417 Testimonies of Jesus Christ, hosts Preston Cameron and Dennis Everson interview local Springfield, Missouri guest Brooks Williams. Brooks shares his journey from childhood trauma, drug addiction, and incarceration to finding redemption, full custody of his children, and owning a business through his faith in Jesus Christ.

Key Highlights & Timestamps

• [01:09 Opens in a new window ] Introduction: Host Preston Cameron and co-host Dennis Everson introduce guest Brooks Williams.

• [02:00 Opens in a new window ] Early Childhood & Upbringing: Brooks discusses growing up in Springfield, Missouri, being raised by his grandparents, and learning a strong work ethic.

• [02:54 Opens in a new window ] Early Trauma & Street Life: At age 12, Brooks witnessed his father attempt suicide. By 15, he entered juvenile detention, beginning a cycle of drug use and incarceration.

• [06:21 Opens in a new window ] Addiction & Criminal History: Brooks details his first charge at 17 for manufacturing methamphetamine, his repeated prison stints, and his struggle to break the cycle of addiction.

• [08:00 Opens in a new window ] Mind & Personal Healing: Brooks reflects on the psychological toll of past meth use, dealing with paranoia, learning to build trust in relationships, and allowing God to heal his mind.

• [14:56 Opens in a new window ] Overcoming Fear: The hosts and guest discuss replacing fear with faith, building gratitude, and relying on God during life's trials.

• [24:26 Opens in a new window ] The Turning Point: Brooks describes a high-stress crisis point 5 years prior when his children were taken into state custody, leading to a moment where he felt the Holy Spirit guide him to walk away from a dangerous situation and join a discipleship program.

• [27:36 Opens in a new window ] Regaining Custody & Starting a Business: Brooks shares his two-year battle with child services, his decision to surrender his children to God's will, regaining full custody, and founding his painting business, Blessed Hands Painting.

• [32:44 Opens in a new window ] Redemptive Service: Brooks reflects on returning to former struggle areas—such as jails and community events—to serve the public alongside police officers and legal figures from his past.

• [43:04 Opens in a new window ] Gospel Message & Closing Prayer: Brooks emphasizes that the gospel is for everyone, shares a final encouragement on trusting Jesus, and concludes the episode with a prayer.

In this episode of "Changing Times," hosts Lynn Morris and Dr. Mary Byrne interview Terry Bible, a retired Missouri Highway Patrol officer with 27 years of service. They discuss the rich history of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Terry's heroic experiences on the job, and his current pursuit of public office.

Key Highlights:

• Origins of the Missouri Highway Patrol: Terry explains that the organization's roots date back to the 1920s, with its official formation in 1931. Early troopers patrolled mud-brick roads in Model A Roadsters with the top down—regardless of the weather—and wore distinct Persian caps.

• Terry's Background: Before his career in the Highway Patrol, Terry served in the Marine Corps. He was inspired to pursue a career in law enforcement after completing a ride-along with his uncle, a sheriff's deputy.

• A Heroic Rescue: Terry recounts receiving a Medal of Valor for saving a man named Muhammad from a burning tractor-trailer on September 10, 2022. Despite massive flames and others vacating the area, he entered the vehicle to pull the driver to safety.

• Running for Office: After retiring from the force, Terry chose to remain active in public service. He is currently running for Presiding Commissioner of Christian County, driven by a desire to continue serving and improving his community.

• Supporting Fallen Officers: Terry discusses MASTERS (Missouri Association of State Trooper Emergency Relief Society), an organization that provides immediate financial support and scholarships to the surviving families of troopers killed in the line of duty.

• A Personal Tragedy: He shares the story behind "A Trooper Lost His Father," the opening poem in a book created by him and his wife to support MASTERS. The poem was written after Terry responded to an emergency call while on duty, only to discover the victim was his own father, whom he attempted to save with CPR.

Jason Pratt's Story "417 Testimonies of Jesus Christ" Episode 11 With Preston Cameron Dennis Eversen.

In this episode, hosts Preston Cameron and Dennis Everson interview Jason Pratt, who shares his raw and powerful testimony of overcoming a 25-year drug addiction, navigating the prison system, and eventually finding a unique calling in ministry.

• Early Life & Addiction: Growing up in the bootheel of Missouri, Jason had conflicting influences from a devout mother and a partying father. He took his first drink at age 3 and started using methamphetamine by age 14, which led to a 25-year lifestyle of drug distribution and cross-country trucking [01:34 Opens in a new window ].

• Prison & Initial Conversion: Sentenced to prison in 2012, Jason was transferred to Ozark Correctional Center in 2016. There, a persistent friend convinced him to attend a chapel service, where he first gave his life to the Lord and was baptized [03:07 Opens in a new window ].

• Relapse & A Final Chance: Upon his release in 2017, Jason relapsed within two weeks. After getting caught with severe new charges that threatened him with a 15-year prison sentence, a judge miraculously gave him one last chance on the condition that he complete the Hope Homes of the Ozarks Adult and Teen Challenge [08:40 Opens in a new window ].

• Deliverance & Finding Purpose: Right before returning to rehab, he married his wife, Tracy. During a men's summit, he experienced profound spiritual deliverance. Grounding his life in the Bible, he became a kitchen manager for the program, taking to heart John 21:17: "If you love me, feed my sheep" [24:34 Opens in a new window ].

• Barnabas Barbecue: After stepping down from a subsequent role as a program manager, an anonymous donor helped him purchase a large smoker. Jason launched Barnabas Barbecue, a local Springfield ministry that feeds the homeless and caters events to raise money for faith-based recovery programs [36:51 Opens in a new window ].

• Current Ministry: Today, Jason leads "Ready Now Recovery" groups (curriculum from Adult and Teen Challenge) for individuals seeking freedom from addiction, and he recently became a unanimously voted-in deacon at Passion Assembly of God [41:17 Opens in a new window ].

Jason concludes by emphasizing that true accountability is an act of love and that God is faithful to finish the good work He starts in people [46:18 Opens in a new window ].