LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — Lakeland Community Church senior pastor Josh Amstutz and his group ended up witnessing the war and violence in the Middle East firsthand. He is now back in Lake Geneva and sharing the lessons he learned from the experience.
Amstutz and the Lakeland Church group returned to Wisconsin from Israel earlier this month after spending a week trapped in the escalating tension there.
"You've got missiles flying overhead, you've got shelter in place happening, you've got the unknown," Amstutz said during his Sunday service.
The group made it back after spending time with missionaries in Jordan. Amstutz said the experience reaffirmed his faith in God through surviving the hard realities of the Middle East.
WATCH: Pastor returns to Lake Geneva pulpit after he and church group were trapped in Israel
"Everyone thinks a good trip would look like touring the sites and making it home really safe, but we experienced a very different trip and I think it was better," Amstutz said. "Which trust moment is better? Getting to go to the Sea of Galilee and recall Peter's faith stepping out of the boat with Jesus, or hearing sirens go off every couple of hours and having to stretch our faith ourselves?"
Executive pastor Richard Holt said the Lakeland community was waiting and praying for Amstutz and the group to return.
"Our hearts are just filled with gratitude knowing they're home safely," Holt said. "For me, I just knew God was in control because I knew Josh, too. I've known them long enough, he has a faith that is unshakable."
Amstutz believes their faith is a big reason why they are back in Wisconsin.
"I never felt more safe than over there," Amstutz said during his service. "Some of you say, 'How is that possible?' It's because you all were freaking out and praying for us, that's why."
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