James Hensley's Story "417 Testimonies of Jesus Christ" Episode 10 With Host Preston & DennisJames Hensley's Testimony:Early Childhood and Trauma: James grew up in Ozark, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was 5 due to his biological father's alcoholism. His mother later remarried, but his stepfather was highly controlling and abusive, which led to a turbulent and traumatic home environment. The church served as a safe haven for him during these difficult years.Struggles with Mental Health and Addiction: Around the age of 15, after his family escaped the abusive household, James experienced a mental breakdown and struggled with self-harm and suicide attempts. Seeking acceptance, he began using meth, which resulted in a severe 20-to-25-year battle with addiction and spending nearly 20 years in and out of the Missouri prison system.A Turning Point in Jail: At around age 40, while incarcerated in the Stone County jail, a visiting pastor prayed over the inmates. James experienced a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit, weeping over his Bible, which marked the true beginning of his spiritual transformation.Recovery and Finding Purpose: Though he faced relapses along the way, James eventually found solid footing through the Adult Teen Challenge program at Hope Homes of the Ozarks.Life Today: James is now 47 and works as an inventory foreman for a company that intentionally hires felons and individuals in recovery. This role allows him to practice "loose discipleship," serving as a mentor and beacon of hope for his coworkers. He is also actively involved in a pastoral relief ministry, stepping in to preach at smaller churches to give long-time pastors a chance to rest

USA Independence Proclaimed 250 Years Today! Join ‘Changing Times' Hosts Mary Byrne & Lynn Morris July 8th 1776-2026This episode of Changing Times celebrates the 250th anniversary of the public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Hosts Lynn Morris and Dr. Mary Byrne use historical documents, videos, and literature to discuss the deep-rooted philosophical, spiritual, and structural foundations of early America.Key Points & Historical ThemesThe Public Reading Anniversary: The episode highlights the historic shift from being royal subjects to becoming self-governed citizens, noting the exact day 250 years ago when the Declaration was read aloud to the public.Thomas Jefferson’s Perspective: The hosts share a dramatic educational presentation featuring Thomas Jefferson. In it, "Jefferson" notes that he wished to be remembered for the concepts he authored—like the Declaration and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom—rather than the political offices he held.The Hidden Slavery Grievance: The video and subsequent discussion detail Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration, which included a direct paragraph condemning the British slave trade. This clause was entirely struck out by Congress to achieve consensus among southern colonies like Georgia and South Carolina.The Mayflower Compact (1620) as the True Start: Dr. Mary Byrne emphasizes that America’s ideological framework began long before 1776. She points to the Mayflower Compact as the true seminal document of the "American mind," establishing written self-governance rooted in a biblical worldview.A Virtuous Republic: Citing primary historical sources and scholarly books like The Hebrew Republic and Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers, the hosts argue that the U.S. Constitution was written exclusively for a virtuous, self-governing people who answer to a higher moral authority.Education for Leadership vs. Workforce: The hosts critique the modern shift in public education toward basic "workforce development". They argue that early leaders like Jefferson intended public education to cultivate deep literacy in history, law, and civic values to properly sustain a republic.Regional Events & AnnouncementsSpringfield 250th Celebration: Mention of a local celebratory event organized by Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon at the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield, Missouri, featuring a reading of the Declaration and hymns sung by former Governor John Ashcroft and Judge Max Bacon.Upcoming Broadcasts: A preview of the next episode focusing on Missouri's upcoming August constitutional amendments, alongside an invitation to watch the 33rd annual ActsFest streaming on July 17th and 18th.

USA 250 Years Bob Dixon & Maj Susan Wilson Join ‘Changing Times' Hosts Mary Byrne & Lynn Morris.Part 1 of a two-part special celebrating America's upcoming 250th birthday (the semiquincentennial).Featured Guests & Key HighlightsPresiding Commissioner Bob Dixon (Greene County):Discussed an upcoming solemn, non-partisan 250th celebration taking place next Wednesday, July 8th, at 2:00 PM at the Historic Greene County Courthouse (940 Booneville).The event will feature former Governor Jay Nixon—a direct descendant of Colonel John Nixon, the first person to publicly read the Declaration of Independence in 1776—who will do a live dramatic reading of the entire document.Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and former Judge Max Bacon will lead the national anthem. Attendees can receive custom parchment copies of the declaration to sign as a symbolic commitment to its principles.Major Susan Wilson (U.S. Army Reserves, Retired):Shared her personal family history as a descendant of Mayflower passenger Edward Fuller.Reflected on her 18 years of military service as an Army nurse practitioner, highlighting her deployment to Landstuhl, Germany, where she cared for wounded warriors during Operation Desert Storm and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.Key Discussion ThemesFaith and Liberty: The hosts and guests discussed the historical connection between Christian theology, natural law, and the foundational principles of American freedom.Restoring Civics and Civility: A major focal point was the modern need to restore robust civics education and respect in public discourse, moving past current societal polarization.Looking Ahead: Host Lynn Morris announced that Part 2 of the celebration will air next week, featuring patriotic musical performances and a special appearance by Nashville veteran star Steve McCollum.