{"id":2528968,"date":"2026-01-03T08:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T13:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/longtime-minnesota-pastor-dies-after-helping-driver-stuck-outside-his-church\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T08:50:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T13:50:39","slug":"longtime-minnesota-pastor-dies-after-helping-driver-stuck-outside-his-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/longtime-minnesota-pastor-dies-after-helping-driver-stuck-outside-his-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Longtime Minnesota Pastor Dies After Helping Driver Stuck Outside His Church"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flongtime-minnesota-pastor-dies-after-helping-driver-stuck-outside-his-church%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2528968&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A beloved Minnesota pastor, Jim Bzoskie, 76, died in December after stopping to help a driver who had spun out in the snow outside Cornerstone Bible Church while he was preparing gift bags for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oc-sheriff-refuses-to-release-1800-dangerous-inmates-including-murderers-and-child-molesters-after-judges-order\/\" title=\"OC Sheriff Refuses to Release 1,800 Dangerous Inmates \u2013 Including Murderers and Child Molesters \u2013 After Judge\u2019s Order\">county jail<\/a> inmates<\/a>. Family members say he likely suffered a heart attack and that his last words were &#8220;Merry Christmas.&#8221; Bzoskie served as a volunteer chaplain for Hastings police and fire departments for 47 years and led weekly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">bible study<\/a> sessions at the county jail. Local officials and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/potheads-overwhelm-police-department-after-city-asks-for-volunteers-to-help-train-officers-to-recognize-signs-of-impairment\/\" title=\"Potheads Overwhelm Police Department After City Asks for Volunteers to Help Train Officers to Recognize Signs of Impairment\">community members praised<\/a> his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/candace-owens-gives-touching-tribute-to-grandfather-in-new-episode\/\" title=\"Candace Owens Gives Touching Tribute To Grandfather In New Episode\">steady presence<\/a>, emotional support during tragedies, and consistent generosity. dakota County authorities posted a tribute noting his role in building jail programming and offering encouragement, urging the community to carry on his example of service.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Minnesota pastor passed away in December after helping a driver stuck in the snow outside of his church.<\/p>\n<p>Jim Bzoskie, 76, was inside Cornerstone Bible Church preparing gift bags for county jail inmates when he went to help someone who had spun out in the snow, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcjb.com\/2025\/12\/26\/beloved-pastor-spent-final-moments-helping-others-before-suffering-heart-attack-family-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a>&nbsp;from WCJB.<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Lindner, his daughter, told the outlet that he died after the incident, likely from a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He was helping people until those very last moments. I had a friend tell me he served right up to the bell,&rdquo; Lindner remarked. &ldquo;He would have wanted that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;His last words were Merry Christmas, and we just see that as such a beautiful thing. Knowing that dad loved Christmas and he&rsquo;s going to have the best Christmas ever,&rdquo; Lindner added.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Members of the community likewise remembered his Christian generosity and selflessness.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Every Tuesday, he would come into the jail to do a Bible study for our inmate population,&rdquo; Jacob Schak, the jail program sergeant, told WCJB.<\/p>\n<p>Bzoskie was a volunteer chaplain for the police and fire department in Hastings, Minnesota, for 47 years.<\/p>\n<p>Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko recounted how his ministry was integral to helping his team deal with tragedies.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Some of the difficult things we&rsquo;ve gone through with the tragedy in Burnsville, losing three first responders, we&rsquo;ve had suicides in our own office that we&rsquo;ve had to maneuver&hellip; couldn&rsquo;t imagine going through those things without him,&rdquo; Leko recalled.<\/p>\n<p>The Dakota County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office posted a lengthy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DakotaMNSheriff\/posts\/pfbid0gMJmNqWKn7AbK8P3NztiimHxJqYggiTnzQKMGAQu5RT1t96e3pfMLiNzQQDscH5Ul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tribute<\/a> to &ldquo;Pastor Jim&rdquo; on their page.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Since 1979, Pastor Jim was a constant and trusted presence within the Office. He helped build and sustain our jail programming, served faithfully as our chaplain, and provided steady encouragement, perspective, and humor for decades,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When the work was heavy, Jim was there. When there was something to celebrate, he was there too.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The post added, &ldquo;Jim had a natural way of connecting with people and a genuine love for community. He found joy in being around others, and he never slowed down when it came to showing up for people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The post reminded community members to imitate his example.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue in the way we care for one another and serve our community. Our thoughts are with Jim&rsquo;s family and the many people we know he meant so much to.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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