July 24, 2024 • 28 mins
What if a single moment of empathy could transform a life riddled with abuse and neglect into one filled with compassion and faith? Join us as we share the powerful and heart-wrenching journey of Connie, a woman who faced unimaginable hardships yet found solace and redemption through an unyielding belief in God's love. We'll walk through her painful experiences of being taken from her mother, enduring physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and the pivotal moment that shifted her focus from her suffering to the healing power of empathy.
In this episode, discover how an unexpected spiritual awakening at a revival led by Pastor Ray Clute became a turning point in Connie's life, steering her from despair towards a path of faith and hope. Learn how embracing God's unconditional love helped her move from a tumultuous existence to a serene and purposeful life. Through Connie's story, we'll underscore the significance of understanding divine love and how it can inspire those feeling lost or unloved to find solace and transformation. Tune in for an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact of compassion and faith.
- If you would like to share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The promoter.
Ron Meyers (00:22):
Hello, my friend, it is so good to be with you today
.
Have you had your conversationswith Jesus?
I know there have been somethings on your mind a little bit
of worry, a little bit ofanxiety.
Well, I'm telling you fromexperience a daily dose of Jesus
, Conversations with coffee, orwalk on the beach, driving in
(00:43):
the car, just sharing your heart, being open, with the concerns
on your heart.
It is therapy, because Jesus isin the business of ministering
to us.
So we see this unbelievablelove that he has given each of
us and we need to walk in thatlove.
(01:05):
And today's story, well, you'regoing to hear about Connie.
Connie did not grow up in a verynice environment.
She was tossed around fromfoster home to foster home and
all kinds of abuse, things thatyou would ask.
Well, if there is a loving God,why would God allow that?
Well, God allows things becausewe have a choice.
(01:31):
And most people that I'veinterviewed, hundreds and
hundreds of people, when theygot to the point in life where
they could not go on anymore,they found Jesus.
They fell in love with Jesus.
And today they're doing thingsnot because of earning points
with Jesus.
They're doing things becausethey're so in love with Jesus
(01:54):
because he rescued them, Justlike me.
I'm on this show.
I buy time because I need totell people what Jesus did for
me.
It just may touch that oneperson out there that is asking
God, are you real and can youhelp me?
Well, Connie's story today isgoing to encourage you If you're
(02:15):
going through some strugglesand trials in life.
Listen closely and then, in thefinal thought segment, I will
unpack the love power of Jesus.
But first, Connie, welcome tothe studios.
Connie, what's your story?
Connie (02:37):
Well, I came from a broken home where I didn't know
my mother.
My dad had taken me from herwhen I was one years old and he
killed me, only to abuse mephysically, emotionally and
sexually.
And, starting at the age of sixyears old and as time had
(03:04):
passed, I remember wanting to bewith my mom and and he would
like look at me and tell me youwant to meet your mom, you can
meet her.
But he was just doing a mockingthing.
It's like if he, when he lookedat me, he saw my mom and as I
grew up, I just like when I metmy mom, which I did in 2003, I
(03:28):
could see why.
It's like he despised mebecause I looked just like her
and I used to.
When people say, you look likeyour mom, I I really did not
like hearing that comment.
But anyways, I grew up, Ibecame a ward of the state of
Alabama and there I would go to,you know, different group homes
(03:49):
.
I was in a foster home where Iwas also sexually molested and
abused and it's like one day wewere going to school which we
lived across the street at thefoster home that I was in, and
it was kindergarten to firstgrade and on that particular day
(04:10):
my foster mom she was anelderly lady, but they had got
our checks, you know, from thegovernment to take care of us.
And so she went to go, you know, get our checks cashed and do
what she had to do pay bills, Iguess.
So all I wanted to do was thepain to stop.
You know, I was really hurtingand I didn't know how to reach
(04:35):
out to anybody to talk to oranything of that nature.
And so I ran over there to thehouse when it was gone, and I
lit a match to her bed and I setthe house on fire and then I
ran back to the school.
But then I'm thinking like whatdid I just do?
What did I just do?
(04:55):
Not realizing what I'd reallydone?
I went back, was trying to goback, but it was a little later,
you know.
Time had passed by maybe about30 minutes or so, and the house
was engulfed in flames.
So then next thing I know isthat the fire department is
there and this lady who was myfoster mother, she was there,
(05:21):
and it's just like I ran overthere.
But then I forgot about my pain, because then I seen her pain
and it's just like I heard itbecause she heard it.
But I was no longer caught upin my own pain and I even though
I didn't recognize it then, butI know now it was a gift that
(05:41):
God has given me toward others.
Ron Meyers (05:45):
And so I want to emphasize that.
So you had pain, but then whenyou went over to see the house
on fire that you had caught onfire, you saw her in pain and
that made you forget your painbecause you wanted to help her.
Yes, sir.
Connie (06:03):
And that was something that I have often did throughout
my life.
They said people have told mewhich I didn't understand, but
again, being a Christian todayand knowing God as I do, I know
that it was has been a gift thathe has given me.
He's given me a love for othersand I thank him for that.
He's given me a love for othersand I thank him for that.
Ron Meyers (06:25):
So after the fire and you saw her hurting, did you
stay with the foster lady, orhow long did you stay with her?
Connie (06:34):
I did stay there for a little bit.
We had moved in with her sonand I know that the abuse
continued and I was not feelinggood.
She made me go to school.
So I went to school thatmorning.
I was sick, I was hurtingbecause I got tired of the abuse
.
She herself didn't do the abuse, except for verbally, but she
allowed her daughter to do theabuse.
(06:56):
And I mean like, when I sayabuse I mean like beat me with
stinching cords and and and suchthings of that.
But anyway, I had went toschool that morning and I went
to the principal's office andit's like I was hyperventilating
and they gave me a little bag,paper bag, and was trying to
(07:18):
calm me down and I told them tocall my social worker and they
did and I told her I said youcome get me or I'm coming to you
, but I'm not going back to thathouse.
And that was the last that Ihave known anything about the
foster home.
They came and get me, they putme into the Salvation Army group
(07:39):
home in Birmingham, alabama,which I stayed, and then they
passed me off to another grouphome and I ended up when I was
about 12 years old I guess Iwent into this one group home it
(07:59):
was called 13th Place in Gaston, alabama, and there I had
stayed there for a little bitand there was just one lady you
know they were Christians and soI had stayed there for a couple
of years and, of course, someof my behavior I didn't want to
(08:20):
do anything, I was a stubbornlittle kid, didn't want to do
anything.
I was a stubborn little kid,didn't want to do anything, had
no reason to live, tried tocommit suicide so many times.
But they never gave up on me.
This one lady who I stay incontact with today, her name is
Joella and she never, ever, letme give up on myself.
(08:45):
Wow, and she taught me, sheintroduced to me gospel music
with sandy patty, michael wsmith, amy grant and, uh, a
group called petra and so forth,and I liked it.
Uh, there was one that thisother lady forth and I liked it.
(09:08):
Uh, there was one that thisother lady that she used to come
and get me, take me to goBurger King, do things together.
It was really nice, it feltgood, although I had trust
issues, but it felt good.
You know, sometimes you, whenyou've been hurt so much, you
kind of, you know you put wallsup to try to protect yourself
from being hurt, but anyway.
So I used to want that one lady, joella, to adopt me.
(09:31):
She never did, but we, we weregood friends, she was really
good to me.
And so years passed and went touh, they told me that they was
going to send me to the GulfportJob Corps Center.
Well, at first they told me Icould pick anywhere I wanted to
go and I said, well, how longdoes it have the beach?
(09:53):
And so I was thinking Florida.
Well, they ended up sending meto Gulfport Mississippi.
So when I came to GulfportMississippi, I was at Job Corps,
couldn't wait to get on thebeach, although we had to wait
two weeks Because we was inorientation and you had to wait
two weeks before you get off.
So when I went there I was Verydisappointed because all I saw
(10:13):
Was a bunch of dead fish on thebeach.
So, anyway, but I forgot aboutAll the things that as time
passed, what Joella was teachingme or whatever, about God.
You know, I used to go tochurch with her, but I never had
anyone there to like iron,sharpened iron, you know what I
(10:36):
mean To be there to kind ofguide me into the word.
And no teaching, no teaching,discipleship no so, uh, I lost
my way there, or my desire forgod, and I just wanted to fill
the void in my life.
(10:56):
So I just would, um drink.
You know, I wasn't an alcoholicor anything like that, but I
just would drink, even though Ididn't like drinking, I didn't
like the taste of it.
Ron Meyers (11:13):
But it voided it temporarily yeah, it takes the
pain away temporarily, doesn'tit?
Connie (11:19):
temporarily.
But but when you, when youbecome from underneath that, the
pain is still there.
Ron Meyers (11:26):
So it really doesn't help.
So what eventually happened inyour life to take away the pain?
If it did, do you still dealwith the pain when?
Connie (11:35):
I'm at now.
I went to church.
Well, I met my mom in 2003.
And in 2003, I had gotten aletter and I I'm just thinking
this is from my mom, and myboyfriend at the time said, well
, will you just open it already,because I was just amazed like
the last name threw me off,because I knew her, as her last
(11:57):
name was either Kelly orRagsdale, and Jones was throwing
me off but the Leoma, I knewthat was her name and she was
from Oklahoma.
So, anyway, I, to make a longstory short, I opened the letter
, I accepted her into my life,although when I asked her a
question, if my dad ever abusedher, because then that would
(12:20):
give me a reason then to feelbetter, as in to accept her into
my life, a reason why shewasn't there, and so, but when
she told me, no, I know, Iwanted to hang up, but the thing
is again like that was one ofthose things.
I didn't know why then, but Iknow why now, because God was in
(12:41):
control and he was guiding mysteps.
But I didn't hang up on her.
I did accept her into my lifeand so she came.
She had came where I was living, which was in Biloxi she came
to visit.
So she was sitting there saying, well, you know, you're going
to come and stay where I'm atand I'm thinking these people
are nuts, because I don't knowthem like that.
(13:01):
You know what I'm saying.
Like I'm just meeting you andyou thinking I'm gonna come and
move where you had a lot inoklahoma.
Yeah, you, you, you kind ofnutso, you know.
But anyway, I kept feeling it,feeling this thing.
After they came to visit aboutthree times I say well, less
than a year that I've known herI kept feeling this unction in
(13:23):
my well, I didn't know at thetime.
That's my spirit, you know whatI mean.
I do know now, but I keptfeeling this desire like I had
to go and I'm like thinking I'mcrazy.
Ron Meyers (13:35):
So you went to Oklahoma.
Connie (13:37):
I did.
I stayed there for a littleless than a year.
Ron Meyers (13:42):
You gave it a shot, huh.
Connie (13:44):
I gave it a year, you gave it a shot.
Huh, I gave it a shot, but thatis where God really ministers
to me, because it's like, I'mlike, literally, not like
originally here from Gulfport.
I was born in Birmingham but Ihave been here for the most part
of my adult.
You know young, older teenageryears into adulthood.
(14:04):
You know young, older teenageryears into adulthood.
And when I sit up there andwent there it was like God's
timing was bam, bam, bam.
It was only God could haveorchestrated that he was setting
me up.
Ron Meyers (14:17):
What did he set
Connie (14:18):
When I went up there, it was like I didn't go to
church.
Church wasn't my thing.
So I sit up there and went tochurch because, out of respect
for my mother, that's what shedid.
So I went, and then on thebulletin there is a thing where
it talks about a pastor's comingthere for a revival.
(14:39):
But get this, the pastor that'scoming there for a revival from
guppard, mississippi oh, you'rekidding me and I'm thinking like
this guy must have a sense ofhumor, so, and it was ray clute,
and so then it's just like, andduring this time I was really
trying to end my life and and Iknow that it should have been
(15:03):
ended because I took like somany pills, but anyway, when
they came to church theyministered to me and it really
touched me and I had been tryingto take my life before they
came and it's just like theytouched me.
So I went and I got this onegift and I knew that it was God
(15:26):
that directed me on this,because what I had picked out
for them, because they touchedme, so I wanted to show my
appreciation to them.
So the thing that I originallyhad picked out, I took back and
I got this other thing.
Well, I gave it to them thatone night at church.
(15:47):
Then the next night I did notgo because I was literally
trying to take my life andalmost succeeded.
When my mom and my daughter hadcame home, I was in the bed, my
skin was cool to touch, my eyes, was rolled in the back of my
head and I had no color to me.
(16:11):
And just but God all of asudden made that stuff, reject
my system, and I justregurgitated and I was weak.
But then my mom told me thatnext day said, you know, that
pastor said that that gift thatyou gave him, that nobody had
known but god, that that wassomething that he had always
(16:35):
wanted.
And I was thinking like, wow,you know god could use me to
bring happiness to others, andso that touched me, that I can
be used.
You know, like I have a purpose.
And then she sung this songlike, uh, god, I mean, uh, I
(16:56):
still have a future.
And I was listening, but godwas ministering to this song and
to the fact that he could useme in the way that he did,
because I wouldn't have knownthat was something that he'd
always wanted and it did so.
In a way, I ended up giving mylife to christ and even though
(17:16):
I've been touching, go through alot, been through a lot of
church hurts and things of thatnature, not wanting to go back
to church, but you know, I knowit was God who didn't do me
wrong, it was people.
It was people, and I thinkpeople need to understand that
it is not God that fails them.
God is one that never fails.
(17:36):
He is always on time, everytime, and I know that when he
came into my life, it's like hejust opened up my mind, like a
can opener, and just poured hislove inside of me.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Wow.
Connie (17:53):
And it's just like.
Ron Meyers (17:55):
I'm so sorry to hear all that stuff you had to go
through.
A little girl should never haveto grow up with that, but your
story can minister to someoneout there that is going through
the same thing and you've gotthe microphone.
So I would love for you, as youclose this out, will you pray
for people that may be goingthrough what you're doing and
(18:16):
just whatever the Lord lays onyour heart, Because somebody is
out there hurting but you canreach them with that love and
compassion you have Well.
Connie (18:26):
Father, I just come to you and I thank you for your
unconditional love.
And, lord, I just ask you thatyou see all those who are going
through lord god and who arehurting, and lord god, you know
the ins and outs about each andevery one and you care about
them all, but I just thank youfor that, your love to penetrate
their inner beings.
Lord Lord, father God, and Ijust want you all to know that
(18:48):
if you've gone through things ofsexual molestation or
physically or emotionally abused, you are not what man says you
are.
You are who God says you areand he treasures you and he
loves you and he desires to havea relationship with you.
And I pray that you do not bedeceived by the lies of the
enemy, for he will try to comeand steal your joy that God is
(19:11):
so friendly giving you and Ijust want to pray a blessing
upon you, that God will blessyou and touch you and that you
will feel his ultimate lovesurrounding you.
And I want you to know that youcan depend on him and you can
trust him.
He's the only one that willnever let you down People will
(19:32):
but he will never disappoint youand I thank you, jesus, for
your love for them, and that youwill put people in their path
as they're needed.
Ron Meyers (19:48):
What an awesome story.
When I return, let's unpackwhat we just heard.
(19:55):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your
host, ron Myers.
Real stories, real strugglesand real hope.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Here's a refreshing word from Ephesians 5, 1 and 2.
Therefore, be imitators of Godas dear children, and walk in
love, as Christ also has lovedus and given himself for us.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Some of us are building highways, not with our
hands, but with our hearts.
We're on a journey that doesn'thave an end.
It's a rough road, but we knowthat someday it will be worth
every rugged mile.
Why don't you join us?
We're the Christians.
Now.
I know you've heard a lot ofweird things about us most of it
not true.
We don't really care.
We just know that we're goingto live forever and we can have
(20:41):
an abundant life along the way.
Jesus is our guide on thisjourney called life, and he said
that he came to give us lifethat goes on forever and an
abundant life.
Hey, it's a toll-free highway.
Jesus already paved the way.
All we have to do is come onboard.
You don't have to be religious,you don't have to be perfect.
You just have to accept thefact that Jesus already bridged
(21:01):
the way to heaven.
Then you have to put him behindthe wheel, but when you finally
let go and let Jesus take over,it's amazing how you find the
journey a lot more peaceful,because life without Jesus is
kind of like going four-wheelingon a skateboard.
Take some time to learn aboutJesus.
You'll find out how he canbuild an eternal highway in your
heart.
Connie (21:21):
You're tired of how you're living.
We'll change it.
You don't?
(21:30):
like where you're headed.
Rearrange it.
You're sick of being let down.
And you want to turn your lifearound.
If you want to start livingright, get the hell out of your
life.
Ron Meyers (21:44):
Get the hell out of your life.
Wow, connie's story.
How could all the abuse, allthe nonsense that she was told
as a child, how could a personlike that one day fall in love
with Jesus?
I think where she startedfinding that God was in her life
(22:06):
, that God's love was there,when she said she caught the
foster mom's home on fire andshe went back to the house and
saw it engulfed in flames.
But then she had compassion forthe foster mother and her pain
went away.
And I've often said they haveone thing in common, my guess
(22:29):
they felt the power of God whenthey were actually ministering
or talking to somebody else thatneeded some compassion or love
and friends.
That's with all of us.
There is nobody that's walkingthe face of this earth that can
tell you they just had a perfectlife and they're having
everything perfect now.
(22:50):
No, there is no such thing.
The most beautiful thing thatGod has given each of us is the
free gift of his son, jesus.
When we open up our heart andwe let Jesus come in, then his
love just begins to fill us up.
It changes our direction, itchanges our desires and this is
(23:13):
the one thing about love that Inoticed this with Connie when
the full love of God takes overyour life, you begin doing the
things that you want to do toplease God and you'll find that
the temptations and the sins andall the stuff that has held you
back, they begin to diminish,because you're not walking in a
(23:38):
world of rules.
For God to love you, you'veaccepted the fact that he
unconditionally loves you.
Friends, the most importantfoundation that each of us can
have is to understand thefoundation of God's love in your
life.
Because until you understandhow much you are loved, how much
(24:01):
you have been forgiven and howmuch freedom you have when you
walk by the spirit of gracethrough Jesus, until you really
understand that life is tough.
When I found out how much I amtruly loved and that love in me
just exploded, that love in mejust exploded.
(24:29):
Then I wanted to do things forother people.
I wanted to do them because Iwas motivated by the presence of
Jesus in my life.
It wasn't rule keeping anymore,it wasn't a checklist of things
.
I have to do so with Connie'sbeautiful story today of how she
found the freedom in Christ.
She is free.
(24:51):
She is a woman that will telleverybody about Jesus and guess
who she talks to the most, thepeople that have been abused,
that have been told they're nogood.
They have no self-image, butthey meet Connie and Connie is
relatable to them, and then theybegin having hope.
(25:16):
Friends, your story is just asimportant.
You want to minister to people.
Do you want people toexperience Jesus?
Well, maybe you need to quitinviting them to church and quit
throwing a Bible in their face.
Why don't you just tell themwhat you have experienced with
(25:37):
Jesus?
Why don't you tell them whatyou have learned from Jesus?
Why not tell them who Jesus isto you?
Friends, until people want thehope and the love and the
compassion and the forgiveness,until they really want that more
(25:58):
than the pain in their life,you can invite them to all the
church services in the world.
You can invite them to all thechurch services in the world.
It won't do any good, but tellthem what Jesus did for you and
what he will do for them.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Ron, we'll be back in a moment to wrap up today's
conversation.
We want to encourage you todaywith God's promise to you.
It comes from the book ofJeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11.
For I know the plans I have foryou, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you.
Plans to give you hope and afuture.
(26:40):
That's God's promise to youwhen you choose to commit your
plans and future to Him.
Now back to Ron.
(27:23):
Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the Christmas
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You can find more informationat ChristmasCityGiftShowcom.
Thanks for listening, and ifyou would like to share your
(27:46):
story of what God has done inyour life or listen to previous
episodes, please visit ourwebsite, ThePromoterorg.
Join us next week for anotherepisode of Get the Hell Out of
your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The promoter.
Ron Meyers (00:22):
Hello, my friend, it is so good to be with you today
.
Have you had your conversationswith Jesus?
I know there have been somethings on your mind a little bit
of worry, a little bit ofanxiety.
Well, I'm telling you fromexperience a daily dose of Jesus
, Conversations with coffee, orwalk on the beach, driving in
(00:43):
the car, just sharing your heart, being open, with the concerns
on your heart.
It is therapy, because Jesus isin the business of ministering
to us.
So we see this unbelievablelove that he has given each of
us and we need to walk in thatlove.
(01:05):
And today's story, well, you'regoing to hear about Connie.
Connie did not grow up in a verynice environment.
She was tossed around fromfoster home to foster home and
all kinds of abuse, things thatyou would ask.
Well, if there is a loving God,why would God allow that?
Well, God allows things becausewe have a choice.
(01:31):
And most people that I'veinterviewed, hundreds and
hundreds of people, when theygot to the point in life where
they could not go on anymore,they found Jesus.
They fell in love with Jesus.
And today they're doing thingsnot because of earning points
with Jesus.
They're doing things becausethey're so in love with Jesus
(01:54):
because he rescued them, Justlike me.
I'm on this show.
I buy time because I need totell people what Jesus did for
me.
It just may touch that oneperson out there that is asking
God, are you real and can youhelp me?
Well, Connie's story today isgoing to encourage you If you're
(02:15):
going through some strugglesand trials in life.
Listen closely and then, in thefinal thought segment, I will
unpack the love power of Jesus.
But first, Connie, welcome tothe studios.
Connie, what's your story?
Connie (02:37):
Well, I came from a broken home where I didn't know
my mother.
My dad had taken me from herwhen I was one years old and he
killed me, only to abuse mephysically, emotionally and
sexually.
And, starting at the age of sixyears old and as time had
(03:04):
passed, I remember wanting to bewith my mom and and he would
like look at me and tell me youwant to meet your mom, you can
meet her.
But he was just doing a mockingthing.
It's like if he, when he lookedat me, he saw my mom and as I
grew up, I just like when I metmy mom, which I did in 2003, I
(03:28):
could see why.
It's like he despised mebecause I looked just like her
and I used to.
When people say, you look likeyour mom, I I really did not
like hearing that comment.
But anyways, I grew up, Ibecame a ward of the state of
Alabama and there I would go to,you know, different group homes
(03:49):
.
I was in a foster home where Iwas also sexually molested and
abused and it's like one day wewere going to school which we
lived across the street at thefoster home that I was in, and
it was kindergarten to firstgrade and on that particular day
(04:10):
my foster mom she was anelderly lady, but they had got
our checks, you know, from thegovernment to take care of us.
And so she went to go, you know, get our checks cashed and do
what she had to do pay bills, Iguess.
So all I wanted to do was thepain to stop.
You know, I was really hurtingand I didn't know how to reach
(04:35):
out to anybody to talk to oranything of that nature.
And so I ran over there to thehouse when it was gone, and I
lit a match to her bed and I setthe house on fire and then I
ran back to the school.
But then I'm thinking like whatdid I just do?
What did I just do?
(04:55):
Not realizing what I'd reallydone?
I went back, was trying to goback, but it was a little later,
you know.
Time had passed by maybe about30 minutes or so, and the house
was engulfed in flames.
So then next thing I know isthat the fire department is
there and this lady who was myfoster mother, she was there,
(05:21):
and it's just like I ran overthere.
But then I forgot about my pain, because then I seen her pain
and it's just like I heard itbecause she heard it.
But I was no longer caught upin my own pain and I even though
I didn't recognize it then, butI know now it was a gift that
(05:41):
God has given me toward others.
Ron Meyers (05:45):
And so I want to emphasize that.
So you had pain, but then whenyou went over to see the house
on fire that you had caught onfire, you saw her in pain and
that made you forget your painbecause you wanted to help her.
Yes, sir.
Connie (06:03):
And that was something that I have often did throughout
my life.
They said people have told mewhich I didn't understand, but
again, being a Christian todayand knowing God as I do, I know
that it was has been a gift thathe has given me.
He's given me a love for othersand I thank him for that.
He's given me a love for othersand I thank him for that.
Ron Meyers (06:25):
So after the fire and you saw her hurting, did you
stay with the foster lady, orhow long did you stay with her?
Connie (06:34):
I did stay there for a little bit.
We had moved in with her sonand I know that the abuse
continued and I was not feelinggood.
She made me go to school.
So I went to school thatmorning.
I was sick, I was hurtingbecause I got tired of the abuse
.
She herself didn't do the abuse, except for verbally, but she
allowed her daughter to do theabuse.
(06:56):
And I mean like, when I sayabuse I mean like beat me with
stinching cords and and and suchthings of that.
But anyway, I had went toschool that morning and I went
to the principal's office andit's like I was hyperventilating
and they gave me a little bag,paper bag, and was trying to
(07:18):
calm me down and I told them tocall my social worker and they
did and I told her I said youcome get me or I'm coming to you
, but I'm not going back to thathouse.
And that was the last that Ihave known anything about the
foster home.
They came and get me, they putme into the Salvation Army group
(07:39):
home in Birmingham, alabama,which I stayed, and then they
passed me off to another grouphome and I ended up when I was
about 12 years old I guess Iwent into this one group home it
(07:59):
was called 13th Place in Gaston, alabama, and there I had
stayed there for a little bitand there was just one lady you
know they were Christians and soI had stayed there for a couple
of years and, of course, someof my behavior I didn't want to
(08:20):
do anything, I was a stubbornlittle kid, didn't want to do
anything.
I was a stubborn little kid,didn't want to do anything, had
no reason to live, tried tocommit suicide so many times.
But they never gave up on me.
This one lady who I stay incontact with today, her name is
Joella and she never, ever, letme give up on myself.
(08:45):
Wow, and she taught me, sheintroduced to me gospel music
with sandy patty, michael wsmith, amy grant and, uh, a
group called petra and so forth,and I liked it.
Uh, there was one that thisother lady forth and I liked it.
(09:08):
Uh, there was one that thisother lady that she used to come
and get me, take me to goBurger King, do things together.
It was really nice, it feltgood, although I had trust
issues, but it felt good.
You know, sometimes you, whenyou've been hurt so much, you
kind of, you know you put wallsup to try to protect yourself
from being hurt, but anyway.
So I used to want that one lady, joella, to adopt me.
(09:31):
She never did, but we, we weregood friends, she was really
good to me.
And so years passed and went touh, they told me that they was
going to send me to the GulfportJob Corps Center.
Well, at first they told me Icould pick anywhere I wanted to
go and I said, well, how longdoes it have the beach?
(09:53):
And so I was thinking Florida.
Well, they ended up sending meto Gulfport Mississippi.
So when I came to GulfportMississippi, I was at Job Corps,
couldn't wait to get on thebeach, although we had to wait
two weeks Because we was inorientation and you had to wait
two weeks before you get off.
So when I went there I was Verydisappointed because all I saw
(10:13):
Was a bunch of dead fish on thebeach.
So, anyway, but I forgot aboutAll the things that as time
passed, what Joella was teachingme or whatever, about God.
You know, I used to go tochurch with her, but I never had
anyone there to like iron,sharpened iron, you know what I
(10:36):
mean To be there to kind ofguide me into the word.
And no teaching, no teaching,discipleship no so, uh, I lost
my way there, or my desire forgod, and I just wanted to fill
the void in my life.
(10:56):
So I just would, um drink.
You know, I wasn't an alcoholicor anything like that, but I
just would drink, even though Ididn't like drinking, I didn't
like the taste of it.
Ron Meyers (11:13):
But it voided it temporarily yeah, it takes the
pain away temporarily, doesn'tit?
Connie (11:19):
temporarily.
But but when you, when youbecome from underneath that, the
pain is still there.
Ron Meyers (11:26):
So it really doesn't help.
So what eventually happened inyour life to take away the pain?
If it did, do you still dealwith the pain when?
Connie (11:35):
I'm at now.
I went to church.
Well, I met my mom in 2003.
And in 2003, I had gotten aletter and I I'm just thinking
this is from my mom, and myboyfriend at the time said, well
, will you just open it already,because I was just amazed like
the last name threw me off,because I knew her, as her last
(11:57):
name was either Kelly orRagsdale, and Jones was throwing
me off but the Leoma, I knewthat was her name and she was
from Oklahoma.
So, anyway, I, to make a longstory short, I opened the letter
, I accepted her into my life,although when I asked her a
question, if my dad ever abusedher, because then that would
(12:20):
give me a reason then to feelbetter, as in to accept her into
my life, a reason why shewasn't there, and so, but when
she told me, no, I know, Iwanted to hang up, but the thing
is again like that was one ofthose things.
I didn't know why then, but Iknow why now, because God was in
(12:41):
control and he was guiding mysteps.
But I didn't hang up on her.
I did accept her into my lifeand so she came.
She had came where I was living, which was in Biloxi she came
to visit.
So she was sitting there saying, well, you know, you're going
to come and stay where I'm atand I'm thinking these people
are nuts, because I don't knowthem like that.
(13:01):
You know what I'm saying.
Like I'm just meeting you andyou thinking I'm gonna come and
move where you had a lot inoklahoma.
Yeah, you, you, you kind ofnutso, you know.
But anyway, I kept feeling it,feeling this thing.
After they came to visit aboutthree times I say well, less
than a year that I've known herI kept feeling this unction in
(13:23):
my well, I didn't know at thetime.
That's my spirit, you know whatI mean.
I do know now, but I keptfeeling this desire like I had
to go and I'm like thinking I'mcrazy.
Ron Meyers (13:35):
So you went to Oklahoma.
Connie (13:37):
I did.
I stayed there for a littleless than a year.
Ron Meyers (13:42):
You gave it a shot, huh.
Connie (13:44):
I gave it a year, you gave it a shot.
Huh, I gave it a shot, but thatis where God really ministers
to me, because it's like, I'mlike, literally, not like
originally here from Gulfport.
I was born in Birmingham but Ihave been here for the most part
of my adult.
You know young, older teenageryears into adulthood.
(14:04):
You know young, older teenageryears into adulthood.
And when I sit up there andwent there it was like God's
timing was bam, bam, bam.
It was only God could haveorchestrated that he was setting
me up.
Ron Meyers (14:17):
What did he set
Connie (14:18):
When I went up there, it was like I didn't go to
church.
Church wasn't my thing.
So I sit up there and went tochurch because, out of respect
for my mother, that's what shedid.
So I went, and then on thebulletin there is a thing where
it talks about a pastor's comingthere for a revival.
(14:39):
But get this, the pastor that'scoming there for a revival from
guppard, mississippi oh, you'rekidding me and I'm thinking like
this guy must have a sense ofhumor, so, and it was ray clute,
and so then it's just like, andduring this time I was really
trying to end my life and and Iknow that it should have been
(15:03):
ended because I took like somany pills, but anyway, when
they came to church theyministered to me and it really
touched me and I had been tryingto take my life before they
came and it's just like theytouched me.
So I went and I got this onegift and I knew that it was God
(15:26):
that directed me on this,because what I had picked out
for them, because they touchedme, so I wanted to show my
appreciation to them.
So the thing that I originallyhad picked out, I took back and
I got this other thing.
Well, I gave it to them thatone night at church.
(15:47):
Then the next night I did notgo because I was literally
trying to take my life andalmost succeeded.
When my mom and my daughter hadcame home, I was in the bed, my
skin was cool to touch, my eyes, was rolled in the back of my
head and I had no color to me.
(16:11):
And just but God all of asudden made that stuff, reject
my system, and I justregurgitated and I was weak.
But then my mom told me thatnext day said, you know, that
pastor said that that gift thatyou gave him, that nobody had
known but god, that that wassomething that he had always
(16:35):
wanted.
And I was thinking like, wow,you know god could use me to
bring happiness to others, andso that touched me, that I can
be used.
You know, like I have a purpose.
And then she sung this songlike, uh, god, I mean, uh, I
(16:56):
still have a future.
And I was listening, but godwas ministering to this song and
to the fact that he could useme in the way that he did,
because I wouldn't have knownthat was something that he'd
always wanted and it did so.
In a way, I ended up giving mylife to christ and even though
(17:16):
I've been touching, go through alot, been through a lot of
church hurts and things of thatnature, not wanting to go back
to church, but you know, I knowit was God who didn't do me
wrong, it was people.
It was people, and I thinkpeople need to understand that
it is not God that fails them.
God is one that never fails.
(17:36):
He is always on time, everytime, and I know that when he
came into my life, it's like hejust opened up my mind, like a
can opener, and just poured hislove inside of me.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Wow.
Connie (17:53):
And it's just like.
Ron Meyers (17:55):
I'm so sorry to hear all that stuff you had to go
through.
A little girl should never haveto grow up with that, but your
story can minister to someoneout there that is going through
the same thing and you've gotthe microphone.
So I would love for you, as youclose this out, will you pray
for people that may be goingthrough what you're doing and
(18:16):
just whatever the Lord lays onyour heart, Because somebody is
out there hurting but you canreach them with that love and
compassion you have Well.
Connie (18:26):
Father, I just come to you and I thank you for your
unconditional love.
And, lord, I just ask you thatyou see all those who are going
through lord god and who arehurting, and lord god, you know
the ins and outs about each andevery one and you care about
them all, but I just thank youfor that, your love to penetrate
their inner beings.
Lord Lord, father God, and Ijust want you all to know that
(18:48):
if you've gone through things ofsexual molestation or
physically or emotionally abused, you are not what man says you
are.
You are who God says you areand he treasures you and he
loves you and he desires to havea relationship with you.
And I pray that you do not bedeceived by the lies of the
enemy, for he will try to comeand steal your joy that God is
(19:11):
so friendly giving you and Ijust want to pray a blessing
upon you, that God will blessyou and touch you and that you
will feel his ultimate lovesurrounding you.
And I want you to know that youcan depend on him and you can
trust him.
He's the only one that willnever let you down People will
(19:32):
but he will never disappoint youand I thank you, jesus, for
your love for them, and that youwill put people in their path
as they're needed.
Ron Meyers (19:48):
What an awesome story.
When I return, let's unpackwhat we just heard.
(19:55):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your
host, ron Myers.
Real stories, real strugglesand real hope.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Here's a refreshing word from Ephesians 5, 1 and 2.
Therefore, be imitators of Godas dear children, and walk in
love, as Christ also has lovedus and given himself for us.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Some of us are building highways, not with our
hands, but with our hearts.
We're on a journey that doesn'thave an end.
It's a rough road, but we knowthat someday it will be worth
every rugged mile.
Why don't you join us?
We're the Christians.
Now.
I know you've heard a lot ofweird things about us most of it
not true.
We don't really care.
We just know that we're goingto live forever and we can have
(20:41):
an abundant life along the way.
Jesus is our guide on thisjourney called life, and he said
that he came to give us lifethat goes on forever and an
abundant life.
Hey, it's a toll-free highway.
Jesus already paved the way.
All we have to do is come onboard.
You don't have to be religious,you don't have to be perfect.
You just have to accept thefact that Jesus already bridged
(21:01):
the way to heaven.
Then you have to put him behindthe wheel, but when you finally
let go and let Jesus take over,it's amazing how you find the
journey a lot more peaceful,because life without Jesus is
kind of like going four-wheelingon a skateboard.
Take some time to learn aboutJesus.
You'll find out how he canbuild an eternal highway in your
heart.
Connie (21:21):
You're tired of how you're living.
We'll change it.
You don't?
(21:30):
like where you're headed.
Rearrange it.
You're sick of being let down.
And you want to turn your lifearound.
If you want to start livingright, get the hell out of your
life.
Ron Meyers (21:44):
Get the hell out of your life.
Wow, connie's story.
How could all the abuse, allthe nonsense that she was told
as a child, how could a personlike that one day fall in love
with Jesus?
I think where she startedfinding that God was in her life
(22:06):
, that God's love was there,when she said she caught the
foster mom's home on fire andshe went back to the house and
saw it engulfed in flames.
But then she had compassion forthe foster mother and her pain
went away.
And I've often said they haveone thing in common, my guess
(22:29):
they felt the power of God whenthey were actually ministering
or talking to somebody else thatneeded some compassion or love
and friends.
That's with all of us.
There is nobody that's walkingthe face of this earth that can
tell you they just had a perfectlife and they're having
everything perfect now.
(22:50):
No, there is no such thing.
The most beautiful thing thatGod has given each of us is the
free gift of his son, jesus.
When we open up our heart andwe let Jesus come in, then his
love just begins to fill us up.
It changes our direction, itchanges our desires and this is
(23:13):
the one thing about love that Inoticed this with Connie when
the full love of God takes overyour life, you begin doing the
things that you want to do toplease God and you'll find that
the temptations and the sins andall the stuff that has held you
back, they begin to diminish,because you're not walking in a
(23:38):
world of rules.
For God to love you, you'veaccepted the fact that he
unconditionally loves you.
Friends, the most importantfoundation that each of us can
have is to understand thefoundation of God's love in your
life.
Because until you understandhow much you are loved, how much
(24:01):
you have been forgiven and howmuch freedom you have when you
walk by the spirit of gracethrough Jesus, until you really
understand that life is tough.
When I found out how much I amtruly loved and that love in me
just exploded, that love in mejust exploded.
(24:29):
Then I wanted to do things forother people.
I wanted to do them because Iwas motivated by the presence of
Jesus in my life.
It wasn't rule keeping anymore,it wasn't a checklist of things
.
I have to do so with Connie'sbeautiful story today of how she
found the freedom in Christ.
She is free.
(24:51):
She is a woman that will telleverybody about Jesus and guess
who she talks to the most, thepeople that have been abused,
that have been told they're nogood.
They have no self-image, butthey meet Connie and Connie is
relatable to them, and then theybegin having hope.
(25:16):
Friends, your story is just asimportant.
You want to minister to people.
Do you want people toexperience Jesus?
Well, maybe you need to quitinviting them to church and quit
throwing a Bible in their face.
Why don't you just tell themwhat you have experienced with
(25:37):
Jesus?
Why don't you tell them whatyou have learned from Jesus?
Why not tell them who Jesus isto you?
Friends, until people want thehope and the love and the
compassion and the forgiveness,until they really want that more
(25:58):
than the pain in their life,you can invite them to all the
church services in the world.
You can invite them to all thechurch services in the world.
It won't do any good, but tellthem what Jesus did for you and
what he will do for them.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Ron, we'll be back in a moment to wrap up today's
conversation.
We want to encourage you todaywith God's promise to you.
It comes from the book ofJeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11.
For I know the plans I have foryou, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you.
Plans to give you hope and afuture.
(26:40):
That's God's promise to youwhen you choose to commit your
plans and future to Him.
Now back to Ron.
(27:23):
Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the Christmas
City Gift Show.
We invite you to come shop withover 255 vendors from all over
the United States from November8th through the 10th inside the
Coast Convention Center locatedon the beach in Biloxi,
Mississippi.
You can find more informationat ChristmasCityGiftShowcom.
Thanks for listening, and ifyou would like to share your
(27:46):
story of what God has done inyour life or listen to previous
episodes, please visit ourwebsite, ThePromoterorg.
Join us next week for anotherepisode of Get the Hell Out of
your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
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