By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Get on The Ark.

“The lights went out, and a booming voice said, ‘Let there be light.’” That instant of darkness and divine command reshaped a young girl’s destiny, setting her on a path that would later challenge the very foundations of spiritual deception.

Early Encounters with Faith and Family Influence

Dr. Vicki Smith Burdett, the guest on Get on The Ark, traced her first encounter with God to an eleven‑year‑old altar call in a small Baptist church. She described the moment as a literal darkness broken by a voice she recognized as God’s. Though she grew up in a household where both her maternal grandfather, a Baptist preacher, and her paternal grandfather, a Methodist minister, read the Bible at every meal, she initially resisted the scriptures, calling the experience a “spiritual abortion.”

Despite her resistance, Burdett acknowledges that the relentless exposure to the Bible laid a foundation she would later lean on. “My first word to any parents and grandparents out there is speak the word to your children. Read it. Speak it,” she urged, emphasizing the long‑term impact of early scriptural immersion.

A Journey Toward Deliverance Ministry

As an adult, Burdett’s path veered toward ministry after a series of personal revelations. She recounted hearing an audible voice of God while driving, telling her to “love Jerry White,” a moment that redirected her perspective on relationships and evangelism. Her daughter’s teasing—calling her a “Jesus freak”—prompted Burdett to explain that a fanatic is simply someone with enthusiasm beyond the average.

Her pursuit of a deeper connection with Christ led to multiple baptisms, each marked by a sense of incompleteness. “I went through the water, nothing happened. I went back and did it again, still nothing,” she said, describing three separate baptisms—first in a church, then in a swimming pool, and finally a private ceremony with her late husband. These experiences, though seemingly uneventful, propelled her toward a vivid vision during worship: she saw herself shrinking into the pores of God’s hand, hearing Him say, “there’s a tender vulnerability in love.” This vision cemented her conviction to minister in deliverance, defined as “the truth” that frees people from spiritual oppression.

Exposing Spiritual Deception

Central to Burdett’s ministry is the conviction that many believers lack a proper understanding of the Trinity and the nature of God’s love. She argued that a disconnect often stems from an absent earthly father figure, leaving individuals “separated from God.” In her view, this separation mirrors the biblical narrative of Adam’s fall, where death is defined as separation from the divine. “When God breathed into Adam, he became a living soul. When he disobeyed, death entered the world,” she explained, linking the ancient story to contemporary spiritual blindness.

Burdett’s deliverance work aims to help individuals discern what belongs to them versus what does not, urging a return to the foundational truth that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). She emphasized that even the most reviled individuals retain the image of God, reinforcing the universality of her message: “The baddest person on the planet…has the same heart as you. He was created in the image of God just like you.”

Connecting the Message to a Broader Audience

Host Darren Conrad guided the conversation toward practical applications, asking how listeners might recognize spiritual deception in daily life. Burdett responded that awareness begins with personal prayer and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. She highlighted that true freedom is not the absence of problems but the ability to face them with Christ’s strength.

She also pointed to the urgency of the “spiritual storm” she believes is approaching humanity, drawing a parallel to Noah’s ark. By encouraging listeners to “get on the ark”—to commit to a relationship with Jesus—Burdett aligns her ministry with the series’ overarching theme of salvation amid looming darkness.

Impact and Future Directions

Freedoms Away Ministry, founded by Burdett, focuses on delivering individuals from spiritual bondage through counseling, teaching, and deliverance sessions. While the transcript did not detail specific program metrics, Burdett’s personal testimony underscores a commitment to expanding the ministry’s reach, especially in areas where biblical literacy is low.

Looking ahead, Burdett expressed a desire to partner with churches and community leaders to provide resources that address both spiritual and emotional wounds. She believes that equipping believers with a solid understanding of Scripture will empower them to resist deception and become agents of transformation in their own families and neighborhoods.

In a landscape where many feel adrift amid cultural confusion, Burdett’s story offers a compelling reminder that personal encounters with the divine can ignite lasting change. Her blend of vivid personal experience, theological insight, and practical ministry serves as a beacon for those seeking authentic freedom.

The full episode of Get on The Ark is available on OBBM Network TV.