From Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 3rd, New Canaan Community Church at 225 E. Clinton Street in Joliet, Illinois became a place of healing, breakthrough, and bold testimony.
Hosted by Pastor Lonnie and Evangelist Ronda Posley, the NCCC Survivor Conference drew youth and adults of all ages, backgrounds, and races from across the Joliet community for three days of powerful ministry centered around one message — survival.
Three Days of Ministry
The conference kicked off Friday evening with guest speakers Pastor Alan Young, Apostle David Jordan, and Elder Kevin, who set the tone for what would become an increasingly powerful weekend.
Saturday continued with teaching sessions led by Minister Jhade Posley and Dr. Jennifer Young, offering deeper instruction and community for those in attendance. The conference concluded Sunday, May 3rd, to an overwhelmingly positive response from all who participated.
Testimonies That Shook the Room
Friday night’s atmosphere was described as nothing short of phenomenal. Speakers came to the mic with raw, unfiltered testimonies that resonated deeply with the crowd.
Pastor Young, a military veteran who served in Germany in the 1970s, shared how his encounters with danger overseas drove him to surrender his life to God.
“After I got hit a few times in Germany, I knew I needed Jesus,” he said. “That was when I knew God had something great for me. It had to do with trust.”
Pastor Posley delivered one of the most gripping moments of the evening — a passionate, unflinching call to protect children from abuse and exploitation, urging parents and guardians to be vigilant about who has access to their families.
“If this baby is not safe around me, something is wrong,” he declared. “You need to put people in check. Don’t let everybody hug your children.”
His words carried the weight of personal pain and communal responsibility, challenging the room to speak up, protect the vulnerable, and refuse silence.
“Be a snitch — so you can live,” Pastor Posley said, drawing both laughter and conviction from the audience.
The thread running through every testimony was survival — surviving trauma, abuse, job loss, betrayal, and heartbreak. Speaker after speaker affirmed the same declaration: I survived. And you can too.
Strongholds Broken
Evangelist Ronda Posley reflected on what the first night produced in the lives of those who attended.
“We had so many young people that came and surrendered over what they were going through, their issues, and God blessed them,” she said. “The stronghold broke some yokes in this house today. I was truly blessed.”
The NCCC Survivor Conference was more than an event — it was a lifeline. For everyone who walked through those doors carrying something heavy, the message was clear: no matter what you have been through, you are a survivor.
