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\u201cIt gave me a level of gratitude for my family that I think I had kind of taken for granted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though Reed initially envisioned a lifelong military career, his path shifted as his personal life evolved. While serving, he began dating his now-wife, Katrina, a relationship that would ultimately draw him back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy desire started shifting to wanting to go back and put roots down, get married, and have kids,\u201d he said. This would be the beginning of a new chapter \u2014 one that would lead him into ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After returning home, Reed became involved in church life and eventually led Bible studies. At 25, he was asked a question that would change everything: Had he ever considered planting a church?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was like, what does that mean? Can you do that? Is that even legal?\u201d Reed recalled with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite his initial hesitation, Reed took the leap and founded The Journey Church, a community he envisioned as welcoming and accessible, particularly for those who felt disconnected from traditional church environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI grew up with a lot of people who didn\u2019t go to church, and I wanted to start a church that reaches people who may not feel comfortable going to the older established church,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But alongside the church\u2019s growth came personal challenges. Shortly before launching the congregation, Reed and his wife welcomed a son who would face ongoing medical issues. For 15 years, their family navigated the complexities of his condition before he passed away in December 2019 at the age of 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That loss became a defining aspect of Reed\u2019s ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWalking through suffering revealed that I had a very deficient understanding of suffering from the Bible\u2019s teaching,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He acknowledged that he once believed faithful living would lead to an easier life \u2014 a notion he had to confront and ultimately unlearn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe reality is we\u2019re not exempt from suffering,\u201d Reed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through grief, he developed a deeper theological perspective \u2014 one rooted in trust, even in the absence of answers. Reflecting on the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he noted the importance of faith that endures regardless of outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe know He can rescue, but we also are going to trust Him even if He doesn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective has shaped how Reed leads and counsels others. His experiences have fostered both empathy and authenticity within his congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt gave me a level of ability to relate to what they were feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cThey knew they were talking to somebody who was in the throes of it themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than comparing hardships, Reed encourages individuals to face their own struggles with honesty and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t minimize what you\u2019re going through \u2014 this is your cross to bear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reed\u2019s military background continues to influence his leadership approach, particularly in emphasizing structure and intentionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He believes churches must be both spiritually nourishing and effectively led.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery church needs to be well fed and well led,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reed said he sees a widespread lack of biblical understanding as a challenge within modern Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know our Bibles, and we don\u2019t understand the theology that\u2019s in the Bible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reed said theology isn\u2019t reserved for scholars; it\u2019s essential for everyday life. He describes it simply as \u201cthe study of God,\u201d adding that everyone engages in it, whether intentionally or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe question is, are you doing biblical theology?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world he describes as increasingly complex and divided, Reed believes faith should be fully integrated into all aspects of life rather than compartmentalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe whole house is Jesus\u2019 \u2014 every room belongs to him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though his responsibilities carry weight, Reed finds balance in time spent with family and in simple routines. Whether attending his daughters\u2019 dance competitions, exercising, or reading, he values the everyday moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI actually just enjoy getting to do the things I get to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, as The Journey Church marks 20 years, Reed continues to lead with a perspective forged through both discipline and loss. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ERIK REED\u2019S life has been one of transformation. It\u2019s been shaped by military discipline, personal loss, and a calling that led him to plant a church grounded in authenticity and resilience. As the founder of The Journey Church, Reed has spent the past two decades leading others through faith, often drawing from his own life […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":23779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[70,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lebanon","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/07\/2-1024x683.jpg\")
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