Josh and Janeth: Taking Steps
Joshua and Janeth Heath came to Canyon Ridge in 2017. At the time, Josh was battling depression and anxiety, and through his journey of mental and spiritual unhealth, he asked himself, “Why don’t I get back to God?” As Josh began trying out church again, he found himself wanting to be a part of what God was up to—volunteering wherever he could, learning as much as he could, and partnering with whomever he could.
Some of their first steps in this direction came earlier in 2023, Josh and Janeth really began exploring life in partnership with God and his people. They reached out to people they can continue to partner with and learn alongside and found so many who were instrumental in their lives. Everett helped Josh launch his own Bible study. Blake partnered with Josh in leading sophomore boys in high school ministry and table hosting at Discover Canyon Ridge. In September, Blake baptized Josh, who then baptized three of their high school students. Long-time missionaries Russell and Sydney Bridges mentored Josh and Janeth, along with Allen, on a missions trip to Thailand to serve missionary families there.
Janeth took a next step to start conversations about what God’s doing in her life. She began a small business, making custom tumblers with designs of the different tools practiced around Canyon Ridge—like the 3-Circle Gospel, the Healthy Church circle, and the 15-second transformation story tool. “It’s a conversation starter if someone sees it.” For Janeth, sharing the Gospel has been challenging, “but the more you learn how simple these tools really are, they’re very easy to share; it’s as you go—you’re a disciple-maker as you go to your workplace, the grocery store, things you’re already doing in your life.”
Bigger steps are yet to come, but the pieces are coming together in a beautiful way for Josh and Janeth. On a recent trip to the Philippines, where Janeth was born, God continued to stir their hearts for missions. As they came back to Las Vegas and began to debrief and reflect meaningfully with Blake, Allen, and others, they realized that the tools they were learning and being equipped with at Canyon Ridge are the tools that could help multiply disciples in the Philippines. “We want to go back and teach tools that we’ve been taught.”
Josh and Janeth’s life goal used to be to work hard, save money, and retire early. After their experience of partnering with God and his people, their purpose together is now going in a new direction. “I think we’re called to do more than that, and what an adventure it would be.” Because of the real, tangible partnership that Josh and Janeth have experienced in Las Vegas and beyond, they have found that “there’s true joy and relationship and love with the Lord and others who are serving him that’s waiting for you if you just take that step; he has good in mind for you.”