Pastor Aaron Olinski

In Luke 8:54, we see a powerful moment where Jesus takes a young girl by the hand and says in a loud voice, “My child, get up.” Immediately, her life returns, and she stands up. A 12-year-old girl who was dead is brought back to life. She is restored, healed, and returned to her family. This miracle is stunning in its simplicity and profound in its power.

Why did Jesus say it in a loud voice? Maybe because there were people in the house weeping and wailing. And Jesus, undeterred by the chaos, speaks louder than the grief. His voice cuts through the noise of despair and brings life.

Imagine if it was your daughter. Imagine Jesus grabbing her hand and speaking life over her. That’s the kind of Savior we have. A Savior who doesn’t shy away from death, darkness, or despair, but speaks directly into it with resurrection power.

Freedom for the Brokenhearted

This same Jesus wants to bring life and restoration to you.

If you're battling depression, if suicidal thoughts have clouded your mind, if you're facing a diagnosis or physical pain, there is healing in Jesus' name. We are praying that the chains would break. That sickness would flee. That healing would come. We believe Jesus can do that.

And beyond the physical, we believe in freedom from guilt and shame. Some of you have asked the Lord for forgiveness, and you need to hear clearly today: He forgives you. It's done. You are not condemned anymore. But now, it’s time to forgive yourself. Stop letting the weight of shame hold you back. Walk in the freedom that God has already given you. He remembers your sins no more. Be free. Live free. Walk in His grace.

A Church Committed to Rescue

At Grace Church, our heart for restoration doesn’t stop with what happens within our walls. For years, we’ve been partnered with Destiny Rescue, an organization committed to rescuing children from human trafficking. Together, we’ve now rescued 112 little girls. To give you perspective, that’s about how many kids attend one of our services. Every one of those girls represents a life brought back from hopelessness into freedom.

And the impact is growing. Nearly 20 other churches have joined this mission because of the influence and leadership coming out of Grace Church. That’s how movements begin. When people say yes to something bigger than themselves. We’re seeing exponential growth in this effort, and it’s incredible to witness.

A Christmas Gift That Truly Matters

This Christmas, Grace Church is making a bold move. For all seven of our Christmas services, 100% of the money given during that week will go directly to Destiny Rescue.

Yes, it's one of our biggest giving weeks of the year. And yes, we're giving all of it away.

Because what better gift could we give at Christmas than freedom? What could be more meaningful than giving a little girl her life back?

We’ll still wrap up presents and put them under trees. But maybe we don’t need to buy another Lego set or another Nerf gun. Maybe this year, the better gift is to rescue a girl. Take a step. Be part of this.

More Than Rescue: A Path to Restoration

What makes Destiny Rescue’s work even more powerful is what happens after a girl is rescued.

They don’t just pull girls out of darkness and leave them to figure things out. They walk with them through healing. These girls receive counseling. They get plugged into freedom groups, Bible studies, and mentorship. The process is deep and personal.

Many of them surrender their lives to Christ. They become part of a church community. They experience spiritual, emotional, and mental healing.

And Destiny Rescue goes further. They offer vocational training, helping these girls learn new skills so they can earn a living with dignity. For some of them, poverty had made them believe selling themselves was the only option. Now, they are given new paths, new hope, and new opportunities.

Abigail’s Story

We shared a video about a young woman named Abigail. Her story is one of incredible resilience. At just eight years old, she began doing the unthinkable to support her family because there was never enough food.

Through Destiny Rescue, Abigail’s life turned around. Her family had food. She received vocational training. She met Jesus. And now, she volunteers to help other children find freedom.

She even joined the Destiny Rescue Survivors Advisory Council, advocating for others who have suffered the same pain.

And right now, another girl is wondering if anyone will come for her. Will we be the ones who say yes?

Will You Still Be Free in 24 Months?

Destiny Rescue tracks the long-term freedom of the children they help. 85% of rescued girls remain free for over two years. That’s an incredible success rate. Their process works.

But that stat prompts a deeper question for all of us. Will you still be following Jesus in 24 months?

Will you still be committed to growing, serving, and being part of the church community?

So many people start strong. But somewhere along the way, they drift. They disconnect. They lose faith.

But the call is to stay the course. Keep walking. Stay in community. Keep pressing into the things of God. Don't give up.

This Could Be Your Rescue Moment

Some of you may need to begin a relationship with Jesus today. Maybe you're not following Him yet, or maybe you once were, and now you're far off.

This could be your moment.

Maybe you didn’t expect anything to change today. But what if this is the moment where everything turns around? What if you are the one who gets rescued today?

Because that's what Jesus came to do. For every single one of us.

Jesus still restores. He still heals. He still rescues.

The question is, will you let Him take you by the hand and say, “My child, get up”?

Let’s walk in that freedom. Let’s keep going. And let’s bring others with us into new life.