Early in 2024, God began something extraordinary in Odessa. In a Construction Jumpstart, participants were invited to share, and several gave their testimonies. Lora Robertson, Odessa general manager, was there and reports, “There was a vulnerability and a sweetness in that room.” She did not expect the same thing to happen when she attended the Sales Jumpstart later the same day, but it did. People supernaturally felt comfortable enough to bare their souls in front of their coworkers. The spirit of freedom and vulnerability that broke out that day would continue operating in the Odessa region throughout the year. 

  

Ruben Morales, builder for Betenbough Homes, knew the Lord was asking him to share his testimony. He’d struggled with an addiction to pornography since his teenage years. His hope was that the problem would disappear after marriage, but that wasn’t the case. Ruben discovered that his addiction was a generational curse passed down through his family, and he learned to fight it as a spiritual battle—not one of flesh and blood.  

  

The verse he leaned on the most was James 4:7: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Ruben fasted, prayed, and read his Bible like never before. God ripped the desire to consume pornography completely out of his life.  

  

Chad Newman, new home associate, bravely shared his deeply personal story–a story he had never shared outside the circle of family and close friends. Years ago, before joining Betenbough Homes, Chad struggled with alcoholism. Each day was a battle; he often began his mornings hungover or already drinking, trying to cope in ways that ultimately wore him down. He had tried to quit several times, but the grip of alcohol felt too strong. This struggle impacted every part of his life, especially his marriage.  

  

The turning point came during a work trip after another heavy night of drinking. When Chad realized just how close he was to losing his wife, his son, and everything he cherished, he realized the gravity of the situation he was in. In that moment of clarity, Chad found the strength to take his last drink. He then turned toward a relationship with Christ, and through his faith, he found the support he needed to get sober.  

  

Lora was personally impacted by hearing Chad’s story. She had, in the past, stood by her husband as he struggled with the same dependency Chad did. When Chad stated that his wife didn’t deserve what she had to go through as he battled addiction, Lora felt like her own husband was saying that to her. She reflects, “Hearing him say those words did something within me. It was very healing to hear that.”

  

Someone also told the story of sitting in a bedroom ready to commit suicide when the Lord intervened and saved this person’s life. This individual applied to work at Betenbough Homes the next day. Another person talked about how they had been physically and sexually abused as a child. No one had any idea these things had happened in either person’s life. 

  

These stories represent just a few of the brave souls who shared vulnerably at their Jumpstarts. Many more offered their testimonies of salvation, redemption, and restoration. And the entire region was impacted, because “they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). 

  

This atmosphere of freedom and safety continues. Toward the end of 2024, the same spirit broke out in a Friday Positives meeting. Even people who had only been on the job a week or so were comfortable sharing what their lives were like before they came to Betenbough Homes and how God was already moving in their hearts. 

  

Ruben says, “Betenbough isn’t just part of my testimony. It’s most of my testimony. God bless the Betenbough family for bringing my family in and allowing us to feel at home.”

  

Chad is full of gratitude: “I love that there’s no drinking in our company culture. I embrace the surprise drug and alcohol tests. I appreciate the accountability. It’s an amazing place we work in.”

 

Lora’s hope is that the Odessa team will continue to feel comfortable being their real selves and that everyone will realize, no matter what they’re going through, God is a redeemer. “We’re stronger when we’re in community,” she says. Ruben agrees: “I want everyone to know that whatever they’re going through, they can get through it by submitting their problem—and themselves as a whole—to God.”