• About
    • About Us
    • Our Team
  • Locations
    • ALABAMA
      • Birmingham, AL
    • CALIFORNIA
      • Southern California
    • COLORADO
      • Denver, CO
    • FLORIDA
      • Broward County, FL
      • Jacksonville, FL
      • Miami, FL
      • Naples, FL
      • Orlando, FL
      • Palm Beach County, FL
      • Tallahassee, FL
      • Tampa, FL
    • GEORGIA
      • Atlanta, GA
    • NEW JERSEY
      • South Jersey
    • NORTH CAROLINA
      • Charlotte, NC
    • OHIO
      • Northwestern Ohio
      • Southern Ohio
    • PENNSYLVANIA
      • Philadelphia, PA
    • SOUTH CAROLINA
      • Charleston, SC
    • TEXAS
      • Austin, TX
      • Dallas, TX
    • TENNESSEE
      • Nashville, TN
  • Publishing
    • Content Guidelines for Publishing
    • General Article Submission Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Birmingham Christian Voice
53 °f
Birmingham
  • News
    • All
    • Alabama
    • Birmingham
    • Government
    • National
    • Politics
    • World
    Christians, Muslims and Jews to Worship in One Building in Germany

    Christians, Muslims and Jews to Worship in One Building in Germany

    Christians Mark Lent with Ashes Sprinkled Over Head

    Christians Mark Lent with Ashes Sprinkled Over Head

    Biden Relaunches White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

    Biden Relaunches White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

    Three-in-Ten Americans Say Pandemic Has Strengthened Their Faith

    Three-in-Ten Americans Say Pandemic Has Strengthened Their Faith

    Lifeway to Sell HQ and Shift to New Work Environment

    Lifeway to Sell HQ and Shift to New Work Environment

    Honduras Moves to Ban Abortion Permanently

    Honduras Moves to Ban Abortion Permanently

    Vietnam Opens First Christian Public Library

    Vietnam Opens First Christian Public Library

    4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

    4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

    Denmark will Ask Faith Groups to Translate Sermons into Danish Language

    Denmark will Ask Faith Groups to Translate Sermons into Danish Language

    Trending Tags

    • Church
      • All
      • Missions
      • Pastors
      • Worship
      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      Why a House Church?

      Why a House Church?

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

    • Business
      • All
      • Finance
      • Leadership
      4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

      4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

      Chick-fil-A Founder’s Daughter Reveals Mom as ‘Backbone’ of Family Dynasty

      Chick-fil-A Founder’s Daughter Reveals Mom as ‘Backbone’ of Family Dynasty

      Are You Passionate?

      Are You Passionate?

      Questions To Ask Before Taking Social Security

      Questions To Ask Before Taking Social Security

      Financial Tips For Single Women

      Financial Tips For Single Women

      7 Ways to Create Your CEO Lifestyle

      7 Ways to Create Your CEO Lifestyle

      Last U.S. Toys R Us Store to Close Friday

      Last U.S. Toys R Us Store to Close Friday

      10 Tips to Save Big on Your Car Insurance

      10 Tips to Save Big on Your Car Insurance

      Surprising Things You Can Expect From a Christian Writers Conference

      Surprising Things You Can Expect From a Christian Writers Conference

    • Faith
      • All
      • Inspiration
      5 Ways to Show God Our Thankfulness

      5 Ways to Show God Our Thankfulness

      20 Quotes to Encourage Friendships During COVID-19

      20 Quotes to Encourage Friendships During COVID-19

      Father’s Second Life

      Father’s Second Life

      In Step with My Father

      In Step with My Father

      Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom

      Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom

      Divine Strength After Tragedy: The Barrick Family Refuses to be Torn Apart

      Divine Strength After Tragedy: The Barrick Family Refuses to be Torn Apart

      Yes, Virginia, There is a God

      Yes, Virginia, There is a God

      My Broken Road

      My Broken Road

      Who is Joel?

      Who is Joel?

      Trending Tags

      • Lifestyle
        • All
        • Books
        • Education
        • Entertainment
        • family
        • Food
        • Health
        • Humor
        • Tech
        • Travel
        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

        ‘Switched’ Movie Review And Interview With Writer/Producer, Alexandra Boylan

        ‘Switched’ Movie Review And Interview With Writer/Producer, Alexandra Boylan

        Hallmark-like ‘Farmer and the Belle’ leads family-friendly spotlight

        Hallmark-like ‘Farmer and the Belle’ leads family-friendly spotlight

        Andrea Bocelli Unveils New Album ‘Believe’

        Andrea Bocelli Unveils New Album ‘Believe’

        Netflix’s ‘The Social Dilemma’ will make you want to smash your smartphone

        Netflix’s ‘The Social Dilemma’ will make you want to smash your smartphone

        Trending Tags

        • Sports
          Bitterness Strikes Out

          Bitterness Strikes Out

          Kia’s Amazing Journey

          Kia’s Amazing Journey

          Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

          Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

          NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

          NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

          Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

          Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

          To Empower and Encourage

          To Empower and Encourage

          Are You Passionate?

          Are You Passionate?

          There is Another Way

          There is Another Way

          Did God See That Coming?

          Did God See That Coming?

        • News
          • All
          • Alabama
          • Birmingham
          • Government
          • National
          • Politics
          • World
          Christians, Muslims and Jews to Worship in One Building in Germany

          Christians, Muslims and Jews to Worship in One Building in Germany

          Christians Mark Lent with Ashes Sprinkled Over Head

          Christians Mark Lent with Ashes Sprinkled Over Head

          Biden Relaunches White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

          Biden Relaunches White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

          Three-in-Ten Americans Say Pandemic Has Strengthened Their Faith

          Three-in-Ten Americans Say Pandemic Has Strengthened Their Faith

          Lifeway to Sell HQ and Shift to New Work Environment

          Lifeway to Sell HQ and Shift to New Work Environment

          Honduras Moves to Ban Abortion Permanently

          Honduras Moves to Ban Abortion Permanently

          Vietnam Opens First Christian Public Library

          Vietnam Opens First Christian Public Library

          4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

          4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

          Denmark will Ask Faith Groups to Translate Sermons into Danish Language

          Denmark will Ask Faith Groups to Translate Sermons into Danish Language

          Trending Tags

          • Church
            • All
            • Missions
            • Pastors
            • Worship
            Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

            Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

            Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

            Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

            A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

            A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

            The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

            The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

            Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

            Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

            A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

            A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

            Why a House Church?

            Why a House Church?

            App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

            App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

            Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

            Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

          • Business
            • All
            • Finance
            • Leadership
            4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

            4word Hosts Tenth Anniversary Celebration Online – Gala for the Girls

            Chick-fil-A Founder’s Daughter Reveals Mom as ‘Backbone’ of Family Dynasty

            Chick-fil-A Founder’s Daughter Reveals Mom as ‘Backbone’ of Family Dynasty

            Are You Passionate?

            Are You Passionate?

            Questions To Ask Before Taking Social Security

            Questions To Ask Before Taking Social Security

            Financial Tips For Single Women

            Financial Tips For Single Women

            7 Ways to Create Your CEO Lifestyle

            7 Ways to Create Your CEO Lifestyle

            Last U.S. Toys R Us Store to Close Friday

            Last U.S. Toys R Us Store to Close Friday

            10 Tips to Save Big on Your Car Insurance

            10 Tips to Save Big on Your Car Insurance

            Surprising Things You Can Expect From a Christian Writers Conference

            Surprising Things You Can Expect From a Christian Writers Conference

          • Faith
            • All
            • Inspiration
            5 Ways to Show God Our Thankfulness

            5 Ways to Show God Our Thankfulness

            20 Quotes to Encourage Friendships During COVID-19

            20 Quotes to Encourage Friendships During COVID-19

            Father’s Second Life

            Father’s Second Life

            In Step with My Father

            In Step with My Father

            Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom

            Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom

            Divine Strength After Tragedy: The Barrick Family Refuses to be Torn Apart

            Divine Strength After Tragedy: The Barrick Family Refuses to be Torn Apart

            Yes, Virginia, There is a God

            Yes, Virginia, There is a God

            My Broken Road

            My Broken Road

            Who is Joel?

            Who is Joel?

            Trending Tags

            • Lifestyle
              • All
              • Books
              • Education
              • Entertainment
              • family
              • Food
              • Health
              • Humor
              • Tech
              • Travel
              Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

              Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

              There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

              There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

              Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

              Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

              Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

              Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

              ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

              ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

              ‘Switched’ Movie Review And Interview With Writer/Producer, Alexandra Boylan

              ‘Switched’ Movie Review And Interview With Writer/Producer, Alexandra Boylan

              Hallmark-like ‘Farmer and the Belle’ leads family-friendly spotlight

              Hallmark-like ‘Farmer and the Belle’ leads family-friendly spotlight

              Andrea Bocelli Unveils New Album ‘Believe’

              Andrea Bocelli Unveils New Album ‘Believe’

              Netflix’s ‘The Social Dilemma’ will make you want to smash your smartphone

              Netflix’s ‘The Social Dilemma’ will make you want to smash your smartphone

              Trending Tags

              • Sports
                Bitterness Strikes Out

                Bitterness Strikes Out

                Kia’s Amazing Journey

                Kia’s Amazing Journey

                Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

                Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

                NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

                NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

                Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

                Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

                To Empower and Encourage

                To Empower and Encourage

                Are You Passionate?

                Are You Passionate?

                There is Another Way

                There is Another Way

                Did God See That Coming?

                Did God See That Coming?

              No Result
              View All Result
              Birmingham Christian Voice
              No Result
              View All Result

              Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom

              by Beckie Lindsey
              March 13, 2019
              in Featured, Inspiration
              0
              Little Girl Lost … Little Girl Found: from Addiction to Grace and Freedom
              0
              SHARES
              40
              VIEWS
              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

              Jacquie Ferguson kept her dark secret for more than ten years.

              She grew up in the small town of Phelan, CA. raised by Christian parents Gary and Danielle Malkus. Her father was a deputy for the Sheriff’s Department and also became an assistant pastor, making church and faith a family priority. But unbeknownst to her parents, between the ages of seven and eight-years-old, Jacquie was sexually abused. In her young mind, Jacquie began to experience self-hatred and confusion about what was happening to her. In the process, she “hardened her heart toward God.”

              By the time Jacquie entered middle school, she made the decision to move further from her family’s faith in God. She started to smoke cigarettes and dress in skimpy clothes. By high school, Jacquie was lying to her parents, attending parties with alcohol and drinking heavily.

              “I couldn’t have just one drink. Because of my self-hatred that stemmed from the abuse, I wanted an escape,” said Jacquie. “I was trying to fill that hole, but it was causing me to become more depressed.”

              Although Jacquie’s drinking was leading her down a path of destruction, her driven personality pushed her to maintain her grades and her secret. Her parents could tell something was wrong and took her to the doctor who put her on antidepressants.

              “Satan is such a liar. He made me feel like the abuse was all my fault so, I never told anybody.”

              “They didn’t know what had happened to me. They were just trying to figure out what was going on with their little girl. I’m sure they thought ‘we’ve raised her in the Lord. What could have gone wrong?’”

              By her senior year, Jacquie quit playing sports and upped the drinking which intensified her self-deprecating thoughts until her depression led her to attempt suicide. Her parents immediately took Jacquie to Christian counseling where her secret of sexual abuse was finally brought into the light.

              “Everything I’d been bottling up for years came out—I finally told my parents,” said Jacquie. “Satan is such a liar. He made me feel like the abuse was all my fault so, I never told anybody.”

              At eighteen, Jacquie moved out to begin her own life. She stopped counseling and began working three jobs and taking energy pills to keep up. One night at a party, a guy offered her meth to replace her energy pills. Jacquie was hooked.

              “It took me down a dark road to places I never thought I’d go.”

              It didn’t take long for Jacquie’s addiction to escalate. She lost her jobs, her money, and her place to live. She moved from house to house of so-called friends. About a year into her homelessness, Jacquie’s parents reached out to her.

              “I’m sure my parents were in a hopeless state. But they didn’t give up on me. As it says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

              “I’m sure my parents were in a hopeless state. But they didn’t give up on me. As it says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Here was my dad a pastor and police officer and I was running around with these horrible people.”

              Through some friends, Jacquie’s parents set up a job for her working at the YMCA in Colorado. They bought her a plane ticket and arranged a place for her to live.

              “At this point, I was so skinny, my boyfriend had just gone to jail, and I had nowhere to go. So, I went.”

              While in Colorado, Jacquie worked the job for a while and even tried to get things right with the Lord by attending church services offered by the YMCA. But she fell in with a group of people that liked to drink and eventually quit her job and started using meth again.

              Jacquie’s new friends introduced her to members of the Mexican drug cartel where she would deliver drugs and help them take money across the border of Mexico.

              One day there was a knock on the hotel door where she was staying. A detective pulled her aside and said, “What are you doing? You have a family that cares and is praying for you. You need to get out of here.”

              “I’d like to say this is where I turn my life around. But instead, I got caught up with the wrong crowd again back in my hometown.”

              Jacquie took the detective’s advice and headed back to California. Having a father in law enforcement protected her from the dangerous people she had fled from.

              “I’d like to say this is where I turn my life around. But instead, I got caught up with the wrong crowd again back in my hometown.”

              Now almost twenty-years-old, Jacquie eventually moved out of her parent’s home and in with a boyfriend who was heavily involved in drugs. Then one day the house was raided by police. Jacquie was arrested and ended up taking the rap. She was put in jail for possession and sales of Methamphetamines but was bailed out.

              “It was the Lord’s hand. He was working in all of it. These were my dad’s friends who knew me. But if it wouldn’t have happened, I wouldn’t have come to my senses.”

              A few weeks after she was bailed out of jail, Jacquie found a job with a boss who was a recovering drug addict and a Christian who would pray for her every morning. He began to share his story with her. Jacquie’s parents were also praying— as they had been for years. But this time Jacquie’s mother, Danielle knew it was time to “stop helping her daughter—let her little girl go— and allow God to bring Jacquie back.”

              “I felt like all hope was lost. I was facing felony charges, was living in an apartment with no electricity, and I had no money. I remember going into my room and writing a prayer to God. I told him I knew He could save me. I still have the letter to this day.”

              At this point, Jacquie’s father told her he had been praying for a year since he met a girl who had a story like his daughter’s but was set free with the help of an organization called Teen Challenge, a “network of Christian faith-based corporations intended to help teenagers, adults, and families with problems such as substance abuse or self-destructive behavior.”

              Finally, at twenty-years-old, Jacquie was court ordered for a year-long program with Teen Challenge. But even then, Jacquie briefly left the program in search of drugs.

              “God protected me that day. I met a girl who told me where I could find what I was looking for. But after hours of looking, I never found the place and went back home.”

              Only two weeks after returning home, Jacquie was arrested yet again and sent back to Teen Challenge. This time was different. She remained in the program and recommitted herself to God. She clung to a passage from Scripture as she completed the full one-year program.

              “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

              Once the year was up, Jacquie decided to stay and complete an intern program working in a woman’s home where she noticed a guy named Andrew who also worked there. He was a hard worker who loved the Lord. Because Teen Challenge does not allow dating, Jacquie waited until she completed the program and was in college to contact Andrew through another person who gave him Jacquie’s number.

              The Ferguson family

              Andrew threw away Jacquie’s number telling their mutual friend he was not ready for a relationship. He went off to ministry school with Teen Challenge and Jacquie went to Calvary Chapel Bible College.

              Five years later after running into each other at various Teen Challenge events, Andrew finally asked Jacquie on a date.

              “I was devastated when he threw my number away. But the Lord gave me the Scripture ‘A husband who finds a wife is a good thing and finds favor with the Lord.’ The Lord told me, ‘your husband will find you.’ And he did. I waited five years.”

              Andrew and Jacquie were married nine months after their first date and have been married and serving the Lord together for over ten years. They have four children ages 9, 7, 4, and fifteen-months-old. Andrew works at Calvary Chapel in Apple Valley, CA as the Administrative Pastor with Jacquie’s father, Pastor Gary Malkus.

              Jacquie with her children: Karis, Titus, Malachi, and Judah

              Jacquie, Andrew, and her parents enjoy sharing God’s story of grace and freedom from addiction. When Jacquie and her father returned to her hometown church in Phelan to give their testimony, five of the police officers who had arrested her when she was at her lowest were in attendance. By the end of her testimony, three of the officers stood to receive Christ. She uses every opportunity to minister and shares with others about what God has done in her life.

              “God’s hand was always with me through everything. I had parents who were praying for me. I always tell parents to never give up praying for their kids. If you have kids still living in your home, make sure they attend church with you. Everything I learned from my parents and church came back to me in my darkest hour. Like it says in Isaiah 55:11 “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

              Facebook Comments

              Tags: AddictionRecoveryRestorationSexual Abuse
              Beckie Lindsey

              Beckie Lindsey

              Beckie is the Editor of Southern California Christian Voice. She is a wife and a mother of three grown children and two adorable cats. She is an award-winning poet, published freelance writer of magazine, website and newspaper articles as well as devotions and studies. Her desire is to see others not only know the truths of the Word of God, but to also experience them personally and practically in everyday life. Learn more about Beckie on her blog: beckielindsey16.com

              Next Post
              Trump Signing Bibles in Tornado-Hit Alabama Drew Mixed Reactions

              Trump Signing Bibles in Tornado-Hit Alabama Drew Mixed Reactions

              • About
              • Advertise
              • Careers
              • Contact

              © 2018 Birmingham Christian Voice. - A division of One Christian Voice.

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • Politics
              • World
              • Business
              • Science
              • National
              • Entertainment
              • Music
              • Sports
              • Fashion
              • Lifestyle
              • Travel
              • Tech
              • Health
              • Food

              © 2018 Birmingham Christian Voice. - A division of One Christian Voice.

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Create New Account!

              Fill the forms below to register

              All fields are required. Log In

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In