project planning + process improvement to overnight shelters, beach parties (!!!), outreach and simply serving wherever needed.

I especially loved getting to help develop our Intern Detroit trip…a trip providing exposure to the Muslim world & training in cross-cultural outreach.

Michael Young and his family have taught me so much about God & worldviews. They exemplify “incarnational ministry”—living among the ones they seek to serve…and introduced me to a world of people doing the same.

The God-man Jesus modeled this lifestyle while here on earth. By the way, I use Jesus and Yeshua interchangeably.

Thank you, Pastor Emmanuel

I had the privileged of working under our Discipleship Pastor — Emmanuel Escobar — for three years. Brother, it has been an honor to serve under you. Thank you for teaching me how to put my hands to the plough. Thank you for challenging me to follow Messiah no matter the earthly cost. I have a lot more to learn sir. And thank you for leaving me with Ernest Shackleton’s daring charge.

Knowing you has left its mark.

the pressing

From Central America to the Middle East and cities in between…what a chapter.

There have been many beautiful moments! But anyone who’s experienced life’s harder realities understands…Olive oil can’t be made without pressing. Intense pressing. I think of Gesthemene where Jesus prayed… (see Israel pics) before His crucifixion and experienced more anguish than we’ll ever know.

If I’m not being honest, I’m not your friend.

There have been bitter tears and situations that forced me to my knees or onto long prayer walks.

I remember lying in bed in Jerusalem last December after visiting a military base and watching footage from the October 7 attack whereby terrorists infiltrated the Gaza boarder, and came into Israel’s southern boarder murdering and/or raping 1200 people. I watched the raw footage. I felt overwhelmed by the weight of evil.

And then I think about the suffering people carry every day—physically, mentally, spiritually—and the extraordinary endurance of people in the midst of unjust pain.

We all live in the same broken world. That’s the thing. We can all do something with our lives to help heal this mess. Where do we start? We start with truth—what’s real. Not conspiracy.

Understanding this ‘present darkness,’ and knowing Yeshua origintaor and first cause of Truth (sometime, we’ll talk about Aquains’ case for the existence of God — it’ll blow you away) But it’ll suffiice to say, Yeshua is the divine source of all goodness (John 1). Outside of Him, nothing good exists. He is pure goodness—this is one of His attributes. And if you know Him, you can point others to Him, the Great Physician and High Priest.

I’ve found few things more purposeful than seeking to know this God & love His people.

make much of little. love people well.

And with that…over these three years, God really impressed two themes on my heart:

make much of little — Luke 16 (this began in 2023)

love people well — John 13 (this began in 2025)

Great at first!And then nothing ever felt more tried + tested.

When I fail, I take it seriously while embracing the grace of God wholeheartedly.

That’s where the Lord has done some deep, agonizing internal work to make me more like Yeshua. Not a bad deal. There are prunings I have gone through that are so painful I would never choose them on my own accord. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can endure what it takes to become more like Yeshua.

So, I leave certain of this: God is faithful and you can trust Him.

I’ll share where I’m going and what I’m doing on the next, but this farewell takes priority. Change can be daunting, but with God, all things are made beautiful in their rightful time.

Friends from Jacksonville Beach, thank you.

I’ll miss each of you so much. I encourage you to grab your Bible and go get with God this weekend. Tell Him how you’re doing. Open His Word. See what He has for you. Leave the rest in His hands.

Make much of little + love others well.

I’ll see you again….shalom.

-IBJ 9/1/26 🤍