Biography
Hello there! I’m Jessica Lowery, Pastor Josh Lowery’s wife, and I’ve had the incredible blessing of doing life with him since our wedding day on September 4, 2014.
Here is a bit of my history: I first opened my eyes to the world in Corbin, Kentucky, back in 1995. My childhood was anything but a fairy tale. My parents split up when I was just a tiny tot, and both went on to remarry.
This led to my growing up in a home shadowed by drug addiction until I was about 16. Living in that environment, I was haunted by two terrifying ghosts: the fear that I’d lose my parents to an overdose, and the dread of being wrenched away from my family by the foster care system. And life was filled even more curveballs thrown at me. At five years old, I was sexually abused by someone who should have been someone I could trust. This horrendous cycle repeated itself, involving different family members and even adults later in my life. The trauma led me down dark alleys—addictions, self-harm, and a warped sense of self-worth.
Even though my Mamaw used to take me to church and I loved going to vacation Bible school, I never really got what it meant to have a real relationship with Jesus. I didn’t understand that Jesus could offer a kind of love that’s even better than anything you can experience here on Earth.
Fast forward to October 2013. I was 18 and a senior in high school. Someone invited me to a church movie night, and I thought, “Why not? Let’s see what these people are like.” That’s where I met Josh, the man who would become my anchor, my love, and my partner in faith. He was the youth pastor and worship leader there. I felt an unusual warmth, a loving community that seemed alien yet welcoming. I knew it was time to change. I gave my life to Jesus that Wednesday, and what a change it was! He rescued me from the abyss of self-harm and showered me with a love I never thought possible. However, life was still messy. I was fighting off feelings of lust, and the church didn’t really tackle those issues. A lot of places dodge tough topics like lust, soul ties, and the emotional scars you get from sexual abuse.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” (Psalm 139:23)
Josh and I got married when I was just 18, about to turn 19. And let me tell you, marriage isn’t a quick fix for deep-rooted issues like lust. Lust remained a thorny issue in my life, one that even found its way into my marriage, causing severe struggles and moments of betrayal.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
For a while, we bounced around from church to church before settling in Richmond for years. While on this journey, in 2018, we visited GRCC for the first time and fell in love with the place. We found our sanctuary at GRCC—a place that not only welcomed us but nourished our spirits. Here, we discovered teachings about deliverance, soul ties, and the redemptive power of forgiveness. At GRCC, we felt like we’d finally found what we had needed. But then we pulled away and stopped attending for a little while (we were still in Richmond). God, however, had other plans.
In 2021, something awful happened to our family that shook us to our core involving some extreme church hurt we never thought possible, but it turned out to be a part of God’s bigger plan for us.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
God’s work in me didn’t stop at just setting me free; He went on to transform every fiber of my being. By the end of July 2021, we’d found our church home at GRCC. Since then, I’ve learned so much about spiritual deliverance, soul ties, forgiveness—you name it.
This is just a snapshot of my life, but I can tell you this: God has brought me so far and blessed my family in countless ways.
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 136:1)
I genuinely believe we’re part of the best church in America. I love serving in ministry, singing with the praise team, and being a part of the drama team with my son. GRCC isn’t just a church; it’s a family. And we’ve seen God work in ways that leave us speechless. I can’t wait to see what He’s got planned next for us and for GRCC.
What you’ve read is just a snapshot, a brief overview of a life marked by both trials and triumphs, heartbreaks and miracles. But through it all, I’ve come to know that the Lord is my ultimate guide, my healer, and the restorer of my soul.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)