The Holy Spirit During Times of Grief with Special Guest Pastor Jearlyn Dennie

The episode opens warmly as host Day Gardner welcomes viewers to a heartfelt edition of The Vision, joined by co-hosts Ginger Howard, Dr. Alveda King, and Destiny Yarbrough. Their guest is Pastor Jearlyn Dennie, affectionately called Pastor J, introduced by Dr. King as a dynamic pastor, activist, wife, and mother whose ministry extends through service and empathy. The discussion centers on the seldom-addressed topic of grief, especially among leaders who are expected to stay strong even while suffering. Pastor J explains that many pastors must “lead while bleeding,” continuing to comfort others while quietly enduring their own heartbreak. She recounts her most personal trial—the loss of her twenty-year-old daughter—speaking with emotional honesty yet unwavering faith. Though she prefers the word transitioned to died, she finds comfort in knowing her daughter accepted Christ. The best gift she gave her daughter, she says, was introducing her to Jesus; the best gift her daughter gave in return was accepting Him. Recalling her daughter’s final words—“Mom, I’ve known Jesus all my life. How do people live without Him?”—Pastor J illustrates faith as the anchor that sustains her through pain.She describes how the Holy Spirit became her “comforter” in those early days of grief. The day after her daughter’s passing, she still led her prayer call, deciding simply to pray instead of taking requests. Like a veteran relying on “muscle memory,” she drew upon faith memory—automatic trust in God born of years of prayer. When the news came, her immediate reaction was to pray; she called upon God, then her husband, then a friend from Rotary who owned a funeral home, telling her simply, “Go get my baby.” She shares how even as a pastor she felt crushed by sorrow until she recognized the destructive power of words. Hearing repeated condolences—“I’m sorry”—magnified her pain, so she began instructing friends to say only, “I love you” or “I’m praying for you.” That shift helped her reclaim emotional stability through affirming words rather than sorrowful ones.Pastor J also reflects on her past abortions and the deep healing required to confront them. As a teen she once faced a decision between buying shoes and having an abortion—a stark picture of misplaced priorities in youth. Though she chose life for that child, she later endured abortions whose grief she had long suppressed until her daughter’s death brought it all to the surface. She realized she had never forgiven herself even though she knew God had forgiven her. Comparing the process to scrubbing a rug where stains reappear, she explains that healing means allowing God to expose hidden pain so it can be cleansed. Her message to young women is direct and compassionate: life in the womb is sacred, not “a lump of clay,” and those who ignore that truth will one day face its spiritual consequences. Yet she emphasizes that grace and forgiveness are available for everyone willing to surrender their past to Christ.The conversation deepens as she describes how each of her seven children coped differently with their sister’s death. She refused to let tragedy define time, saying she does not “mark life by death.” Her husband, St. Clair Dennie, is portrayed tenderly as a man of quiet strength who would rock her to sleep as she wept, sometimes wordlessly, sometimes reminding her, “She knew you loved her.” Their faith preserved their marriage where many couples falter after losing a child. Pastor J laughs through tears describing him as “all that, a bag of chips, a Nehi soda, and a chocolate-chip cookie."A highlight reel follows, showcasing Pastor J’s accomplishments: 2024 Inspirational Woman of the Year, producer of the Telly-Award-winning Miracle of Christmas, radio host of Today with Pastor J, and founder of She Leads Florida, a faith-based women’s leadership network affiliated with She Leads America. Discussing this movement, she explains that membership cannot be bought or applied for—“the Holy Spirit whispers your name in someone’s ear.” Initially skeptical of women’s groups, she found unexpected healing at a She Leads retreat when other women surrounded her in prayer. In the closing segment, Pastor J leads a powerful prayer, asking God to comfort the grieving, rescue the lost, and protect young girls considering abortion by reminding them that every life has worth. She petitions for God to lift hearts burdened by sickness, depression, or despair, affirming that Jesus carried all pain to the cross and rose with victory over death itself. The hosts thank her for her vulnerability, humor, and strength, calling her presence a blessing. As the episode ends, the panel joins together in the familiar benediction that encapsulates the show’s purpose:“The world has a view—but God has The Vision.”A message from Executive Producers Dr. Alveda King, Dr. Destiny Yarbrough, Dr. Day Gardner, Pastor LeaAnn Pendergrass and Pastor Jearlyn Dennie. The Vision TV Show is only one part of our mission to spread God's Vision throughout our community. To that end, we are looking for sponsors to help us in this endeavor. To learn more about The Vision TV Show and how you can be a part of our mission, visit us at www.thevisiontvshow.com.