The Testimony Behind Ninety Nine for the One Co.

Hi there! My name is Jess Burkhart. I may be the owner and founder of Ninety Nine for the One Co., but this story is entirely for the glory of God. I am honored and blessed to share my personal testimony of how this company and community came to be.

My story of faith starts like many others. I was born and raised in the Catholic Church and completed all of the sacraments, but if I’m honest, I never felt a deep connection within the church or with our Creator. I always had a foundation of faith, but I hadn’t yet experienced the close relationship with God that our hearts truly long for.

The first time I was saved by the Lord was in my early twenties, during an extremely difficult season of life. I was navigating severe depression and anxiety. It became so overwhelming that I began having thoughts of harming myself and others. I chose to seek counseling and medical help, and I remember clinging to my faith in the hospital as if it were my last lifeline. I asked for a Bible and started reading it. I held onto a cross every day and fell asleep each night imagining myself walking hand in hand with Jesus just to find peace enough to rest. I believe He carried me through that season. He guided me and gave me peace at a time when I had none.

As we know, God’s plan is always greater than our own. That painful season ultimately led me to a career change from hospitality and culinary management into the fitness and wellness world, born out of my own healing journey.

Through that pain and growth, I not only found a new career path, but I also met the man who would become my husband. Together we were blessed with our greatest gift, our son. And while that chapter alone is a testimony, life is layered with trials, and therefore layered with testimonies.

New seasons, especially parenthood, can bring unhealed parts of us to the surface. Becoming a mother was the greatest joy and also one of the greatest challenges of my life. As someone who leans anxious by nature, I was trying to survive day by day, learning how to care for our son, adjusting to life as a stay-at-home mom, and figuring out who I was in this new identity.

At the same time, my husband was struggling in his own way. We were both grieving our former independence and trying to step into our new roles, but we were doing so differently. His free spirit, one of the qualities I fell in love with, began to feel tethered. Slowly, we grew distant.

He turned to drinking to cope with the grief and transition, which put a deep strain on our marriage, a relationship that had always felt like a strong team. After years of navigating this pain, I reached a breaking point. I knew I did not want this environment modeled for our son, and I knew the only one who could truly help my husband was God.

On December 8, 2024, through tears and at a new rock bottom, I prayed our Advent prayer with my son, packed our bags, and went to stay with my parents. Surprisingly, I felt peace. I had surrendered it fully to God. I had done all I could; healing was now in His hands.

During that season, I picked up my Bible again. I began doing guided studies at home and finally accepted a long-standing invitation from a dear friend to attend her church. The moment I walked in, I knew I was home.

I told my husband, “I’m doing this for me. There’s no pressure for you to join. I only ask that you come with us for Christmas service.” He agreed.

After that Christmas service, I asked him what he thought. He said, “All I know is I feel really great after that.” And he has been coming with me ever since.

I received salvation in November 2024. My husband received salvation in January 2025. We were both water baptized in June 2025 and have continued walking our faith journey together.

It has been a journey of growth, reconnection, surrender, testing, and deep trust in the Lord. Scripture reminds us that God never promises an easy road, but He does promise His presence. And He has been with me every step of the way.

My prayer is that my testimony gives Him all the glory and strengthens your faith in His plan, His timing, and His endless love for you.