Uncommon Loyalty & Breakthrough in 2025

One of the things about The Citadel—whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you just started coming in the past few months—is that we are not like any other church. Many of us come from different church backgrounds, different experiences, different upbringings. Some were raised Catholic, some Pentecostal, some Assembly of God, and some from a KC church. Whatever our backgrounds may be, The Citadel is something completely different because we are creating a culture, not just importing one.

We aren’t just trying to copy what other churches do. Sure, we may adopt some good ideas, but ultimately, we are building something unique. Why are you here? Because you feel like this is family. You’ve experienced the presence of God. You’ve seen what it means to be prophetic, relational, and spiritual—our core values as a church. And we are totally different from any other place.

That’s why it’s important to understand where we are going. Prophet John shared a message back in December about the vision God has given us for 2025. It’s this:

“To align our lives, our ministry, and our church with God’s plumb line, becoming a beacon of revival and restoration in Tucson and beyond, fueled by uncommon loyalty, faith-filled action, and a relentless pursuit of God’s presence.”

That’s what we’re moving toward. We can’t get distracted by what other churches are doing or by what feels comfortable. If we stay aligned with God’s plumb line, we won’t be off course. We’ll stay right in the flow of what God is doing.

The Mission: A Church That Breaks Strongholds

Our mission at The Citadel is clear:

“We commit to reclaiming spiritual strongholds, fostering unity through uncommon commitment, and demonstrating God’s mercy in every area of life. Through prayer, worship, and intentional discipleship, we aim to create a wellspring of life and breakthrough for our community, empowering every believer to walk in alignment with God’s will and extend His kingdom.”

That’s not just words on paper. That is who we are. That is what we are doing.

And guess what? We’ve seen incredible growth. Think back to a year ago. When we first moved into this building, how many of you were here? Not many. But look at what God has done in the last six months! That’s why I am excited about the next six months. Because if God has done all this in the last six months, imagine where we are headed!

But growth comes with a price. We have to stay aligned. We can’t drift. I’ve been in churches where they set a vision at the beginning of the year, and by March, they’re headed in a different direction. That’s not who we are. We are here to break down strongholds. We are here to establish a place where signs, wonders, and miracles can happen. Where the prophetic goes forth. Where ministry happens. Where God speaks to His people.

The Call to Uncommon Loyalty

This year is a year of breakthrough for The Citadel. A year of breakthrough for your life. A year of breakthrough for where God is taking you as an individual and us as a church. But it requires alignment with Him.

If you’ve ever done construction, you know what happens when something isn’t level. Everything built on top of it is off. Our lives are the same way. We need to be aligned with God’s plumb line.

And alignment requires uncommon loyalty. Loyalty to God. Loyalty to His mission. Loyalty that is steadfast, sacrificial, and demonstrated through faith-filled actions.

Daniel understood this kind of loyalty. He was taken into captivity, forced to serve under four different rulers. He could have compromised. He could have wavered. But he didn’t. He stayed faithful. He stayed emotionally healthy. He refused to be swayed by outside influences.

When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, God shut the mouths of the lions because of Daniel’s unwavering trust. That’s the kind of courage we need today. A faith that refuses to compromise. A loyalty that stands firm even under pressure.

Emotional Health and Spiritual Maturity

But loyalty isn’t just about commitment—it’s also about emotional health. Too often, we focus on our spiritual health, our physical health, even our financial health, but neglect our emotional health.

How many of us stop to ask, “Why did I get so angry? Why am I feeling anxious? Why am I feeling depressed?” Emotional health is key to spiritual maturity. It’s about recognizing our emotions before they take control. It’s about being in tune with what’s happening inside us so we can stay aligned with God’s will.

That’s why we are focusing so much on emotional health as a church. Starting in March, we will have a class on Sunday nights about emotionally healthy spirituality. Because if our foundation isn’t solid, we can’t build something that lasts.

The Strength of The Citadel

One thing I love about The Citadel is that this church is not built on the personalities of Prophet John and Prophet Meleana. This church is built on the prophetic, relational, and spiritual. That means we are all part of this vision. We are all a part of what God is doing.

That also means we need to be authentic with one another. Stop pretending everything is fine when it’s not. If you’re struggling, say something. If you need help, ask for it. This is not a church where you just come, sit, and leave. This is a family. And we don’t do life alone.

Staying Resilient and Avoiding Burnout

A lot of people talk about burnout, but let me tell you something—burnout doesn’t come from giving too much. It comes from giving from an empty place. If you are pouring out without being filled up, you will burn out. That’s why we emphasize prayer, worship, and spending time in God’s presence. Because when we give from the overflow, we don’t grow weary.

Daniel lived his life in alignment with God’s plumb line. His daily prayers kept him aligned, even in a culture that pressured him to compromise. He refused to waver, and because of that, God honored him.

The Challenge: Where Do You Stand?

So today, I have a challenge for you. Evaluate your loyalty to God. Are you truly aligned with His plumb line? Or have you been compromising? Have you been making decisions without consulting Him? Have you been emotionally unhealthy and unaware of what’s really going on in your heart?

We need to be a people of uncommon loyalty. A people who trust God completely. A people who are emotionally healthy and spiritually mature. A people who refuse to compromise.

Because when we do that, breakthrough happens. Not just in our lives, but in our church, our city, and beyond.

So today, I encourage you—commit yourself to God’s vision. Be authentic. Be loyal. Be resilient. And let’s move forward together as The Citadel, standing strong, breaking down strongholds, and aligning with God’s perfect will.

The best is yet to come.