Beloved Denver Freedom Family,

I want to thank you for your heart of love and concern for me and Love Reality as a ministry over the years. Knowing your community and that it continues to thrive in the Holy Spirit has been a source of joy in my spirit.

Last year you held an event. You were kind enough to host me and my family. Admittedly, at the time I was in a very tender and raw place. I was struggling deeply with the aftermath of serving as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. I was wounded by its rejection, frustrated at its resistance to the gospel. I was wounded and still reeling from what seemed to be an ongoing avalanche of criticism and persecution. As I have shared elsewhere, that showed itself in poor stewardship of my leadership. It was awful.

Our time together was a marking moment for me. I was overwhelmed by how many people were thankful for me and the ministry. I know well enough that it is all a gift from God. To God be the glory. But to be used for the sake of His gospel, and for your well-being, has been an honor too great to get my heart and head around. So much so that on the first night we gathered, I hid myself away in the back of the building. I wept uncontrollably. Overwhelmed. So many of you said I had the privilege of bringing meaning into your lives. And it was just as meaningful for me to be so loved by you.

I, however, was not in a place to minister from strength. Certainly, that's not why I was there. But I tried to show up where I could. The cracks and the hurt were present. But something happened. It was at that event that I first shared what I had written about my third parent: Adventism. To share that publicly was a turning point in my healing. I am thankful for the time we spent together. And I'm thankful to so many of you who put so much time and effort into gathering us that way.

Still, I look back and lament. I lament that I could not have offered more. I lament that we, as a team, could not be more "present." I presently lack the words. But I know that what we have in the Spirit, as a ministry, is something we want to offer you.

I'm writing this letter to thank you for the space you created last year. That weekend was a deeply meaningful time in my healing journey. I also write because I want the team and me to come back together in Denver, with you — to fellowship and rejoice. I sense there is an opportunity to gather and be joyful about what the gospel has done in our lives. But for me, it's a chance to give back to you and your community the grace I received. And to be present with y'all in a way I wasn't able to be last year.

So receive this offer from a place of deep love and appreciation. Know that I am deeply grateful for all of you in the Lord and desire nothing more than to celebrate His goodness together.

IN HIM. Yours,

Jonathan Leonardo