Our Story

Violence is everywhere and no one is immune from the horror! One story that clearly comes to mind occurred eleven years ago: January 29, 1999, in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Yorkshire, Virginia; where two teenager sisters, ages 14 and 16, were attacked in their home!

The sixteen year old sister, during an attempted rape, fought desperately to fight off her attacker. She lost the battle and was murdered, when the attacker pulled a knife and pierced her heart. The fourteen year old sister, upon arriving home two hours later, was met at her own back door by the murderer. Unsuspecting, she entered her home and upon finding her sister, was forced to the basement. She was raped, bound by her own shoelaces, strangled, both wrists cut, stabbed twice, and her throat repeatedly slashed, where she was left for dead.

This is our story, I am the mother of these two young girls, Stacie and Kristie. Upon receiving this heart wrenching news, I was instantly thrown into a state of shock. My oldest daughter had been killed. A parents' worst nightmare. As if that was not enough, I was told my youngest daughter was not expected to live. I thought my life was over! The attacker of my two young teenage girls, not only pierced the heart of my eldest daughter, but pierced my heart, forever leaving a gaping hole in my heart!

I became consumed by a grief so heavy, it shrouded me in complete darkness. That night, as I sat by my youngest daughter's bedside, who had endured over five hours of surgery, I prayed for her life and healing. Never taking my eyes from Kristie's face, listening to the monitors and machines pumping oxygen into her lifeless body, and holding her hand; I prayed. Pouring my heart out to God, pleading with Him, not to let her die.

You see, Stacie and Kristie, my beautiful girls, had come face to face with evil. I could not wrap my mind around this horrible act of evil. I was completely numb.

As I sat there, praying and begging God, to heal Kristie, He heard my cry and answered my prayers. I felt His overwhelming peace. I knew Christ had entered the ICU room, and He was standing there with us. He gently put His arms around us, as I hung my head and cried. I know Jesus was crying with me, His peace was so amazing, and at that exact moment, I knew Kristie was going to be okay. The next morning the doctors confirmed what I already knew.

That night in the hospital, Christ came and clothed us in the armor of God! Jesus knew the Spiritual Warfare we were facing, for the battle had just begun. He placed around our waist the Belt of Truth. He would protect us from the lies the offender would dispel. He then placed upon our chests, the Breastplate of Righteous, to protect our hearts and souls from any forthcoming evil attacks. Upon our feet, He placed the Footwear of Peace, so we could stand firm against injustice. On our heads He placed the Helmet of Salvation, to protect us and guard our minds, from the battle against the enemy, for not one capitol murder trial, but two.

The Shield of Faith, He placed in one hand, to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one, letters from the offender, brutally taunting and threatening us. In the other hand, He placed the Sword of the Spirit, the word of God! We were ready for battle, supported and surrounded in prayer, by the biggest support system in the world, His prayer warriors!

By the grace of God, Kristie survived the attack with no physical disabilities! God heard our cries, answered our prayers and a week later, she was released from the hospital. Together, holding tightly to the hand of God, we attended Stacie's funeral. A Jr. ROTC cadet at her high school, Stacie was buried with full military honors, by her fellow comrades.

For three weeks we could not return home. It was to be a delicate, step by step process. I needed to grieve for Stacie, yet I needed to be strong for Kristie. I cried out to God constantly, and He was there, knowing I could not travel that road alone. This valley was deep and shadowed in darkness and despair, and our shattered lives were graced by God's presence each step of the way.

Paul says in Acts 14:22, "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." God gave us His promise, "The Lord himself goes before you; he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:6.

Jesus breaks the power, the principalities, our enemies have over us, and we are freed by God's love. Do not relinquish to Satan's desires, but clothe yourselves in the armor of God.

Our battles are a spiritual warfare, and cannot be fought with mere human tactics, as we are powerless without Christ. Become a soldier of Christ, standing firm in His promises, and His truth, so that when Satan attacks, we are equipped to fight the battle and be victorious! Have faith in Christ, even though it may seem dark and frightening, He is beside you always, and He will walk you through the valleys, to the mountaintops!

There is another victory in this message I would like to share with you. We as Christians are called by Jesus Christ, vested with His love and His Spirit of Grace, to love our enemies. On January 29, 2008, by God's divine Spirit of grace, nine years to the day, God brought me to forgiveness. I forgave the offender for the crimes he committed against our family. This past March, I was allowed to speak with the offender the day before his execution.

The truth? God has a special plan for each of us. Through all our struggles, there is hope; Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Remember, the cross is the anchor of Hope in the midst of trouble. Standing firm in battle, gains victory! Clothe yourselves in the armor of God and die to self so you can live for the glory of God and He will break those chains of bondage, and set you free, through forgiveness. I have been blessed to have experienced God's grace and mercy thru the past eleven years, in more ways than I have time to tell you about. As Steve Saint, the author of The End of the Spear, said, "Let God write your story."

God has written our story and I am honored to share it with you today!