BishopAccountability.org

Darrin Patrick, who founded The Journey megachurch, dies at 49

By Colleen Schrappen
StlToday.com
May 09, 2020

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/darrin-patrick-who-founded-the-journey-megachurch-dies-at-49/article_14df0e37-dda0-5c91-8272-62f7a36028e1.html

Pete Glarner, 25, of Webster Groves, right, greets Darrin Patrick, lead pastor of The Journey, after a service on Jan. 21, 2007.
Photo by Sarah Conard

Darrin Patrick, who co-founded The Journey megachurch in St. Louis, died Thursday (May 7, 2020) while target shooting with a friend, according to a news release from South Carolina-based Seacoast Church, where Mr. Patrick was a teaching pastor. He was 49 and lived in Webster Groves.

In 2002, Mr. Patrick and his wife, Amie, started The Journey in the Southwest Garden neighborhood with 30 members. The church now has five locations in the St. Louis area. By 2016, it was drawing 4,000 worshipers to its weekend services, and Mr. Patrick also was serving as the chaplain for the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the spring of that year, Mr. Patrick was fired from the church for what its leaders viewed as pastoral misconduct.

In a statement, The Journey called the news of Mr. Patrick’s death devastating:

“Darrin had an eternal impact on the lives of countless individuals at The Journey church and beyond.” After its online services on Sunday morning, “we are creating additional space and time to pray together,” the statement read.

Mr. Patrick was the author of several books, including “The Dude’s Guide to Manhood.” He was born in Marion, Illinois, and moved to the St. Louis area to start The Journey. When he was forced out four years ago, he began a restoration process with the Rev. Greg Surratt, the founding pastor at Seacoast. Mr. Patrick started teaching at its 14 campuses two years ago.

“He was such a great friend,” Surratt said. “He was serious at times and extremely fun-loving at times. He was very much a leader.”

The men started a podcast, “The Pastors Collective,” about a year ago and had just released a new episode in the last week.

According to Seacoast, no official cause of death has been released. The gunshot wound appeared to be self-inflicted; foul play is not suspected.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Patrick is survived by four children. A fund has been established to help with expenses, at givesendgo.com/DarrinPatrick. Services are pending.

 

Contact: cschrappen@post-dispatch.com




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