Fighting an unexpected battle of stifling oppression and emotional manipulation, Cambria Hunter carried her spiritual sword into a job filled with darkness, begging God for an escape. A flame was ignited within her at age five when Cambria heard God’s call to global missions. She pursued training as an occupational therapist, later serving alongside her husband in a pastoral ministry role.

When Cambria landed a job in Phoenix, Arizona, with a well-known and respected healthcare organization, she and her husband, Bob, relocated their family to the desert.

Cambria embraced her new role, training the pediatric occupational therapy staff within the organization. Proving her professional value, she was soon promoted to a leadership, management position. Though the work was fulfilling, she still felt God’s nudge toward global missions.

Her job offered stability with excellent medical benefits and tuition reimbursement. Acceptance into Northwestern University’s Global Health Master's Degree program, paid by her employer, seemed a tangible confirmation of her calling. Taking two classes each year, she progressed toward her global vision. “I had a manager who poured into me and helped me to develop and grow as a leader.”

Graduating from Northwestern in 2022, it seemed logical that God would release her from the workplace and open new doors, but nothing materialized. “I heard God telling me, very clearly, to wait for two years. I submitted, asking Him to teach me everything He had for me.”

As she grew in her leadership role, Cambria encountered landmines of manipulation and mental intimidation. Distrust and anxiety enveloped her like an oppressive cloud. Rising within the corporate hierarchy, she experienced increased pressure and unrealistic demands. Her role shifted from supervisor to guardian and protector of her team. Consumed with exhaustion, severe emotional and physical fatigue, she felt trapped. Ensnared in a spiritual battle, survival seemed impossible.

Daily, girding herself through scripture, journaling, and prayer, she begged God to release her from her shackles. Cambria was in an unbearable wilderness season, waging an internal battle between bitterness and anger versus Christian values and God’s love. Her family surrounded her with a fortress of prayer. The longer she sat in this “waiting room” of dark persecution, the more Cambria immersed herself in God’s word, focusing on the Psalms. She began wrestling with God through scripture, challenged to be a light in the darkness. Daily, she entered the war zone with renewed hope and courage, only to feel God’s presence evaporate. 

Cambria felt the Holy Spirit urging her to shift her focus toward the book of Ephesians. 

Desperate for relief, she began clothing herself with the spiritual armor of her loving God, committing to memory all six chapters of Paul’s message to the saints of Ephesus. This was the beginning of her transformative journey.

Throughout this dark season, Cambria witnessed heightened control and abuse within her workplace. Personal attacks were so apparent that her team members slipped her notes with alternative job prospects. Cambria realized she had to leave, no matter the cost. “The pain was too great for me to 'wait for a job' or find some perfect fit.”.

Amid the waiting, Cambria began making regular trips to Mexico. “God kept giving me a vision each time that I'm to create a path rather than go into an existing one.” Mental and physical preservation became her catalyst. The position and benefits no longer held her captive. “I had to get out of Egypt”. With husband Bob’s encouragement and support, she left.

“When I finally left (the job) in 2024, I said Okay, I'm done trying to forge and make things happen.' Trusting in God’s plan for her future, Cambria began healing. “I knew He would provide, and He has.” Since leaving the job, God has opened new doors far beyond Cambria's imagination.

Coordinating trips to Mexico has become a regular part of her life. Funding has been the most significant barrier. “I'm scared when planning these mission trips with people I don't know. When I take every detail to God, the vehicles we take, who will drive, the agenda, how to lead people from varied backgrounds, God gives me power and strength.”

As she loosened her grip on the illusion of “security”, teaching and clinical opportunities opened with ATSTILL, NAU, Creighton, and Huntington University. Some schools have considered sanctioning the Mexico trips as official school trips for OT students. “This is all due to God’s influence, not me! I can't take any credit; God is just using me, and I'm trying to be his faithful partner.“

Today, Cambria leads volunteer occupational therapy (OT) teams into a small rural Mexican community, offering expanded services within a local therapy clinic. When not leading trips, she provides direct patient care within Arizona communities. With newfound freedom, she shares her faith during early intervention home visits, often praying with the families.

Working three days a week in the NICU, she sings Bible songs and lullabies to the babies while performing therapy. “I love working with parents and helping them bond with their infant and child!  She teaches monthly parenting classes at the Chandler Pregnancy Care Center.  As a certified Neonatal and Touch practitioner, Cambria administers infant massage within the Little Allstars Ministry. “When we touch their skin with love, we literally touch their brains, laying neural pathways of love, and I believe it's God's hand through ours giving the touch of love! “

During the long years of pressure, when God seemed silent and distant, Cambria leaned into His word, determined to find Him. Through the redeeming power of the Holy Spirit, she has emerged transformed. Today, she lives in complete faith that God is working, even when she can’t hear or see Him. “Whether paid or not, I try to see all work as a global mission and see people as God sees them. I am now free to give of myself. The line between work and missions has become blurred.”

There were days Cambria felt she could barely stand, but God sent encouragement through other Christians who laid hands upon her and prayed. Amid the turmoil and waiting, Cambria submitted, continually praying and meditating on God's word. “Whenever I felt anger or bitterness seeping into my heart or fake stories and conversations replaying in my head, I would stop and begin praying and meditating primarily on Ephesians.” Through this practice, God continues his transformative work within her. “He is changing the stories in my head to visions of hope and a heart filled with gratitude.”

It is as though Cambria had been spiritually asleep and has just awakened, feeling God’s light shining through her, illuminating the darkness.