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Awakened
EMBRACING THE POWER OF I DON'T KNOW
“You are going to thank me for this one day kid”. This is what the familiar voice whispered in my ear as two hands were placed over my eyes, shielding me from the seduction and lure of hell and everything it brought with it. As I moved away from the evil, I moved towards the greatest love I have ever felt. A love so powerful I didn’t care if I ever came back to this life. A love that would leave me questioning everything I had ever believed. A love I would do anything to stay in the presence of. A love so un-describable words would not do it justice. This love would set me on a journey that would forever change my path.” - James Halverson
James Halverson was convinced God did not exist and spent the majority of his life proving to people they needed to believe the same. He was an agent for the devil delivering people into hell one by one with his charismatic personality and crafted words. He ran the streets of Vegas as a kid experiencing drugs as early as five years old. Sexual abuse and childhood trauma propelled him into a life of lust for money, sex, drugs, and all of the emptiness that accompanies it. Nothing would satisfy and yet if God would not have disrupted his life, had he not seen hell itself, he most assuredly would have remained on that self-destructive path, and would not be alive.
JAMES HALVERSON
Executive Director, Builder, Leader, Author, Strategist
James Halverson is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience spanning finance, construction, and faith-based leadership. With a proven track record in sales, project management, and organizational growth, James has led multi-million-dollar ventures and managed large-scale commercial construction projects across Las Vegas and beyond. From Wall Street to HVAC, and now to recovery ministry, James brings grit, integrity, and vision to everything he builds.
He began his career in finance, rising quickly through the ranks at Dean Witter, Smith Barney, and Dain Rauscher—earning national accolades, overseeing $100 million in managed assets, and mentoring the next generation of financial advisors. Transitioning into construction, James led the transformation of his family’s legacy HVAC business—Southwest Air Conditioning—into Hal Mechanical, one of Las Vegas’s most respected mechanical contractors. His projects have included major landmarks like Allegiant Stadium, Harry Reid International Airport, The Encore and Excalibur Hotels, and City Center.
Today, James serves as Executive Director of Next Step Recovery, a Christ-centered ministry launching in 2026 alongside his wife, Michelle Robinson-Halverson. Together, they are pioneering a movement that blends the principles of recovery with the power of spiritual transformation—offering practical tools, biblical truth, and deliverance through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Their mission is to walk with people beyond sobriety into total restoration and freedom.
James is also the author of the forthcoming book, Awakened: Embracing the Power of I Don’t Know—a deeply honest exploration of identity, humility, and healing. Drawing from personal experience, he invites readers to rediscover purpose by surrendering the illusion of control and embracing divine dependence.
Whether on a job site, behind a pulpit, or mentoring men one-on-one, James leads with humility, conviction, and a deep desire to help others build strong foundations—spiritually, professionally, and personally. He and his wife Michelle Halverson live in Texas and have 7 adult kids and 2 grandchildren. Family is everything after God.
Next Step Recovery
At Next Step Recovery, our mission is to lead individuals beyond sobriety into true spiritual freedom through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While we honor the framework of the 12 Steps, we go further—bridging the gap between traditional recovery and biblical truth.
We exist to expose spiritual bondage, confront the lies of the enemy, and guide people through the narrow gate into a transformed life of healing, identity, and deliverance. Through faith-based teaching, honest conversation, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we help people break free from addiction, trauma, shame, and strongholds—and walk in the wholeness they were created for.