Ministry, Marriage, and More with Jess Quak
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Ministry & Marriage with Jess Quak: Faith, Mental Health, and Miraculous Healing
Join Dave and Jess Quak as they share their powerful testimony of overcoming depression, battling mental illness, and living out their calling in full-time Christian ministry. From Jess’s instant healing from depression to the reality of leading a church while managing mental health struggles, this conversation is raw, real, and full of God’s grace.
Key topics include:
The blessings and challenges of full-time ministry
How mental health impacts leadership and faith
Jess’s miraculous healing and deliverance from self-hatred
How faith and obedience shape their journey together
What a thriving marriage in ministry looks like
If you’ve ever wrestled with mental illness, questioned how faith and healing intersect, or wondered what it’s like to do ministry as a couple, this discussion is for you.
Subscribe now and be part of the Sunburnt Souls journey as we uncover hope, restoration, and the power of an authentic walk with Jesus.
Welcome Jess Quak
Normally, I’d dress up a bit more for interviews, but today, we’re keeping it super casual—UGG boots and all. The reason Jess is back on Sunburnt Souls is that we got a lot of great feedback from our last chat. People really appreciated getting a glimpse into what life looks like for us. So, this time, we’re going deeper into ministry, marriage, and mental health. Jess, why were you keen to have this conversation?
Jess: I think we have a unique dynamic in our relationship. Last time we spoke, we focused on what it’s like to be married to someone with bipolar disorder. But there’s another layer to our relationship—we do ministry together.
For some of our listeners, church might not be something they’re familiar with. Others might have preconceived ideas of what a pastor’s life looks like. Our experience might be different from what they expect. We’ve been in ministry longer than we’ve been married, which is pretty special. We started out together in youth ministry, then planted a church, and through it all, we’ve had the opportunity to shape the culture of the ministries we serve in.
Your bipolar has definitely played a role in that process, and I think it’s important to talk about. We were at a conference recently with a lot of other pastors, and something stood out to me—most churches don’t operate the way ours does. Like, in our meetings, you don’t just sit in a chair for the whole time. At some point, you’ll be up pacing around, or you’ll say, "Guys, I need a break, I’m going to lie down for a bit." And that’s totally normal for us.
Dave: Yeah, our church culture has adapted to that reality. It’s not unusual for people to see me sitting, standing, pacing, or even lying down in worship. That’s both a response to what God is doing in me and, sometimes, just a coping mechanism. It’s different, but it works for us.
Jess: Exactly. And I thought it would be good to share that side of our story—what ministry looks like for us when mental health is part of the equation.
What is Vocational Ministry?
Just for context, when we say "ministry," we’re talking about vocational ministry—meaning we’re paid to do this. But our belief is that every Christian is in ministry because every Christian is called to serve Jesus. That said, Jess and I are in a unique position where we do this as our job. I’m employed for three days a week, Jess for two, and I also serve as a regional minister within our movement. So, for us, ministry isn’t just something we do—it’s our livelihood.
“Ministry is not a career or a job. It is a calling that consumes your life because it is about serving Christ by serving others”
Jess: And that’s an interesting dynamic because when your job is also your calling, the lines can blur. Our approach has always been that we would do this whether we were paid or not. The fact that our church community supports us financially means we don’t have to take time away from ministry to earn a living elsewhere. That’s a blessing, but it also brings its own challenges.
Balancing our personal relationship with God with the role of leading others in their faith can be tricky. We have our own spiritual journeys, but those journeys also play out in front of a congregation. There’s a tension there—how do we stay authentic while also being responsible leaders?
Dave: That’s a massive question, and one we constantly wrestle with. But I think the key is what you just said—authenticity. People don’t need us to be perfect; they need us to be real. And that means showing up, even when things are messy, and trusting that God is working through it all.
Dave: So, for all of us, we're called not just to draw close to God for our own benefit, but to live this new life—one of giving, serving the way He served, and loving the way He loved. And while that's a privilege, it can also be difficult, right?
Jess: Yeah, absolutely. And I think one of the challenges is finding that line between ministry and personal life. Like, when we're at home, we need to make a conscious decision not to talk about church all the time. We’re not always discussing pastoral issues—we’re just hanging out as two friends, as a married couple who love one another beyond what we do in ministry. And even in our own walks with God, that looks different for each of us. We both need our own personal time with Him, separate from our ministry roles.
Dave: Yeah, and that’s a unique dynamic for us. If you’re looking at a pastor from the outside, you form an opinion of where they’re at spiritually based on their sermons, life groups, or coffee catch-ups. But I see you nearly 24/7, and you see me 24/7. So if there's any hypocrisy, it’s obvious. If there’s any spiritual deficit, we can see it too.
Why is the christian life both challenging and encouraging?
Right now, you’re really into the Bible Project podcasts, and I can see how that's shaping your theology, your life, and your ministry. It’s exciting to witness that transformation firsthand. But on the flip side, there have been times where—without naming names—one of us has been dragging the chain spiritually. And that creates tension because the other person can see it so clearly. You’re still doing public ministry, but there’s a private struggle happening.
Jess: Yeah, and that’s where we’ve had to be really intentional. We’ve had conversations where we say, “Okay, which hat are we wearing right now?” Are we in pastor mode, or are we just husband and wife? And sometimes, we’ve had to set boundaries, like saying, “No church talk today.” We’re just spending time together as a couple because we need that for ourselves. Otherwise, we can slip into feeling like ministry partners more than life partners. And while working together is great, that’s not all we are.
Dave: Yeah, and I think the cool thing about that is the way it shapes how we lead. Our vulnerability with each other carries over into our ministry. Our church doesn’t have a culture where people feel like they need to wear a mask and pretend everything’s fine. We don’t put on a show of having it all together. And that’s something you model really well—being real about where you’re at but also allowing God to work in you through it.
Jess: I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about our church. The culture is so genuine—there’s a deep, authentic love for one another, and there’s a real hunger for God. And I believe a big part of that has come from the way you’ve led with vulnerability. That’s something that’s been nurtured in our marriage, and it flows into how we do ministry together.
Dave: And you bring so much to that as well, but in a different way. You bring freedom, just in a way that’s different from how I do. I’ve found freedom in being broken before God, while you’ve found freedom in being on the path to sanctification. And I’ll admit, in the early days of our marriage, I misjudged that.
Jess: Oh?
Dave: Yeah. I used to think you were a bit of a legalist. And I probably said that too many times! I thought the reason you followed the rules and behaved the way you did was because you were just a goody two-shoes who liked religion for the sake of it. But I came to realise that your obedience to God wasn’t about legalism—it was about genuine love and a desire to honour Him.
Jess: Well, I’m glad you figured that out eventually!
Dave: Ha! Yeah, it only took me a few years. But that’s the beauty of walking this journey together. We’re always learning from each other, refining one another, and seeing God work in both of us in different ways.
Dave Quak: But the more I got to know you and see that anything you do that lines up with obedience comes out of a place of relationship, then that's also a different freedom. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? So, I bring a freedom to be broken, and we all come broken. But you also bring a freedom to be repaired, which is so important as well.
Dave Quak: And if I was the only pastor at our church, we would all be broken and happy in our brokenness, but probably neglect things like, you know, "make every effort to add to your…" etc. You know, like, "add to your holiness and goodness." You'd even know that verse, probably. Yeah. What does it say?
Jess Quak: To me, that— "make every effort to add to your faith?" Yeah.
Dave Quak: Yeah. So it's about effort as well, but not in a striving way. And we worked through that, we had a nice reconciliation about that. But that idea that there's freedom in both brokenness and restoration— they're one and the same thing.
Jess Quak: Yeah.
Dave Quak: And that’s what I think, as a pastoral team, we work towards. Because there are people in the church who want to come to a place of "holiness," and I think that’s an awesome juxtaposition— like, holiness that infiltrates their entire life.
Jess Quak: Yeah.
Dave Quak: But from a place of, "I love my Father God, so because of that, I want to live in obedience to Him." You know? Some people are wired that way, and we've got to honour that.
Jess Quak: Yeah. And I think, at different parts of our journey, God develops that within us. And there’s an interesting dynamic at play in that—I had depression for quite a number of years as a young person and teenager. And I was healed from that. That’s something I’ve actually been set free from, and I live in the victory of not having that in my life anymore.
Jess Quak: So, I’m living on the other side of that now. Whereas, you have your mental health challenges that are ongoing.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: And so, it’s a different kind of formation that’s going on. But we’re doing it together. And we see the balance—yes, God can heal dramatically, beautifully. He can do anything. But at the same time, we’re not in complete and full restoration yet.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: We’re walking in the brokenness of this world and bringing healing to this world. In the brokenness. And loving one another, practicing that love with one another at home—that’s vital. Because we’re first the church to one another before we’re the church to other people.
Dave Quak: That’s true. We should quickly give a bit of testimony to God about that. Because often your story isn’t told as much—right now, I’m sharing mine a lot more. But it was such a miracle.
Jess Quak: Yeah.
Miraculous Healing from anxiety and depression
I’ve only seen two people in my whole life of ministry be instantly set free of depression. I’ve seen lots of people get set free over a process, but for you, it was literally like—I'll never forget it. It was a miracle. I can still remember the apartment building, where we were standing, where the TV was positioned, where you were healed
Dave Quak: Me and Jackie were praying for you, and God overcame you. One minute you had depression, and the next minute, you were set free.
Jess Quak: Yeah. I’m the same. I can remember every moment of it because it was such a pivotal moment in my life.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: And the freedom that came… it’s something I had prayed for, for so long.
Dave Quak: Yeah, you were like—
Jess Quak: And I had wrestled with God so much. Like, "Why not me? I know You can do anything. I’ve seen You heal others, set them free, and I’m happy for them, but—what about me, God?"
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: And I will never take that for granted. Never. I also won’t do those things that I found so harmful at the time, like when people would say, "If only you had enough faith." Because I had the faith. The fact that I did get healed in the end wasn’t because my faith suddenly grew—it was God’s timing.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: If anything, I felt more broken than ever before. But God—He was just God in that moment. His timing was perfect. And what He accomplished in my life during those years in the darkness… that has carried me through so much since.
Dave Quak: Do you remember after that, when we were having babies, and the doctors saw your medical record? The dosages of antidepressants you were on? As soon as you got pregnant, they all started getting worried.
Jess: Yeah.
Dave: Because you had such a history with heavy medication and mental ill health in the form of depression, it was alarm bells. And then even through that, nothing came back.
Jess: Yeah.
Dave: It’s not like you got completely set free in one go. It’s more that… yeah, I focus a lot more on the journey because that’s where I’m at at the moment. I’d love to have what you had.
Jess: Yeah.
Dave: I’ve asked a million times and will keep asking.
Jess: Yeah.
Dave: But for those listening, if God heals you in an instant like He did with Jess—God bless you. And if He heals you in a process like He’s doing with me—God bless you too. They’re both healing. But I’m stoked for you, Jess, that you got that.
Jess: Oh, me too.
Dave: And it wasn’t anything you did. It was just really the three of us in a room praying. I did not expect what happened to happen.
Jess: No. Well, yeah.
Dave: You know what I mean?
Jess: Yeah. Like, every time you pray, you’re kind of like, “Come on, God.” But at the same time, it’s like, “We’ve done this. We’ve prayed this prayer. We’ve stood here together time and time again.” And this time… it was different. And then later, a few years later, I also got delivered—because there was a spiritual element to it as well.
Dave: Talk about that. What do you mean?
Jess: So, I was healed from the physical part of my depression. It’s really difficult to explain unless you’ve lived it, but I had this constant weight, this deep anguish within me since I was about 8 or 9. That’s the first time I can really pinpoint it—when I first vocalised it.
Jess: I remember saying, “I’m really struggling. I don’t understand why. I just can’t stop crying myself to sleep at night or when I’m in the shower. I don’t know what’s happening to me.” And back then, mental health wasn’t really spoken about much.
Jess: That weight left me in that moment when we prayed that day in the living room. But I still had a lot of mental noise, like these thought patterns my mind would travel to. For so many years, every single conversation, every single thought pattern—it would always end in death, idealising death.
Dave: Even as a Christian?
Jess: Yeah. Even as a Christian. And I had an amazing relationship with God—He was my only peace, my foundation, my rock. But I still had this tormenting thought: “Heaven is going to bring me peace eventually.” It was this mental battle, different from the physical side of depression.
Jess: I had terrifying nightmares, demonic presences in my room. And then, out of nowhere, we were finishing up a course in Brisbane in Revelation
Dave: Bible college course?
Jess: Yeah, a Bible college course. The lecturer was amazing—such a great guy. And before we finished, he said, “I’d like to pray over each of you before you leave.” Not super unusual, but still really cool.
What is a Spirit of self-hatred?
Everyone was getting these prayers or words from God from him, and they all seemed pretty tame. I was like, “Oh, cool, cool.” And then he got to me, and he goes, “Spirit of self-hatred, get out in Jesus' name.”
Dave: Whoa.
Jess: Yeah, and it wasn’t loud, it wasn’t a show or anything. But it was also nothing like what he’d said to anyone else. And the moment he said it, it was like my brain—this brain that had constantly been in torment—just went silent.
Dave: Just like that?
Jess: Just like that. For the first time in my life, I had peace. I could choose what I thought about. And I’d tried for years—through willpower, discipline—to direct my thoughts in a godly way. But it had always been so hard to get victory in that area.
Dave: Did it feel like something left? Like, did you physically feel something leave your body?
Jess: It’s hard to explain. It was like… my spirit, which had been in this constant turmoil, suddenly went blank. The track that had been running in my mind nonstop—fear, anxiety, self-hatred—just stopped.
Dave: Wow.
Jess: And no one saw anything. It wasn’t dramatic, I didn’t scream or shake or anything. But inside, I knew. My body had already been healed, but now my spirit had been delivered from something that had tormented me for so long.
Jess: And I know different people have different theology on this, but for me, there was definitely a spiritual element to what I’d been battling. That spirit of self-hatred had twisted and warped my thinking for so long. And in that moment, it was gone. The Spirit of God had complete reign over my thoughts for the first time.
Dave: That’s incredible.
Jess: Yeah. I could finally think clearly. I could finally think godly thoughts, without that torment running in the background.
Dave Quak: So, it was a new level of victory. You didn’t have the depression anymore, but this other thing still hadn’t left. And then that had to go as well?
Jess Quak: Yeah, they were both kind of working together, creating this strange, difficult ease—something no one would have noticed on a Sunday.
Dave Quak: Yeah, because no one can see what's going on in your mind. You weren’t physically absent, but inside—
Jess Quak: Exactly. It wasn’t until I was 17 or 18 that I started having panic attacks so bad that I’d pass out. I was put on medication for a kidney disease, and it amplified the physical nature of the depression beyond the point where I could hide it anymore.
Dave Quak: So was it a spirit of death and self-loathing?
Jess Quak: Yeah, it was a spirit of self-hatred.
Dave Quak: Once that lifted, has it ever come back? Have those thoughts returned, or did that break the patterns of thinking as well?
Jess Quak: No, absolutely. I think because I was so grateful for the freedom, I never wanted to go back to where I was. It became really important for me to walk in that victory and not allow anything into my life that could pull me back.
Dave Quak: So, in a way, that’s why you’re intentional about holiness—why you’re mindful of what you watch, read, how you approach things like alcohol or other influences. It all comes from that deep gratitude?
Jess Quak: Yeah, I think it plays a big part. I’ve seen how brokenness can bring destruction in those areas, and I don’t want to live out those consequences. Now, I have the power to choose. Before, I didn’t.
Dave Quak: Right, before you were set free—
Jess Quak: Yeah, before I was set free, I couldn’t just decide to be free. I had to keep choosing the right thing while still carrying the brokenness. But now that I’ve been set free, why would I ever choose to go back to that? I know the value of this freedom now.
Jess Quak: When you’ve been in that deep, dark depression—where your very soul is crying out, and you feel like you’ve got nothing left—it changes you. When you know that level of pain, you do whatever it takes to never go back there. Whether it’s small, daily choices to keep moving forward or just recognising that you've been set free and guarding that freedom.
Dave Quak: Is that part of why you love being a pastor so much? Because over 20 years of marriage, you’ve never once suggested we should do something else.
Jess Quak: Yeah, because I’ve always felt a clear sense of God’s call on my life. And honestly, there were a few times in my life where God could have taken me—whether through depression, my kidney disease, or even during Isaiah’s birth. If He didn’t want me here, He could have easily taken me.
Jess Quak: But He kept me. And in those moments, I realised—if I’m still here, He has a purpose for me. If we’re alive and breathing, we have a purpose. At the core of it, it’s just being with Him. And when we dwell in Him, we naturally walk in His purpose, bringing healing and blessing to others.
Jess Quak: God is so full of grace that even when we’re not chasing after Him, He’s chasing us down to bring healing, hope, peace, and restoration. If I can help even one person turn to Him in any way, I want to. Because I know Him. I know the peace that’s found in Him. I know the stability that only He can provide. Nothing in this world truly satisfies, but He does. His truth is solid, it’s dependable, and I just want others to experience that.
Dave Quak: One of the things that amazes me about you is how you can do the same thing over and over with the same enthusiasm.
Jess Quak: Like what?
Dave Quak: Like playgroup. You’ve run it hundreds of times now, and every time, you show up early, praying over all the toys as you set up. The craft is always thought through, the gospel message is always on point, the songs are engaging. You don’t just go through the motions—you do it with the same passion every single time.
Dave Quak: I guess that ties back to your faith. Because you’ve been set free, and you want others to be set free, you can do what seems like a small thing hundreds of times with the same excitement.
Jess Quak: Yeah, because it’s purposeful. It’s a way of practically loving people right where they are, just like God has loved me where I am.
Dave Quak: And you don’t get bored of it?
Jess Quak: No, because it matters.
Dave Quak: Because it's always different. Every day is different. So you take playgroup, for example. As a parent, when you've got a young child, every day can feel like an eternity. I remember when we had Josiah when he was very young, and people would come up to us and say, "Oh, it goes so quick!"
Jess Quak: No. And I remember sitting back when he was like three months old and thinking, "This doesn't feel quick at all." Every single day felt like an eternity. Because he was underweight, he had to feed extra all the time. We were up all night, and he had reflux. The days just seemed to melt into one another.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Jess Quak: It didn’t seem quick at all. Now that he's older, I understand. Especially when they’re at school, it goes so much faster. But each day, when you have God walking with you in it, is just so significantly better. When you acknowledge that, it changes everything. And you're giving so much of yourself every day.
To have someone else come in and bless you—even if it’s just making a cup of coffee, which is what you come in and do—or making food, or bringing a different perspective to the day, asking how you are, offering prayer, or just bringing some fun into the day… It’s a blessing. Each day needs that. And if I can be that person, who God is using to do that in one moment of one day, that’s so cool. Every interaction we have with someone is different, and I want to be available for God to use in those moments.
Dave Quak: And I think that's why you're happier than most people, you know? You look for God in every day. For me, sometimes these days have been feeling unspectacular and maybe a little boring. But you can see purpose in it, so you're never really bored. You’re always like, "Okay, there's something good going on. God’s doing something."
Jess Quak: Yeah. But I think there’s an element of personality to that as well. I’m quite introverted, so there are times where I just feel done with people. I need to stop and just spend time with God. I need to be in the garden, read a book, go for a walk, go to the beach, hang out with the dog by myself. I need that probably much more than you do. So it’s different, but God uses each of our strengths in that.
Dave Quak: So, Jess.
Jess Quak: Yeah?
Dave Quak: I'm going to reveal something. In six months, you turn 40.
Jess Quak: Yeah.
What does 50-year-old Jess Quak look like?
Even though you still look the same as when you were in your 20s. And I’m proud to say that you went to buy a bottle of wine for a party a couple of months ago and got ID’d—even though you’re nearly 40 and have a 16-year-old son. So you’re still in good nick. But you are turning 40. What does 50-year-old Jess look like? I know you hate ten-year goals, you’re not much of a long-term planner, but in just ten years and six months, what would you like to see yourself doing?
Jess Quak: We have this discussion a lot because, Dave, you are a dreamer. You love making plans. Although, interestingly, you don’t necessarily love keeping them for very long.
Dave Quak: True.
Jess Quak: My plans for the future aren’t about what I want to be doing, but who I want to be.
Dave Quak: Okay.
Jess Quak: I just want to be doing whatever God has for me then. Just following Him, being obedient. He’s taken us on quite a ride so far, and I trust that whatever He’s got is going to be the right thing. But I’d love to just be more like Him—more gentle, more graceful, more wise, more knowledgeable about His Word. I just never get enough of diving into the Bible. There’s so much wisdom there. It’s fascinating—historically, sociologically, spiritually. There’s just so much beautiful truth.
I also want to see our family thriving. Our kids will be adults then.
Dave Quak: Yes, yes, yes.
Jess Quak: I want them to know they are loved, that they feel equipped for adult life, that they know we love them and are always there for them, and that they have their own relationships with God. They already do, but I just want them to keep walking that out for themselves. And who knows? Maybe in ten years, we could be grandparents.
Dave Quak: No, don’t say that!
Jess Quak: I’m just saying it’s possible!
Dave Quak: There are already so many grandparents at playgroup looking after their grandkids, which makes sense because a lot of parents need to go back to work. But I’m not ready for a whole new run of babies.
Jess Quak: Do you think our parents were ready? I mean, your mum and dad became grandparents when our kids were some of the youngest in their group.
Dave Quak: Yeah, well, I was 24 when we had Josiah. That wasn’t that young.
Jess Quak: Hmm.
Dave Quak: One day, but that’s way too far off. You can’t start dreaming about being a grandma if you’re still getting ID’d. But you’re going to love being a grandma.
Jess Quak: Maybe…
Dave Quak: But I want to do some trips and stuff. Some grandmas stop going on trips once the grandkids arrive.
Jess Quak: Yeah, so we’ll have to make sure we keep taking trips.
Dave Quak: Yeah. Someone needs to call in and tell you that your next ten years need to include going away for a year. Someone ring in and let her know!
Dave Quak: Where's your spiritual walk at? You're getting deeper, like you mentioned your love for the Bible. But what about just you and Jesus together? What are you growing towards with Him? I know for me, it’s been about intimacy and spending time with Him for the sake of it. That’s been a big focus for me, and hopefully, it will be for the rest of my life. Where do you see things going with you and Jesus?
Jess Quak: Continuing to allow Him to transform me. Yeah, like He's always as close to me as I allow Him to be. I’m finding those inner places in myself where I might not have surrendered to Him yet and allowing Him to have those places and do what He wants. He really is my foundation. He saved me, but He’s also just what I need to get through each day. So I want to continue in that and remain faithful, no matter what comes around the corner.
Dave Quak: I love that. Just for the listeners, I know we introduced this episode saying it would be more about ministry and marriage, but it’s taken a bit of a different trajectory. We prayed a lot before we started, and we believe the direction these chats take is God-inspired. So hopefully, hearing Jess’s story has been an encouragement to you.
Dave Quak: And honestly, I think we've still honoured God by talking about ministry and marriage, because ultimately, everything comes back to our relationship with Jesus. It seems like every podcast episode comes back to that because, in the end, if we get our relationship with Jesus right—not in the sense of having it all figured out, but in the sense of deepening it the way God intended—then everything else in life finds its proper place.
Dave Quak: I know one Latin phrase. Just one. The same guy who prayed for you back in Bible College at the end of Revelation also did a book launch once. The phrase is solvitur ambulando, cum Deo. Now, I probably butchered that pronunciation, but it’s the only Latin thing I know.
Scholars love to quote Latin even though it’s a dead language—I don’t know why they do that. But it means it is solved by walking with God. And honestly, that’s what your life is like, Jess. Your ups are solved by walking with God. Your downs are solved by walking with God. Your parenting, your ministry, your marriage—everything is solved by walking with God.
Dave Quak: So it’s an honour to have you on, Jess. And it’s a blessing to have you as a wife, a ministry partner, and the mother of my children. As we start to wind down this chat, we always ask our guests to pray for the listeners. Would you do that?
Jess Quak: Yeah, for sure. And if you want me on another time to talk about ministry and making history together—maybe if people are interested, they can send you questions they’d like us to answer.
Dave Quak: That’d be great. We’ll do that.
Jess Quak: All right, let me pray.
Jess Quak: Heavenly Father, I thank You for each and every listener. They have a story where You are walking with them. Whether they see Your hand at work or not, Your love for them overflows. I ask right now, Lord God, that Your peace would fill whatever room they’re in—that they would sense Your presence, that they would feel the hope You bring, that they would find rest in You, and that they would know Your love for them.
Jess Quak: Lord, You are so good to us, and I pray Your continued blessing on all of us as we live this life You have given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dave Quak: Amen. Jess, thank you for being on Sunburnt Souls.
Jess Quak: Thanks for having me.
Key takeaways
Ministry, Marriage, and Mental Health
Unique Dynamic – Dave and Jess have been in ministry longer than they’ve been married, shaping their approach to leadership and faith together.
Vocational Ministry – Ministry isn’t just a job for them; it’s a calling. They are paid for their roles, but they would still serve even if they weren’t.
Blurring of Boundaries – Balancing personal faith and public leadership is challenging. They actively work on separating ministry from their personal relationship.
Challenging and Encouraging Each Other
Spiritual Growth Together – Jess and Dave hold each other accountable, noticing spiritual highs and lows in each other.
Different Approaches – Dave embraces the freedom of brokenness, while Jess embraces freedom in obedience and restoration.
Intentional Boundaries – They actively set limits, like “no church talk today,” to keep their marriage from being all about ministry.
Miraculous Healing
Jess’s Instant Healing from Depression – After years of struggling, Jess was miraculously healed through prayer in an unforgettable moment.
Deliverance from Self-Hatred – Later, a Bible college lecturer prayed over her, casting out a spirit of self-hatred. Her mind was instantly freed from tormenting thoughts.
God’s Timing – She highlights that healing wasn’t about her faith being “strong enough,” but about God’s perfect timing.
What 50-Year-Old Jess Looks Like
More Like Jesus – She’s not focused on career plans but on being more graceful, wise, and deeply rooted in God’s Word.
Family Thriving – She wants their kids to grow into strong, faith-filled adults.
Living in God’s Purpose – She trusts that whatever comes next will be led by God.
Final Thoughts
“It is solved by walking with God” – Every struggle and victory comes back to daily reliance on Him.
Authenticity in Ministry – Their church culture embraces vulnerability and realness, rather than performance.
God’s Pursuit of Us – Whether healing happens instantly or over time, God is always working.
Frequently asked Questions
How Does Marriage and Ministry Work Together?
Marriage and ministry can be both deeply fulfilling and challenging, especially when a couple serves together. Dave and Jess Quak share their journey of balancing their personal faith with leading a church, setting boundaries to keep their relationship strong, and ensuring their ministry remains an overflow of their love for God rather than a burden.
Can God Heal Depression Instantly?
Jess Quak experienced a miraculous, instant healing from depression through prayer. While many people walk through a process of healing, her story is a testimony that God can intervene in a moment. Her journey highlights that healing isn’t about having enough faith but about God’s perfect timing.
What Is the Spirit of Self-Hatred and How Can It Be Broken?
For years, Jess battled tormenting thoughts, even after her depression was healed. A powerful moment of deliverance came when a Bible college lecturer prayed over her, casting out a spirit of self-hatred. From that moment, her mind was freed. Her story sheds light on the intersection of mental health and spiritual warfare.
How Can Pastors Maintain Their Own Spiritual Health While Leading Others?
Leaders often struggle to balance personal faith with public responsibility. Dave and Jess share how they hold each other accountable, set intentional boundaries (such as “no church talk today”), and cultivate a culture of authenticity in their church. Their approach ensures their personal walk with Jesus remains the foundation of their ministry.
How Can Someone Find Hope When Struggling with Faith and Mental Health?
If you're navigating faith and mental health challenges, know that you’re not alone. Whether healing comes instantly, over time, or through a combination of prayer and professional help, God is always working. Sunburnt Souls provides resources, stories, and encouragement for those on this journey. Visit Sunburnt Souls for more.
