Tested by Fire, Built to Rise: The Unstoppable Sonja Burrus

Full Interview.

From violin strings to velvet curtains, from cold car seats to standing ovations, Sonja Burrus’s life has never followed a straight line. It’s a series of miracles stitched together by pain, persistence, and purpose. Her story isn’t just about survival, it’s about resurrection, about what happens when you finally stop running and start rising.

When Sonja showed up for her interview with Your Brand Man, it didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t going to be a normal conversation. This was a testimony. A truth bomb. A creative altar call. And it all started with one scripture: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you.” That verse became the compass that guided her through storms, sickness, and silence.

Before she became a voice of wisdom for aspiring artists and a light for broken souls, Sonja was a shy little girl in Saratoga Springs, New York, raised in a military family by an educated mother who demanded excellence. But even back then, the leader in her refused to hide. In first grade, on a school bus filled with cruelty and laughter, she shut down bullying with a five-year-old's courage and a fire that hasn’t gone out since.

By high school, Sonja had traded her shyness for a violin and her violin for a mic. In Gary, Indiana, she found herself thrust into leadership, gifted with a red carpet opportunity she didn’t even know to ask for. She created bands, orchestrated music programs, and led movements before she even knew that’s what she was doing. “God hooked that up way back then,” she said. And He wasn’t finished.

But like most real stories, this one took a turn. The stage lights dimmed. Life got heavy. She made some choices that left her broken. She found herself in Columbus, Ohio, running for her life. Not metaphorically, literally. Leaving behind a dangerous relationship, she landed in Philadelphia with nothing but a word from God:

| “Go to Philadelphia and sing.”

So she did.

What followed was nothing short of divine. Jobs, housing, provision, all waiting for her on the other side of obedience. She went from survival mode to full ministry. She gave her life to Christ and the gifts came rushing back. The violin returned. The voice was restored. The calling was clear. Plays. Choreography. Music. Mentorship. It was all there.

But then came the surgeries. Five of them. Back to back. Hospital visits became the norm. And yet, even then, her spirit didn’t break. “I wasn’t physically at capacity, but I was dying inside because I wanted to run,” she said. But the healing wasn't just physical. It was spiritual. Emotional. Transformational. And when the dust settled, Sonja wasn’t the same. She was stronger. She was clearer. She was ready.

Ready to write the book that had been living in her spirit since 2015.

Embracing the Moment isn’t just a memoir, it’s a healing companion. A journal that walks with you through the mess and into the miracle. It’s a raw, honest, faith-filled account of what it looks like to surrender, survive, and shine.

Now, Sonja Burrus is back on stage, not chasing applause, but pursuing impact. “I don’t need the world’s standard,” she says. “I just want to speak to the ears God assigned me to.”

She’s not trying to go viral. She’s trying to go vital by reaching the people who need her voice the most. So if you’ve ever felt stuck in your past, silenced by your pain, or unsure if it’s too late to start over, Sonja Burrus is living proof that purpose doesn’t expire.

God doesn’t waste anything. Not pain. Not homelessness. Not divorce. Not delay.

And Sonja’s life? It’s a reminder that if you just keep walking, just keep listening, just keep trusting…

You too can say,

“God has a plan for me.”

— To support Sonja Burrus, follow her on Instagram at @sonjaburrus and grab her new book Embracing the Moment on BookBaby or Amazon today.

It’s more than a read — it’s a restoration.

Jaret R. Barron

"I Am Your Brand Man"

See Sonja at this years Jasai Theater Festival,

Click here for ticket information.