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After an eight-day trip to the International Space Station turned into 286 days, veteran astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore says attending church virtually was vital.
When Wilmore spoke to media for the first time since returning to Earth, he shared that staying connected virtually to his home church, Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas was "vital."
In June 2024, Wilmore along with fellow astronaut Suni Williams were the first humans launched into space to ride a Boeing Starliner spacecraft and returned to Earth, landing in the Gulf of Mexico on Mar. 18, 2025.
Wilmore has attended his church with his family for 17 years and has led devotionals, and sung "Amazing Grace" with other astronauts.
He shared in the press conference that he was able to stay connected to his faith by streaming services from Grace Baptist Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee as his friend is a pastor and elder.
Wilmore stated that he needed to be continually filled by the Word of God. "The Word of God continually infilling me, I need it. My pastors are the finest pastors on — or off, in this case — the planet. And to tie in and to worship with my church family was vital. I mean, it's part of what makes me go. Faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the end-all, be-all. He forgives us."
While there was plenty of uncertainty while Wilmore was stranded, he had his faith to fall back on. "He teaches us when He says in His Word about being content in all situations because He's working out His plan and His purposes for His glory and our good, and I believe that because the Bible says that."
He added that he knows there will be bumps along the way. "It doesn't mean always happy, it doesn't mean there's no pain, but content and knowing that God's in control; a sovereign God's in control, working out His plan and His purpose."
"Who's lived a life without pain? I mean, no one. That's the nature of existence. Who's lived a life without sorrow? Who's lived a life without challenges? It grows us, we learn from it, and that's the focus that I try to take from it: What's the Lord trying to show me?"
When Wilmore returned, his home congregation was thrilled to see him. "There was a bit of excitement after he came, but he doesn't want to be the focus, Pastor Tommy Dohn at Providence Baptist Church said. "Although we are all kind of starstruck."