Orphans to Missionaries and Leaders to Freedom: A Life-Changing Kingdom Blueprint
Matt and Sarah Keller, lead pastors of Next Level Church in Fort Myers, Florida, join Philip Cameron to share the story behind their groundbreaking freedom curriculum — and it begins in a hospital room. After years of striving to build their church through sheer performance, Matt suffered a serious back injury that led to surgery, a spinal fluid leak, and 12 days of darkness in a hospital bed. It was there that Sarah began to ask the questions that would eventually change thousands of lives: "I think I'm not okay." That honest confession launched a years-long journey of Holy Spirit-led healing — confronting childhood wounds, fear, forgiveness, and the lies of the enemy — that became the foundation for Next Level Freedom, a 12-week small group discipleship curriculum now used in over 100 churches across multiple nations. The curriculum guides participants through identity, hurt, fear, and strongholds before culminating in a live "freedom experience" in weeks nine and ten, rooted in Luke 4 and Jesus' promise to "set the captives free." Weeks eleven and twelve then equip believers to walk out their freedom in everyday life. Whether you lead a church, serve on staff, or are simply walking with Jesus, this episode delivers a practical, Spirit-filled roadmap for lasting transformation. Visit nextlevelfreedom.com or nextlevelchurch.com to explore the Leaders Guide, Participants Guide, and the Next Level Relational Network of nearly 200 churches.
What's Discussed
Matt and Sarah Keller, founders of Next Level Church in Fort Myers, Florida, recount how a near-breakdown during a church building campaign — culminating in Matt's spinal surgery and a 12-day hospital stay — forced a reckoning with unaddressed wounds, fear, and performance-driven ministry. Out of that crucible they developed Next Level Freedom, a 12-week video-based small group curriculum addressing identity, hurt, lies, and fear before leading participants into a live Holy Spirit freedom experience in week ten, grounded in Luke 4. The curriculum, available in Leader and Participant versions at nextlevelfreedom.com, is now active in over 100 churches across multiple nations, with a companion network of nearly 200 churches called the Next Level Relational Network.
- 8:56Calling to Fort Myers and Church Origins
- 10:00Performance Burnout and Spiritual Crisis
- 11:00Hospital Room Turning Point
- 13:50Birth of the Freedom Curriculum
- 15:00Curriculum Structure: Leaders and Participants Guides
- 20:00Holy Spirit Self-Awareness Explained
- 21:0012-Week Journey to the Freedom Experience
- 24:30How to Access Next Level Freedom Resources
Featuring Matt and Sarah Keller