We recently had the chance to connect with Simone Middlebrooks & Pastor Cedric Halbert and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Simone & Pastor Cedric , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
Simone Middlebrooks The last time I felt true joy was when my dad was alive. His presence brought a calm that’s hard to explain. Just sitting in the same room, hearing him laugh, or having one of our deep talks made everything feel safe. Life still had its chaos, but when he was here, joy was simple. It was real. I didn’t realize then that those moments were some of the most priceless gifts I’d ever have.
Pastor Cedric Halbert When I gave my brother my kidney in April of 2022. That moment gave me a deeper understanding of love, sacrifice, and purpose. It wasn’t just a physical gift it was spiritual too. I felt God’s presence all through that process. That was true joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Simone Middlebrooks My name is Simone Middlebrooks. I’m an author, speaker, life coach, and founder of the Men’s Empowerment Network Society (M.E.N.S.) and Divine Purpose Partner. Everything I do is built around healing real, raw, and necessary healing. Whether it’s helping men break the silence around their pain, guiding women through emotional and spiritual recovery, or writing books that speak to the battles we don’t talk about, I move with purpose.
What makes my brand different is the honesty. I don’t sugarcoat the process. I’ve been through betrayal, heartbreak, loss and I still chose purpose. Right now, I’m building a digital platform and app that blends spiritual guidance, emotional wellness, fasting support, and life coaching all in one. It’s not just about branding it’s about breakthrough.
Pastor Cedric Halbert
My name is Pastor Cedric Halbert. I’m a pastor, kidney donor, author, and motivational speaker but more than that, I’m a servant. My life changed the moment I decided to not just preach the Word, but live it by giving someone a second chance at life through kidney donation. That decision showed me what it truly means to sacrifice, to love your neighbor, and to walk by faith.
Through my ministry, my writing, and every message I share, my goal is simple: to push people toward purpose with truth, love, and bold accountability. I serve alongside Simone Middlebrooks in the Divine Connections broadcast and support the work of the Men’s Empowerment Network Society. I believe healing starts with real conversations and I’m committed to helping people heal, grow, and walk in the fullness of who God called them to be.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Simone Middlebrooks My father. He saw the fire in me before I ever knew how to use it. He spoke life into my gift when I was still second-guessing myself. He always said, “You’re built for more,” even when I was just trying to survive. He saw the leader, the speaker, the healer in me and never let me shrink. Now that he’s gone, I realize he wasn’t just encouraging me he was calling out what God had already placed inside me.
Pastor Cedric Halbert
Dr. Ronald C. Bridewell saw me before I saw myself. I was birthed under his ministry, and he didn’t just see potential he called it out. He covered me, poured into me, corrected me, and prepared me. Before I ever held a mic or stood behind a pulpit, he saw a pastor, a servant, and a man of integrity in me. I’m the fruit of that covering, and I carry his influence with me in everything I do.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Simone Middlebrooks
Suffering taught me who I really was. It stripped the titles, the applause, the distractions and left me face-to-face with the broken pieces I kept hiding. It taught me how to pray when nobody was listening, how to stand when everything was falling apart, and how to hear God clearly in the silence. Success never showed me that. Pain did. And because of that, I don’t just speak from knowledge I speak from scars that healed.
Pastor Cedric Halbert
Serving the Lord in adversity taught me that real faith isn’t proven when life is easy it’s proven when everything is breaking. I had to learn how to serve when I was hurting, preach when I was grieving, and lead when I felt empty. But what I found is that God doesn’t need perfect conditions to move He just needs a willing vessel. I kept showing up, even when my heart was heavy, and God kept meeting me there. That’s how you serve in adversity: not because it’s easy, but because you trust that He’s still worthy
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Simone Middlebrooks
My closest friends would say I’m a listener. I show up. I support without judgment. I don’t just say “I’m here” I am there, whether it’s 2 a.m. or in the middle of my own storm. Helping people matters to me. Whether it’s through prayer, advice, or just sitting in silence, they know I’ll be present, real, and consistent. That’s just who I am.
Pastor Cedric Halbert
No matter the season or the shift, I’ve learned to stay true to who I am and who God called me to be. Change will come people will leave, doors will close, storms will hit but my foundation can’t move. My identity isn’t in titles, platforms, or opinions. It’s in Christ. That’s how I’ve stayed consistent through it all. I don’t let life change my character. I let God use every change to shape me deeper into His will.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Simone Middlebrooks
I regret letting other people’s opinions affect me mentally, emotionally, and even physically. I regret the times I didn’t walk in my full potential because I let fear or doubt take the lead and most of all, I regret not making my father proud before he passed away. That still sits heavy on my heart. But every day now, I choose to move forward in purpose for him, for me, and for the ones still watching.
Pastor Cedric Halbert
I have no regrets. I don’t like looking back I move forward in Jesus’ name. Our past isn’t meant to keep us stuck; it’s meant to teach us. Every mistake, every delay, every detour is a life lesson. We either get better or bitter and I choose better.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://divinepurposepartner.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/redlove06/ instagram.com/halbertcedric/
- Facebook: Facebook.com/simone.middlebrooks. Facebook.com/cedric.halbert.2025
- Youtube: @divinePurposeLive
- Other: https://mensempowerment.org
Image Credits
For the pictures for Simone Middlebrooks I gave credit to Maurice Hector
