Join us every second Tuesday of the month as we create a safe space for honest conversations, healing, and transformation.

On February 10, 2026 @ 8:00 PM, we had the honor and privilege of sitting down with Minister Joy Richey for a deeply candid conversation about trauma responses, multiple grief experiences, and the unsolved murder of her son.

Her story was tender, honest, and filled with the kind of truth that many people carry silently but rarely speak aloud. Minister Joy reminded us that grief is not always neat, healing is not always immediate, and even faithful people can wrestle deeply with pain.

🌿 A Childhood Rooted in Faith and Family

Minister Joy shared that she was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the only girl in her family, surrounded by protective brothers who cared deeply for her.

She described her family as very close-knit, deeply rooted in church life, and committed to faith. Church was not just a weekly event — it was a way of life.

She laughed as she explained that growing up, they were in church constantly:

“Monday through Monday — with no days off.”

As a young girl and teenager, she served faithfully and became a praise and worship leader. Because of her family’s strong church involvement, she often missed activities other teenagers enjoyed, such as basketball games and social events.

She described herself as very naive to many things in life because of how sheltered she was raised.

Yet even in that structure, she carried the heart of a servant.

💭 When Strictness Led to Rebellion

Minister Joy also spoke honestly about a season when strictness at home became difficult for her to manage.

As a young woman, she ran away from home because her mother’s rules felt overwhelming. During that time, she stayed with other young women and entered a season she described as wild living.

Even while she was away, she said something important:

Her mother never stopped loving her.

That truth remained with her — love stayed present, even when choices were difficult.

🌸 Learning to Stop Running From Her Past

Years later, some of the same women she once lived with would continue to bring up her past whenever they saw her.

They would say things like:

• “I remember when you used to do this…”
• “I remember when you used to do that…”

Their words often felt like attempts to shame her for decisions she had already grown beyond.

For a long time, she admitted that seeing them made her uncomfortable enough that she would avoid them altogether.

But one day, something changed.

She finally stood in confidence and responded:

“Yes, I did it — and I’m not ashamed anymore.”

That moment of honesty and self-acceptance ended the insults.

Her story reminds us that when we stop hiding from our past, it often loses its power to wound us.

🕊️ A Family Marked by Deep Loss

Minister Joy shared the heartbreaking reality of repeated grief.

There were originally ten members in her immediate close-knit family — including her parents and siblings.

Today, only three remain.

She experienced loss after loss:

• Family members passing
• The death of loved ones
• Her mother and father dying only six months apart

She described how deeply those losses affected her, but nothing prepared her for what came next.

💔 The Unsolved Murder of Her Son

One of the most painful parts of the conversation came when Minister Joy spoke about her son, who was murdered at the age of 28 years old.

His death remains unsolved.

She described that moment with heartbreaking honesty:

“I could not take one more thing.”

After losing so many family members already, the death of her son felt unbearable.

She shared that she became angry with God — deeply angry.

Not because she stopped believing He existed, but because she could not understand why God did not spare her son’s life.

She openly admitted:

• She felt she had nothing left to give
• She would have traded her life for his
• She believed he had so much life ahead of him
• She struggled deeply with disappointment in God

She said one of the most devastating experiences a parent can face is:

Burying your child.

🌑 Walking Through a Dark Season

Minister Joy did not hide the darkness she entered after her son’s death.

She shared that grief led her down a painful road:

• She smoked
• She drank
• She walked away from God

Not because she no longer knew Him, but because she felt shattered.

She described feeling:

• Heartbroken
• Disappointed
• Emotionally exhausted
• Spiritually disconnected

In her own words, it felt as though:

Jesus Himself had failed her.

That kind of honesty matters because many grieving people silently wrestle with those same thoughts but are afraid to say them aloud.

🧠 Trauma Responses Few People Talk About

Minister Joy also explained how trauma affected her mind in practical ways.

One trauma response she noticed was:

• Difficulty completing thoughts
• Difficulty finishing tasks she once handled easily
• Mental fog during grief

This is something many grieving people experience but often do not understand.

Grief does not only affect emotions — it affects concentration, memory, energy, and daily functioning.

She emphasized something many people need to hear:

Take time to grieve properly.

Healing cannot be rushed.

🌼 What Her Story Teaches Us About Healing

Minister Joy’s testimony reminds us:

• Grief can shake faith, but it does not cancel faith
• Anger with God does not mean abandonment by God
• Trauma affects the body, mind, and spirit
• Healing often begins when we stop pretending we are okay
• The past loses power when we stop hiding from it
• Grief deserves time, honesty, and compassion

Even in seasons when God feels distant, He is still near to the brokenhearted.

✍🏽 Journal Prompts to Help You Process

Take quiet time and reflect:

• Have I given myself permission to grieve honestly?
• Is there pain in my life I have tried to hide instead of process?
• Have I blamed myself, God, or others for losses I still carry?
• What part of my past still makes me uncomfortable when mentioned?
• What does healing look like for me right now?

📖 Scripture & Truth Points From Minister Joy’s Story

Book of Psalms Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Book of Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 3:4
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

Book of Matthew Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Book of Isaiah Isaiah 61:3
“To give them beauty for ashes…”

🌷 Takeaways for Healing

• Stop apologizing for grieving deeply
• Healing does not mean forgetting
• Trauma responses are real and deserve compassion
• You can still return to God after anger, disappointment, and distance
• Your story still has purpose, even after devastating loss

🎥 Watch the Replay

Free Resources jump start healing by writing through It.

💬 Share Your Thoughts

What part of Minister Joy’s story touched your heart?

If you have walked through grief, trauma, or loss, your words may help someone else feel less alone.

Please leave your thoughts, reflections, or encouragement in the comments.

Join us every second Tuesday of the month. In 2026, we will be back full force.

On November 11, 2025, @ 8:00 PM, we were privliged and honored to have an candid, eye-opening conversation with Brandie Baker about her journey through fear, spiritual deception, witchcraft, and the supernatural experiences that shaped her early years.

🌿 A Childhood Full of Fear, Sensitivity, and No Guidance

Brandie shared that even as a young child, she saw things, felt things, and sensed spiritual presence in ways she couldn’t explain.
She was terrified at night and felt constantly watched — but she had no language for it. The churches she grew up in never talked about spiritual gifts, discernment, or the demonic realm.

She said:

“I always knew I wasn’t alone in that room. I could feel it.”

Her mother didn’t understand, and simply told her, “Ain’t nothing in that room. Go to bed.”
But her older brother believed her. He would let her get in his bed at night so she could feel safe.

From a young age, her spiritual sensitivity went unrecognized and unsupported — making her a target for confusion.

When the Church Is Silent, the World Becomes the Teacher

Because she got no spiritual guidance, Brandie found explanations in the only place that seemed to understand what she felt:
witchcraft movies, fantasy shows, and supernatural entertainment.

Films like Hocus Pocus and The Craft made her feel “seen,” because they mirrored the unusual spiritual experiences she had as a child.

She explained:

“Nobody taught me about gifts. The only place that explained what I felt was witchcraft shows.”

And we talked about how dangerous that is —
When the church does not teach spiritual truth, the enemy gladly fills in the gaps.

“Innocent Games” That Became Open Doors

As a teenager, Brandie began experimenting with what looked like harmless fun:

• “Light as a feather, stiff as a board”
• Making a homemade ouija board
• Following spells in a book
• Trying to open “doors” to other realms
• Burning sage and candles
• Curiosity about supernatural abilities

But little by little, these “games” became spiritual portals.

Her dreams became dark.
Her home atmosphere changed.
Her behavior shifted.
Fear increased.

She didn’t recognize it then, but these things opened real spiritual doors.

The Night Darkness Revealed Itself

One night changed everything.

She was using the ouija board with an older man who was leading the session.
As the board moved back and forth between the sun and the moon, she watched his face transform right in front of her eyes.

Not slightly — dramatically.

That moment scared her so deeply that she stopped witchcraft for a time.

🔄 Returning to Old Connections and Old Doors

Years later, after having her daughter, she reconnected with an old friend.
One night, she heard her name whispered in the dark. Out of fear, she invited her friend to “smudge” the house, reopening spiritual doors she thought were closed.

Later that night, the group decided to have a seance.

During the ritual:

• Her eyes began twitching
• She felt something trying to enter her body
• The room shifted
• She became overwhelmed with fear

She pulled her hands away — leaving the portal open.

After that:

• A heavy cigar smell filled the room
• Perfume scents followed
• They heard footsteps and whispering
• A man’s eyes turned completely white
• A fog and sewage smell surrounded her

She knew she had to leave immediately.

Spiritual Presence That Followed Her Home

Driving home, she felt a presence breathing down her neck the entire way.
As a child, she used to sing “Jesus Loves Me” when she was afraid —
so she sang it again as a grown woman, driving through her fear.

When she got home, she felt the presence hovering over her bed.
And then something happened that confirmed she wasn’t imagining it:

Her daughter’s father woke up out of nowhere and said:

“It feels like somebody’s in here with us.”

Then fell back asleep.

The Spirit That Targeted Her Daughter

Brandie knew in that moment:

“That thing is going to try to attach itself to my daughter.”

And it did.

Her daughter grew up tormented:

• Too afraid to take a bath alone
• Constantly feeling watched
• Night terrors
• Dreams of men with bones sticking out of their heads
• Fear of the dark
• Not wanting to sleep alone

Brandie said watching her daughter suffer broke her, because she realized:

“I brought that home. I opened those doors. My baby paid for what I did.”

She tried everything she knew:

• A pastor blessing the home
• A dream catcher (not knowing it was wrong)
• Anything to help her child feel safe

But nothing worked because the spiritual doors were still open.

Church Hurt and Pastors Who Didn’t Understand

Brandie shared the pain of reaching out to pastors for help — only to be dismissed.

She said:

“How you going to preach the Bible and then tell me demons aren’t real?”

The host she: “She has witnessed leaders preaching “pretty messages” but running when real spiritual warfare showed up.”

It wasn’t until she found a church that taught truth and spiritual warfare that she finally began understanding what she had been battling her whole life.

🔥 Still in Witchcraft and Didn’t Know It

Even after she began seeking Jesus, Brandie still unintentionally practiced New Age spirituality:

• Burning sage
• Using crystals
• Mixing “Jesus talk” with rituals
• Lighting intention candles
• Believing in chakras and the third eye

She thought it was harmless because:

“They burned incense in the Bible, right?”

But one Sunday, the apostle stopped mid-sermon and said:

“If you’re burning sage, you’re in witchcraft.”

It hit her spirit deeply. She repented, threw everything away, and fully renounced every door she had opened.

She learned:

• Burning sage doesn’t cast spirits out
• New Age practices are not “harmless spirituality”
• Blending Jesus with crystals, chakras, third eyes, or moon rituals is deception
• Some people are undercover witches calling themselves Christians

And she learned:

“The devil doesn’t need permission if you already gave him legal access.”

🧠 Torment, Addiction, and False Prophets

Brandie shared how witches and warlocks often recognized her spiritual sensitivity and targeted her — even when she was trying to come to Christ.

Some acted like prophets, speaking accurate things about her life, making her think it was God.

She didn’t yet understand:

• Familiar spirits know your information
• Knowledge does not equal prophecy
• Not everyone saying “Jesus” is from God

She said:

“Just because someone knows something doesn’t mean God told them.”

🚫 Why Sage, Crystals, Candles, and “Good Energy” Are Not of God

Brandie explained that many people think these tools “bless their life,” but:

• The devil can bless you too
• Spiritual gifts can be counterfeited
• New Age practices open spiritual doors
• “Christian witches” are blending truth with lies
• The enemy targets your children through your practices

She said:

“You might feel fine. But watch your kids. That’s who gets hit first.”

✍🏽 Journal Prompts for Reflection

• Have I opened spiritual doors without meaning to?
• Are there objects or practices in my home that may be connected to witchcraft or New Age beliefs?
• What patterns in my children or family might be spiritual, not emotional?
• How can I fully renounce and close every door in Jesus’ name?
• What does God want me to learn from Brandie’s testimony?

📖 Scripture & Truth Points

• “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6
• “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness…” — Ephesians 5:11
• “For God has not given us a spirit of fear…” — 2 Timothy 1:7
• “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” — John 8:36
• “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7

🌼 Takeaways for Healing

• Spiritual sensitivity is not strange — it’s often a calling.
• Curiosity can be a trap; discernment is crucial.
• New Age spirituality is not harmless — it is witchcraft in disguise.
• Our choices impact our children spiritually.
• Deliverance is real and available through Jesus alone.
• Renouncing, removing, and repenting break patterns.
• Jesus restores what darkness tried to steal.

🎧 Watch the Full Replay
You can watch the full conversation with Brandie Baker.

💬 Share Your Thoughts
How did Brandie’s story speak to your heart?
What did it open your eyes to?
Leave a comment — your words may help someone else find freedom and healing.

SoaringAboveItAllBlog

Join us every second Tuesday of the month.
On October 14, 2025, @ 8:00 PM, we had the honor and privilege of sitting down with Latoyia Nicholson for a heartfelt and transparent conversation about her journey through childhood rejection, spiritual attacks, and mental health battles.

What she shared was powerful, eye-opening, and filled with the redemptive grace of JESUS Christ.

🌸 A Childhood of Rejection and Longing

Latoyia opened her heart about the deep pain of growing up as a child whose father accepted all of his other children but denied her.

As a little girl, she often wondered why her siblings—who lived in the same home—got to visit their father while she stayed behind. Even as she grew older and tried to reach out to him, the rejection continued.

A blood test later confirmed what she already knew—he was indeed her father. Yet even then, he dismissed the truth, saying, “We all have the same blood,” while still showing no desire for a relationship.

Despite the hurt, Latoyia still longed for her father’s love and connection. The pain of being denied never fully left her, but in time, she received a divine revelation that changed her life:

“The greatest Father a human can ever have is JESUS Christ.”

She realized that the love she was searching for had been present all along through her Heavenly Father, who had carried her through every season of her life.

💔 Abuse, Motherhood, and Sacrifice

As a young girl, Latoyia experienced sexual abuse that left deep emotional scars and confusion. It led her into a season of brokenness and promiscuity as a teenager—seeking love and acceptance in all the wrong places.

At just 16 years old, she became a mother to her first child. Now, she is a proud mother of five beautiful children—four boys and one girl.

She shared how there were many sacrifices she had to make as a young mother to care for her children. The road wasn’t easy, but her determination to provide stability and love for them became one of her greatest motivations.

⚠️ A Spiritual Encounter: Be Careful Who You Let In

Later in life, Latoyia moved into an apartment complex as a new believer. She described herself as very friendly and open-hearted. One of her neighbors befriended her and often came into her home—and she visited theirs in return.

What she didn’t realize at first was that these neighbors had evil intentions. She later discovered that they had placed a hex on her. She believes that something was put into her drink and that items were planted in her home without her knowledge.

This opened the door to spiritual oppression that left her feeling bound by darkness and fear.

When her aunts, Robin and Trina, came to her home to pray, they stood in spiritual authority and called on the name of JESUS. She said that whatever had tried to overtake her had to loose her in Jesus’ name.

Through that experience, she learned an important lesson that she now boldly shares with others:

“Do not let everyone into your home. Some people carry evil intentions while pretending to be friendly.”

She warns that not everyone deserves access to your life or your space, because some people plan evil for your good.

🧠 Mental Health Battles and Healing

Following that spiritual attack, Latoyia began to battle mental health challenges that lasted nearly 18 years. She was diagnosed with a mental illness and, at times, struggled to take her medication consistently—believing she didn’t need it or felt better without it.

Now, she’s learning the importance of caring for herself and maintaining her own health for the sake of her children. The host Laquanza shared this powerful truth:

“Taking your medication doesn’t mean you don’t have faith in JESUS. Your process may not look like someone else’s—but healing is still happening.”

Her honesty about her mental health journey helps break the stigma many believers face when balancing faith and therapy, prayer and medication, spiritual warfare and emotional healing.

✍🏽 Journal Prompts for Reflection

• Have I ever struggled to forgive someone who never acknowledged how they hurt me?
• In what ways have I allowed the wrong people too much access to my heart or home?
• How do I see God as my Father, even when earthly relationships have failed me?
• What does it mean for me to care for both my spiritual and mental health? Free Resources Below.

📖 Scriptures to Hold Close

• “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
• “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
• “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

🌼 Takeaways for Healing

• God’s acceptance is greater than man’s rejection.
• Protect your peace—everyone doesn’t deserve access to your space.
• Mental health and faith can coexist. Taking care of your mind honors God, as well.
• True deliverance and healing come through Jesus Christ—and the process takes time.
• Your pain can become your platform when you surrender it to God.

🎧 Replay the Full Conversation
You can watch this powerful and eye-opening conversation with Latoyia Nicholson on Facebook later on YouTube.

💬 Join the Conversation
How did Latoyia’s story speak to you? Share your reflections or words of encouragement in the comments below. Someone else’s healing may begin through your voice.

Soaring Above It All Blog

Unwarranted Incest — A Conversation with Evangelist Melba Robinson (Part 1)
Soaring Above It All Blog

Join us every second Tuesday of the month for real, raw, and restorative conversations that speak to the heart.
This post recaps Part 1 of our June 10, 2025, episode, aired at 8:00 PM.

Last Tuesday, we were blessed to have Evangelist Melba Robinson join us to share some of her powerful testimony—real life experiences that shaped who she is today.

The episode was titled “Unwarranted Incest,” and Melba was honest, vulnerable, and spirit-led in how she shared the layers of her story.

She began by sharing with us her childhood experiences. Melba was born to great parents and raised in a military family. As an Army brat, she traveled often, and she had a special bond with her sister. They loved playing together as kids. With a smile, Melba said, “I was a prissy little girl.”

Even with all she’s been through, she reminded us:

“All things were not bad.”
“We had good times too.”

That statement is so important. We need to remember that life can hold both joy and pain—and God is present in both.

A Battle: Trichotillomania

As a young child, Melba was diagnosed with Trichotillomania (pronounced trick-oh-till-oh-MAY-nee-uh), a mental health condition that causes an overwhelming urge to pull out one’s own hair—usually from the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

It’s not simply a bad habit. Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) and often a response to emotional distress or trauma.

For Melba, it became a soothing mechanism—a way to numb herself when she felt overwhelmed or helpless. She explained that she’s a natural problem solver, and when she couldn’t “fix” something in her life, that frustration would trigger the pulling behavior.

Is Trichotillomania a Trauma Response?

Yes, it can be.

While not always rooted in trauma, it’s often linked to:

• Stress and anxiety
• Emotional overwhelm
• Past trauma or loss
• The need to regain control

For some, the act of pulling hair becomes a self-soothing behavior—similar to other compulsive actions people use to cope with deep, unresolved pain.

How It’s Diagnosed and Treated

Trichotillomania is classified under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM-5. Key symptoms include:

• Repetitive hair pulling that causes noticeable hair loss
• Repeated attempts to stop or control the behavior
• Significant emotional distress or impairment in daily life

Treatment options may include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
• Medication (such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety prescriptions)
• Support groups or Christian counseling

Compassion Through Experience

Melba shared that, because of her past, she has developed a deep compassion for people who cope in different ways—through drugs, alcohol, or destructive behaviors. She understands what it means to be hurting and just trying to survive.

She also spoke about how her innocence was taken, and in her later years, she discovered that unseen anger had been buried inside her for a long time.

One of the most powerful things she said:

“Sometimes we self-punish by hurting ourselves more than anyone else ever could.”

Let that sit with you for a minute. How many of us are walking around with silent pain, responding to past wounds in ways we haven’t even named yet?

✍🏽 Journal Prompts to Help You Reflect

• What parts of my story have I tried to numb, hide, or ignore?
• In what ways have I punished myself for things that were never my fault?
• How have I been coping—silently or visibly—with unresolved pain?
• What would healing look like for me if I permitted myself to start?

📖 Scripture & Truth from Melba’s Story

• “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
• “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” — Genesis 50:20

🎧 Replay Available On facebook
You’ll be able to rewatch this powerful conversation on Facebook or then on YouTube June 30, 2025. Stay tuned for the replay link and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Let’s Continue the Conversation
Has Evangelist Melba’s story touched a part of your heart? Leave a comment below with your thoughts or share your own moment of breakthrough. You never know who might be encouraged by your words.

On May 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM, we sat down with Evangelist Angela Nabriat for a powerful, transparent conversation on Soaring Above It All. Part I: The topic? What does it mean when God says, “I forgive you” Part II: And what happens when we say yes to God, but hold on to things that weaken our surrender?

Evangelist Angela shared with honesty and boldness. She spoke to the struggles many face in singleness — especially the ones we don’t always talk about in church. She revealed how we often say we’re waiting on the Lord to send our husband, yet still leave a placeholder in our bed.

That placeholder, as she bravely explained, came in the form of self-pleasure(sex toys that were battery operated) — a habit formed from sexual experiences before choosing abstinence or celibacy. She called it what it was: a temporary fix that actually trains our bodies to choose pleasure over purity. Her words hit deep:

“The more we feed the flesh, the harder it is to submit our will to serve as pure vessels before the Lord.” Evangelist Nabrait

Her honesty broke chains. The captives were set free, delivered just by hearing that they weren’t alone in the fight. She shared how it took years for the Holy Spirit to help her break free from those hidden habits — and how true healing didn’t happen overnight. But when it did, her life changed.

Eventually, she met a man of God who honored her process. He courted her, proposed, and they are now married. But in her testimony, she confessed something we all needed to hear:
Even after receiving the promise, she forgot the One who gave it.

She admitted that once she had the man, she started putting God second — not intentionally, but gradually.

I lost sight that God didn’t just bless me with a man — He blessed me with a testimony that was meant to lift Him up.

📝 Journal Prompts

• What are the “placeholders” I’ve allowed to remain while saying I’m waiting on God?
• Am I truly surrendered, or have I let certain habits rule over my will to be pure?

📖 Scripture Reflections

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (KJV): “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
• Romans 12:1 (KJV): “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

🎥 Watch the Replay

https://www.facebook.com/laquanza.robinson/videos/726759706447106 May 30, 2025 Youtube “Premiere”

💬 Share Your Thoughts

This blog is where the conversation continues.
What resonated with you? What are you still wrestling with? Drop your thoughts or encouragement in the comments below — you never know who it might help. FREE journal pages BELOW!