On a crisp autumn evening in Manhattan, Kansas, the town’s faithful gathered at a modest church nestled near the banks of the Kansas River. The sun had begun its descent behind the rolling Flint Hills, casting golden hues over the city affectionately known as The Little Apple. Inside, the pews filled quickly as people came expectant, drawn by the promise of healing and restoration. Leading the meeting was Sadie, a woman of unwavering faith whose gentle voice carried great authority.

The atmosphere in the church was charged with anticipation as she stepped forward, holding her well-worn Bible in one hand. “Tonight,” she began, her voice steady and filled with conviction, “we are going to experience the freedom that comes from listening to God. When you are teachable and open to His voice, you grow freer and freer. But when you refuse to listen, you end up bound.” She looked across the congregation, meeting their gazes one by one. “God is speaking to you tonight. Are you willing to listen?”

She opened her Bible to Psalm 23, reading aloud, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Sadie paused, letting the words settle in. “This isn’t just about physical rest,” she explained. “This is about deep, soul-level restoration. The kind that heals wounds we don’t even realize we carry.”

As she continued, she referenced the various translations of verse three. “‘He restores my soul,’” she quoted. “Or, as another translation puts it, ‘He refreshes my life.’” She smiled as murmurs of agreement echoed through the room. “Some of us came in here weary, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. But I want you to hear me tonight: The Lord is your Shepherd, and He is here to refresh and restore you.”

A soft “Amen” rippled through the congregation as Sadie pressed on. “Maybe you’ve felt lost, like you’ve wandered into a pit. But let me tell you something about shepherds. They don’t abandon their sheep. A good shepherd has a rod and a staff. That staff has a hook, and when a sheep gets tangled in the briars, the shepherd reaches in and pulls them out. Maybe you feel stuck, caught up in struggles you can’t escape. But the Good Shepherd is reaching for you tonight. Do you believe He can pull you out?”

A chorus of voices responded, “Yes!”

Sadie nodded. “He will pull you out of the pit. And do you know what else? That same staff is a weapon. When wolves come near, the shepherd doesn’t stand idly by. No, he wields that staff with skill, fighting off the predators that seek to destroy his flock. Our Shepherd—Jesus—is fighting for you. Whatever has come against you—sickness, fear, depression, lack—He is here to protect and deliver you.”

She turned to 1 Peter 5:8. “‘Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’” She closed her Bible and looked out at the congregation. “But listen to me: He ‘may’ devour you only if you let him. If you stay close to the Shepherd, if you follow Him, you are safe. The problem is, too many people try to see how close they can live to the edge and still be safe. They want to know, ‘How worldly can I be and still be saved?’”

A few heads nodded in recognition. Sadie continued, “That’s like a little boy who falls out of bed every night because he sleeps too close to where he got in. If you’re hanging onto the edge of faith, living just enough to get by, you are in danger. But if you press in, if you follow hard after God, you will be safe. Stay close to Him, so close that if He stops, you’ll bump right into Him.”

A hushed reverence filled the room. Sadie then moved into a time of prayer. “There are some of you here tonight who need healing. And I’m not just talking about physical healing—though that is part of it. Some of you need healing in your heart, in your mind, in your spirit.”

She walked down the aisle, pausing beside an older woman seated near the front. “Sister, God is saying you don’t have to carry that pain anymore. He is restoring your soul.” Tears welled in the woman’s eyes as Sadie gently laid a hand on her shoulder and prayed.

Moving to a young man in the second row, she said, “Son, you’ve been struggling with doubt. But God says He has not left you. He is leading you, even when you don’t feel it.” The young man bowed his head, and others reached out to lay hands on him in support.

The presence of God filled the church as Sadie continued to pray over the people. The weight of burdens lifted, peace settled in, and joy began to rise. “Psalm 23:5 says, ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.’” She looked out at the congregation. “That means we don’t just have enough—we have overflow. God is a God of abundance.”

She laughed gently. “Have you ever thought about this? Doesn’t God know when a cup is full? So why does He let it overflow?” A few chuckles rippled through the audience. “Because He wants to remind you that He is a God of more than enough. You don’t just get by—you thrive. You don’t just survive—you walk in abundance. Healing is part of that abundance.”

Sadie lifted her hands. “Right now, I want you to receive. If you need healing, if you need restoration, if you need to be pulled out of a pit, I want you to lift your hands.” Across the church, hands shot up, and a wave of faith surged through the room.

She began to pray, her voice filled with authority. “In the name of Jesus, I declare healing over every body, every mind, every spirit in this place. I speak life where there has been death, wholeness where there has been brokenness. The Lord is your Shepherd. You do not lack. You do not lack healing, you do not lack peace, you do not lack strength. Receive it now, in Jesus’ name.”

Cries of worship and gratitude filled the sanctuary as people received their healing. Some wept, some laughed with joy, some stood silently, overwhelmed by the presence of God.

As the service closed, Sadie smiled. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Go from here knowing that you are healed, restored, and abundantly blessed.”

The people left changed that night, carrying the truth of their Good Shepherd with them into the streets of Manhattan, Kansas. The Little Apple had witnessed a mighty move of God, and this was only the beginning.