Our Mission

Steve Russo was born and raised in Cook County Illinois and moved to Austin Texas with his immediate family in 1979. Steve grew up as a shy Catholic boy that stuttered when he spoke until he was radically saved in his Sophomore year of high school.  At the age of 16 Steve had a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ after watching a video called "Faces of Death" which at the time was banned in almost ever state.  As Steve watched a satanic sacrifice with his friends at a house party while smoking pot and drinking alcohol he felt a demon spirit enter him.  When Steve went home that evening he began to manifest and was taken into the bathroom and dragged to the ground by the evil spirit that entered him. Steve had praying parents and specifically a mother that had a powerful intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. She casted demons out of him as he coughed and puked violently as the Holy Spirit filled him and set him free.  For 3 days Steve was getting delivered and set free and totally changed by the fire of God and could not stop reading the bible. When Steve went back to school 3 days later, there was a fire drill and the entire school was instructed to go to the football field. Steve took this opportunity to preach the gospel for the first time to hundreds of his peers standing in the field. He began preaching about what Jesus had done for him 3 days ago.  This was the beginning of Steve's ministry. At the age of 16 Steve asked his father to build him a huge cross because he felt Jesus leading him to go to 6th Street in Austin to preach to all of the people particularly on Halloween night. Steve was scoffed at by lots of church people and family members that did not understand why he was so compelled to go.  He started a street outreach that lasted for 3 years. Steve and a small group of people that caught the fire went downtown and ministered preaching the Gospel of Jesus and feeding the homeless every single weekend for 3 years.  So many people were saved, set free, and discipled into local churches throughout the entire time serving in this downtown outreach. At the age of 19 Steve felt compelled to get more ministry training so he enrolled at Emmaus Rd. Ministry School in Euless Tx. He spent 2 years getting trained under several mighty men and woman of God such as James Robison, Dudley Hall, Doug White, Mark Jobe just to name a few .  He graduated in 1992 with a Certificate of practical theology and for many years after he served as a youth pastor at several local churches. Steve's ministry eventually grew into an evangelistic traveling platform that took him and his team to high schools, street corners, churches and youth camps all over Texas doing dramas and preaching the Gospel. Steve and his team also spent some time living at the Bethany and Josiah Orphanage in Renosa Mexico preaching all around Mexico with interpreters. Steve also spoke on many radio stations and started an international blog talk radio show in 2014 and did over 35 shows interviewing prominent ministers and professional Christian athletes.  Steve's journey took him through many ups and downs and he even walked away from the Lord and ministry for a season after a painful divorce.  Steve ended up going into the police academy in 2002 and worked as a police officer for 22 years. Throughout Steve's police career he still felt that God's hand was on him to continue preaching the Gospel. He had opportunities to speak at several Christian law enforcement conferences in Texas and Pennsylvania. Today, Steve has 2 children and 1 grandson. He and his wife Melinda live in Leander TX.  Steve is an active Police Chaplain and still feels the burning call of God on his life to preach the Gospel and bring salvation and healing to this dying world. Voice of Thunder Ministries Inc. was established in 2012 and The Refuge was birthed to be a relevant outreach/church ministry that will eventually develop into an international base for evangelistic crusades. 

Lorin Russo Pogue earned her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University, with minors in Behavioral Science, Social Science, and Biblical Studies, and is also certified as a Trans-formative Mindset Life Coach. Lorin is dedicated to helping people achieve strong mental health by allowing the Word of God to renew and reshape minds. This is because, as a n overcomer in Christ, she has witnessed firsthand how God has transformed her ashes into beauty, which has inspired many. Lorin's teachings, writings, and speaking are all driven by her motivation for serving others and reminding them that nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26). Lorin is the author of the book Becoming Souly Satisfied which is a 21 day devotional that you can pick up on Amazon. Lorin is a mother of five, who resides with her husband Matt and their youngest son Titus in central Texas, where they strive to influence their community for the glory of God.