Abbie's Story, pt 1: From Darkness to Dancing

Story Sessions with Loveshaped Life

In this moving episode of our Story Sessions podcast, Abbie Owens shares her journey from growing up as a pastor's daughter in a dysfunctional home to finding genuine healing and faith. Despite being raised in a Christian environment, Abbie's early life was marked by family turmoil, including her parents' marital struggles and an abrupt move from Puerto Rico to Florida that left her feeling isolated and desperate enough to attempt suicide at age 16.

The trajectory of Abbie's life took a devastating turn when she was date raped at 18, resulting in pregnancy. Rather than receiving support, she faced judgment and rejection from her church community, leading to her disfellowship. Pressured into marrying her abuser, Abbie endured 12 years of physical and emotional abuse before finally breaking free. A second marriage ended in further trauma when her husband was convicted of molestation, leaving her financially and emotionally bankrupt.

Through these dark chapters, God was quietly working in Abbie's life, though she couldn't see it at the time. The turning point came through her son's transformation and his invitation back to church. This led Abbie to rediscover God not as the stern, judgmental figure she once feared, but as a loving, pursuing Father. Along with her son and third husband, Abbie found healing and a new understanding of divine love, eventually being baptized together. Her story powerfully illustrates how God can work through life's deepest wounds to bring about healing and restoration.