A Florida church community is grieving the sudden loss of one of its beloved pastors, 39-year-old Joshua R. Rene, who was killed in a motorcycle crash last week. Rene, a devoted husband, father of four, and executive pastor at Journey Church, was remembered as a man whose life overflowed with faith, joy, and compassion for others.

Journey Church — a non-denominational Christian congregation with campuses in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Boynton Beach — gathered for worship for the first time since the tragedy. The services, held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., included tributes to Rene’s life and a sermon centered around the theme “Faith in the Valleys.”

Lead Pastor Scott Baugh, who had served alongside Rene for a decade, shared an emotional message both online and in person, expressing the deep sense of loss felt by the church family. “It just doesn’t feel real,” Baugh said in a Thanksgiving Day video posted to Facebook. “I don’t know what to say. For so many of you, he was Pastor Josh, and he was an amazing pastor. But to me, he was just Josh. He was a friend, as close as a brother to me for 10 years.”

During Sunday’s service, Baugh fought back tears as he reflected on his friend’s unwavering kindness and steadfast faith. “There was never a person he didn’t love, there was never a person he didn’t make time for,” he said. “The one thing about Josh was that he was always joyful, always had faith. One of the most amazing things that has struck me through this whole thing is to see the outpouring on social media and phone calls.”

Rene’s biography on the church website described him as a man devoted to his family, his church, and his walk with Christ. Friends and colleagues said he lived his faith openly, investing his time and heart in helping others grow spiritually and personally.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday on South Congress Avenue near Atlantis. Rene was riding his Harley Davidson northbound when a GMC Sierra pickup, traveling south, made a left turn into Atlantis Plaza. The truck’s driver, identified as a 50-year-old man from Stuart, reportedly failed to see the motorcycle in time. The impact struck the front tire, throwing Rene from his bike. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Journey Church announced his passing in a brief but heartfelt statement on social media: “As a church community, we are heartbroken over the loss of our beloved Pastor Josh. Please pray with us for the Rene family.”

Tributes poured in from friends, parishioners, and fellow pastors across Florida. Many recalled Rene’s gift for encouragement and his ability to make everyone feel seen and loved. On the church’s Facebook page, one commenter offered a verse that perfectly captured the pastor’s legacy: “His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I shall set you over much; enter the joy of your Lord.'”

Though his death leaves a painful void in the hearts of many, Journey Church continues to honor Pastor Josh’s life by holding fast to the faith he preached and lived out daily — faith that remains steady not only on the mountaintops, but also in the valleys.

As Pastor Baugh reminded the congregation through his tears, “Even in this valley, we will trust God — just like Josh always did.”