Sonja Vaughn Carney

Minister Sonja was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Her deliverance ministry, Prison to Praise, has carried her all over the world including London, Uganda, and Dubai, as she desires to heal the brokenhearted and set the captive free. Her ministry, ‘Prison to Praise’, was birthed from a 12-year drug addiction. In the midst of her mess, she never lost sight of the messenger - Jesus Christ!!!

In her drug addiction, she would leave the crack house singing, “His Eyes are on the Sparrow.” After a while she found it difficult to get high, because people no longer wanted her singing and reciting scriptures to them. One-night Minister Sonja had a Damascus Road experience, and she cried out to God to send her to jail until she could change. After that night, she went to jail for a six-month sentence, which turned into an over three-year prison stint. It was in prison that God broke the stronghold of crack that was over her, and she surrendered her life to Christ. She later became the director of the Victory Voices Choir, an all-male inmate choir that traveled to different churches to sing praises and give their testimonies. The Victory Voices is also the organization which began the Ministry relationship with Attorney John Price (the same District Attorney that sent Min Sonja to prison in the late 90s).

In 2006, Minister Sonja served as an Assistant Pastor for one year at Greater First Street Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Norris P. Johnson in Nashville, TN. She has participated in outreach efforts as well. She’s a motivational speaker, and travels throughout the country encouraging others. Minister Sonja believes that she was delivered from drugs and living in the streets in order to help someone else become healed, delivered, and set free. She lives a life devoted to assisting those who want to make a positive change in their lives.

Minister Sonja is the author of ‘From Prison to Praise’ (her life story of being an overcomer). She has an Associate’s degree in Theology from Emmanuel Baptist College. She is a licensed, ordained minister, currently serving as Associate Minister of Cedar Grove Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee under the leadership of the Elder Monte Lester. Minister Sonja is an alcohol and drug counselor. From 2012-2014, she was also the overseer for the states of Tennessee and Alabama for Grace Abundant Life Ministry (G.A.L.M). She is a certified tax-preparer and owner of AuthentiQ Tax (over10 yrs.) & AuthentiQ Business Solutions. Minister Sonja is the wife of Perry Carney and mother of Divon and Sontoya Cruthchfield, Step- Mom-in Love of Latia Sneed, Perry II, Peri & Anthony Carney. She resides in Murfreesboro TN.