Inspiring Story of the Month Featuring

Brad Newburg knows what it means to wander far from God...and to be brought back by grace. Growing up in a faithful Christian home, it seemed natural that his life would follow a path of faith. But by the age of 15, Brad made his own choices, walking a worldly path for more than 20 years. “I didn’t give my heart to the Lord until I was 35,” he admits. “I thought I knew what life was about, but I was chasing emptiness without even realizing it.”

Through those years, there was one unwavering presence, his parents and in particular his mother, Peggy. “She was constantly praying for me, even when I was in the darkest places of my life,” Brad says. “She reminded me over and over that God loved me, and she never stopped believing I could be brought back to Him.”

That faithfulness would soon come full circle. In 2020, Peggy suffered a severe back injury requiring complex surgery. The recovery was grueling, and during a particularly dark moment, she refused to eat for or drink for almost a week. When she finally called Brad, she confessed something that would shake him to his core: “Son, I don’t want to live anymore. I’m going home soon.”

Brad recalls the surge of desperation and prayer that followed. “God put it on my heart to remind her of His truth, all those moments when she had prayed for me, all the ways He had worked in our lives,” he says. He began to speak life over her, reminding her of God’s promises. “I prayed, and I said, ‘Mom, He is still with you. He has never left you.’" And in that moment, she interrupted me through tears, when she said, "He’s in the room.”

Brad watched as his mother engaged in a conversation with God, confessing her forgetfulness and recommitting her life to Him. “I remember hearing her say, ‘I remember the day you showed me my heart. I give my life back to you, Lord,’” Brad recounts. “And then she said to me, ‘Son, I love you. I need to go get something to eat. God’s not done with me yet.’ That was a moment of pure awe for me.”

Months later, Peggy faced another surgery, even more severe than the first. She is now physically limited, unable to walk, but her faith shines brighter than ever. “Every time I see her, she says, 'He’s worthy. In Him, I can do all things. He will purpose this pain. He’s not finished with me yet,'” Brad shares. “She is walking with the Lord through one of the greatest trials of her life, and in doing so, she inspires me to cling to Christ in every circumstance.”

Brad’s personal journey of faith naturally led him into ministry with Pure Encouragement. After being introduced to Gary Steffes through the discipleship ministry Influencers, he witnessed the birth of Pure Encouragement and soon stepped into helping men discover their true identity in Christ. Today, Brad invests in others through Journey Groups, Confidence Groups, and prayer initiatives, walking alongside men as they learn to live confidently from who God says they are. He’s currently participating in a six-week Confidence Journal group, declaring daily truths such as: “I am a chosen son of God. I am part of a royal priesthood. I am made new.” For Brad, it all comes down to transformation at the heart level. “It’s about living from the inside out,” he explains. “When the heart is transformed first, it guides our will, our emotions, our thoughts, and our actions. That’s where true, lasting confidence and victory come from.”

Brad’s story, woven together with his mother’s miraculous recovery, stands as a powerful testimony to God’s grace and the finished work of the cross. “Everything we need to live godly lives has already been given to us,” he says. “It’s not about striving in our own strength. It’s about knowing Him intimately and walking confidently in the victory He has already won.” His journey reminds us that no matter how far we wander, God’s grace is always able to restore, heal, and transform us from the inside out.

September 2025 Newsletter Article