The night opened with two strong truths. Jeremiah 32:27 declared that God is the Lord of all flesh, and nothing is too hard for Him. Ephesians 3:20 answered with the promise that Christ can do above all we ask or think.
That set the tone for everything that followed. When prayer feels delayed and people can’t be reached, heaven is still open.
When nobody else answers, Jesus does
One early testimony brought the room to a plain, steady point. Sometimes prayer requests don’t reach people right away. Sometimes the person we hoped would answer isn’t available. Still, Jesus is.
When we can’t call on anybody else, we call on Jesus.
That truth carried into a warm interview with Pamela and Steve Rust. Pamela shared that she was raised in this church, which began in her parents’ living room more than seven decades ago, and she was its first baby. Steve came from a Baptist background, and before they returned home they spent time in what Pamela jokingly called a little Pentecostal church.
Their story was full of warmth. They met through friends at Cherokee Bowl, raised four boys, and watched their oldest son Tony serve on bass. They spoke of favorite verses, from the house built by wisdom to Psalm 124, where the snare is broken and God’s people escape. Even their lighter moments, favorite shows, meals out, and love for Kentucky, showed a family grateful for where God planted them.
A testimony that kept pointing back to the church family
Steve spoke about years of serving in hospitals, nursing homes, and homes, caring for God’s people. Pamela made it clear that even when he says he doesn’t do much, his life is still given to study, writing, prayer, and ministry.
Their Holy Ghost story was one of the sweetest moments of the night. Pamela once feared that speaking in tongues would scare Steve away. Instead, he leaned over and told her he didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was “really cool.” From that day, he began seeking the Holy Ghost for himself.
Their love for the church family came through again and again. Pamela said she prays nightly for her family and her church family, and both of them honored Pastor Tom Bates for the preacher he has become. Steve remembered Pastor Tom visiting their home in a dark season, sitting at a broken piano, and drawing beautiful music from keys that barely worked. That memory sounded like the whole night, God still makes beauty from broken things. We hear that same heartbeat in other faith-rising stories from Kingdom Builders.
Worship prepared the room for a word on freedom
Brother Josh reminded the class that testimony and fellowship matter because believers grow closer when they know one another. Then prayer rose, Satan was rebuked, and the room moved into worship with songs centered on rescue, freedom, and God’s power.
“Thank God,” “Get Up Out of That Grave,” “God We Believe for It,” “I Could Still Go Free,” and “Master of the Wind” all pressed the same truth into the room. Jesus still picks people up. Jesus still changes names. Jesus still calms storms. Jesus still breaks chains.
Christalynn Hubble said that thread confirmed the message God had put on her heart. She spoke of a hard two-week fight while preparing, including a sudden back injury that left her unable to walk for a time. Yet the Lord touched her body, so the message had already been tested before it was preached.
Christalynn Hubble’s message: freedom is worth the fight
Her text was John 8:36.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Christalynn preached with urgency. After 46 years of serving Christ, she said none of us has it all figured out, and none of us should act as if bondage is only somebody else’s problem. She referenced statements about courage, truth, sin, and responsibility, then brought the point home. Freedom carries responsibility.
The sharp edge of the message was not only about drugs, alcohol, or sexual sin. It was also about the chains respectable people hide well. Jealousy, envy, bitterness, and unforgiveness can bind a Christian as surely as any outward vice. That is why her warning mattered so much. If we excuse sin, soften truth, or enable what God calls wrong, we help chains stay in place.
She also reminded the church that Jesus fills the whole Bible. PJ read His names across Scripture, from Creator and Passover Lamb to King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then Christalynn called for the Holy Ghost to move in every room, from children’s church to the youth, from Kingdom Builders to the new sanctuary. Her burden matched the call we hear in Freedom through forgiveness from Matthew 6:12, lay it down, and don’t pick it up again.
Todd Strong’s story showed what surrender looks like
The clearest picture of the night came through Todd Strong’s testimony. He told of a 20-year addiction that he hid for about 15 years. Then the weight grew so dark that he held a gun and planned to end his life. When he pulled the trigger, the bullet went through his hand and struck a flashlight. God spared him.
On the way to the hospital, the Lord told him to come back. He returned to church, but the struggle did not leave at once. For two years he kept coming, and he kept going to the altar. On the ninth trip, he fully surrendered, and he walked out delivered. He marked it plainly, two years, three months, and 25 days free.
That testimony became the altar call. Keep coming. Keep laying the chains down. Some are broken in a moment, and some fall precept by precept. The service closed in prayer circles, prophetic words, and a strong sense that fear was breaking, boldness was rising, and the glory of the Lord is going to fill the house again.
Freedom still belongs to Jesus
The clearest message of the night was not complicated. Jesus Christ still sets people free. He frees the addict, the bitter heart, the fearful believer, and the weary saint who has fought a long battle.
So we leave with one settled truth. When no one else answers, we call on Jesus. When the chains don’t fall the first time, we keep coming back until they do.