Startling Beauty

Oct 8–9, 2007 - comments: 11

Today Dr. Land’s special guest is Heather Gemmen, an author, speaker and a free-lance editor of children’s books. She joins us today to talk about the story that is told in her book Startling Beauty: My Journey from Rape to Restoration.

I know that this is not an easy story to tell and it will not be an easy story to hear, but it is good discovering how God’s grace wins in the end. I’m absolutely sure it will be worth the effort.

God is in the business of redemption, and this story is proof positive that He can take any situation and turn it around for His glory. Heather Gemmen’s story is truly every woman’s worst nightmare, but it is ultimately a story not only of survival, but of triumph and victory. For that reason it is a story to which everyone should listen, and one that our listeners will be glad they have heard.

It was Betsy Ten Boom, a Dutch believer who died in a Nazi concentration camp who said, “There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.” God has proven that profound statement to be true once more in Heather Gemmen’s life. What was mean for evil, God turned to good. The proof is in the sparkling eyes of her beautiful daughter.

topic(s): Faith, Family, Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Parenting

11 comments (post your own) feed

1 On Jul 27th, 2006, at 2:12pm, Tiffany wrote:

The broadcast today was very powerful.  Heather’s testimony was refreshing and reassuring.  I look forward to hearing the second part of the interview tomorrow.

2 On Jul 28th, 2006, at 9:47am, Karen Farmer wrote:

I just want to say that this story brought tears to my eyes. Not only what happened but how God does show his love to us if we will just stop and look for a change. Heather is an awesome woman and her husband is truly a man of God. It truly touched my life how she is so honest about her feelings and not trying to make people think that she’s super spiritual, but that she is human and does have human emotions, like all Christians. I appreciate that she doesn’t try to wear a mask. Thank you so much for sharing her story!

God Bless you all,
Karen Farmer
Waxahachie, TX

3 On Jul 30th, 2006, at 12:03am, Victoria Dilley wrote:

I’m a long haul truck driver and appreciate being able to hear these kinds of programs in my travels.  Thank you for giving your web address - as usual I lost the radio station before you concluded. I had a situation where I blamed the Lord for letting me down - but have come full circle and now put my life in the Lords Hands each day and do truely believe He puts us where he wants us - all we need to do is to respond to His will.  Thank you

4 On Jan 26th, 2007, at 12:17pm, Veronica Morgan wrote:

I’ve heard the testimony before and I am once again captivated by the beauty of my AWESOME God through His Son Jesus!

Blessings to you and your family Heather-

5 On Jan 27th, 2007, at 7:47am, Carri Parks wrote:

I listened to the broadcast on Faith & Family yesterday.  I was so moved at the story of Heather Gemmen that all I could do was praise God and cry listening to this amazing story of redemption and God’s marvelous grace.  I am going to order a couple of the books to share with women in a prison facility where I teach a class on recovery from sexual abuse.  Thank you for sharing this story with us.  I am also a survivor of sexual abuse.  How wonderful to see how God works in different situations to make us whole again.  It certainly turned me around in my human-ness concering thoughts regarding whether or not a life should be terminated or considered sub-human in the case of rape.  What a great story.  Blessed my socks off!!!

6 On Oct 8th, 2007, at 11:30pm, Mirtha Darby wrote:

As I listened to Heather’s first part of her story on your radio program, my heart was beating faster in anticipation to hear what happened to her, for I too was raped before turning 15.  I don’t understand how sharing my story blesses anybody else.  I have shared it several years ago at a church music program and someone told me I shouldn’t share this in public. 
I look forward to tomorrow’s broadcast.
Mirta

7 On Jan 9th, 2008, at 8:47pm, Heidi Goodman wrote:

This was a very touching story as I read it I felt my heart race, break and mend back together again. I can truly say that rape is one of the hardest things to forgive someone for. It’s almost as if they take your innocence away and you will never get it back. But you have to go through life knowing that life does move on with or without you. And it’s your choice to stay and be left or jump on the ride and live life. Thank you Heather Gemmen for your strength and bravery. You are a true hero.

8 On Feb 17th, 2008, at 9:26am, sandra wrote:

having both my daughter and i surviving an attack in recent years we share the same story as heather. the book has helped us remove the hatred but the pain will always be there. we believed that our society should take better care of the homeless and the drug addicted - not let them break in to our home and terrorize and rape us .

9 On Feb 23rd, 2008, at 7:57pm, marie wrote:

having been raped my anguish was with my attackers and the system.giving birth to my rapists child was deemed shameful for me but insisted based on religion beliefs. when does life begin? according to the world it was when my attacker reached climax but i am unsure.

10 On Jul 19th, 2008, at 1:08pm, brenda wrote:

i was attacked as a 14 year old girl by a stranger and became pregnant, brought my child to term and moved on. When i was 32 i was raped by a neighbor and conceived then too -
heathers story is hard and ive had twice the horror
but we survive. im 47 now and will carry on.

11 On Jul 27th, 2008, at 9:00am, tammy wrote:

the book brought reality to the forefront to help women understand the 2 choices we have at that difficult time.  my friends and i were attacked by a violent person one night and 2 of us became pregnant. we carry that burden. books like this help us see others plight.

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