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Homegoings
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Homegoings

The pastor who left the church: Meet Josh Lo

By Myra Flynn
Published June 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM EDT

Josh Lo is a husband, father and former pastor at a multi-ethnic, non-denominational Christian church in Southern California. (Emphasis on former). In this episode, Josh shares his calling to ministry, his life in the church and how what he witnessed there — the complicated intersection of power and religion — shifted his perspective entirely. He found himself turning away… not from God completely, but from the institution he once lived and breathed.

This is the latest episode of Homegoings, a podcast that features fearless conversations about race, and YOU are welcome here. Follow the show here.

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Josh Lo felt the call to ministry at a young age and devoted years of his life to service in the church.
Photo: Josh Lo
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Graphic: Elodie Reed
Josh Lo felt the call to ministry at a young age and devoted years of his life to service in the church.

These days Josh Lo spends his time with his two young children. You’ll often see him dropping them off at school or spending quality time with them at the beach or at a tea party.

Josh Lo
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Courtesy

But prior to 2023, Josh was a pastor of an evangelical, multi-ethnic, Christian church near his home in Southern California. A role that he felt called to a young age and spent most of his adult life preparing for.

“I think that kind of was a starting point of beginning to wonder is this what I'm supposed to do? Is this what I'm here for?” - Josh Lo
Josh Lo
/
Courtesy
“I think that kind of was a starting point of beginning to wonder is this what I'm supposed to do? Is this what I'm here for?” - Josh Lo

When the Covid pandemic hit, Josh started to see the cracks that existed in the church and its culture — the power dynamics that resisted change and demanded loyalty. He began to ask questions and ultimately decided to leave the ministry, leave the church in search of answers.

I think I’m still trying to figure it out… And I think as a pastor, I couldn't go too far into those questions. So I think in the last year and a half, I've gone further into that and I've sat more in it. Is this really real? Is the Bible really something that we can place confidence in? - Josh Lo

As he ponders these questions, Josh has decided to learn what it means to be present with his children. He says that right now, “It’s about my family — it’s about loving my kids and serving my wife.”

“It’s not just about becoming a better father, but when I look at my kids, what’s the kind of father they deserve? That’s the kind of father I want to be.” - Josh Lo
Josh Lo
/
Courtesy
“It’s not just about becoming a better father, but when I look at my kids, what’s the kind of father they deserve? That’s the kind of father I want to be.” - Josh Lo

Credits

This episode was hosted and reported by Myra Flynn. Our producer/director is Mike Dunn and Aaron Edwards is our story editor. Myra composed the theme music with other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Elodie Reed, Kyle Ambusk and Kaylee Mumford are the graphic artists. Check out Elodie’s work in this episode’s Homegoings artist portrait.

Thank you for listening. You can see a video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel.

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Homegoings New England News Collaborative
Myra Flynn
Myra Flynn joined Vermont Public in March 2021 and is the Host and Executive Producer of Homegoings. Raised in Vermont, Myra Flynn is an accomplished musician who has come to know the lay of dirt-road land that much more intimately through touring both well-known and obscure stages all around the state and beyond. She also has experience as a teaching artist and wore many hats at the Burlington Free Press, including features reporter and correspondent, before her pursuits took her deep into the arts world. Prior to joining Vermont Public, Myra spent eight years in the Los Angeles music industry.
See stories by Myra Flynn