The Awkward Altar Call That Turned Into Freedom

A sudden wave of grief hits during worship and it doesn’t feel comforting. It feels like an alarm. Linda Budd tells the story of walking into a Wednesday night service ready to preach, only to be interrupted by a strong inner knowing that something is wrong and that the message isn’t for her. What happens next is a vivid look at discernment, a word of knowledge, and the kind of courage it takes to speak when you could be mistaken.We talk through the moment she identifies the person in the room, waits for the right time, and then names the struggle out loud: depression. The tension spikes when the woman leaves, then returns, and the whole room has to decide what to do with the weight of the moment. From there, the conversation moves into salvation and prayer, as Linda asks a simple but life-changing question: has she ever asked Jesus into her life? The response leads into a clear sinner’s prayer, public confession, and the hope of having your name written in the book of life.Then we go deeper into Christian deliverance ministry and healing prayer, commanding heaviness, depression, and trauma to leave in Jesus’ name, and asking God for restoration that reaches mind and body. We also point toward the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, grounding it in the book of Acts and inviting hungry believers to seek more. If you care about spiritual gifts, Christian testimony, depression and faith, and what real ministry can look like in a church service, you’ll find plenty to wrestle with here. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Have a prayer request? Send us a text! Support the showIf this podcast has been a blessing to you and you’d like to support the mission's ministry of RiverGate Church, we invite you to make a donation. Your generosity helps extend the impact of this work and allows us to reach more people with hope and healing. You can give electronically using CashApp ($RGCTULSA) or Paypal ([email protected]). Please enter MISSIONS for reason. Thank you for being a part!