Cheryl Battaglia
The Story she Thought she Would Take to the Grave
At a young age, Cheryl was burdened with a secret she swore she’d take to the grave. God walked with her in small steps from this terrible experience to her life now, where she is able to talk about this hurt. Each step was a call toward God and an authentic community. Cheryl is able to see God’s gentle kindness and His pursuit of her even from the early trials she endured. He has resurrected her story and the secret she swore to keep.
From the age of six to nine years old, Cheryl was molested by her best friend’s stepdad. Even at that young age, she felt no hatred or fear towards him, which she knows was because of God’s goodness. During that time, she felt safe and provided for at the Presbyterian Church she could walk to, just down the road. When her family moved, she began going with her Grandmother to the Methodist church where she had been baptized as a baby. The rest of her family was not involved with church, but God seemed determined to keep Cheryl connected. Cheryl attended there until she took a time away from faith during her twenties, but God slowly drew her back. She and her husband, who had known one another since they were twelve, were married at that same Methodist church–a sweet, full-circle moment of her early church journey.
A New Church; A New Season
For the next few years, she served as the treasurer, a Sunday school teacher, and in the nursery. When the pastors retired, she and her husband began to look at other churches. They landed at a Catholic Church where Cheryl attended mass seven days a week. Then, her daughter started attending Northridge and asked Cheryl to join her for a Sunday. For a year, she went to mass every morning, except Sunday, when she attended Northridge. After that year, she realized how much more she was learning and growing in her faith and her relationship with God. She was grateful for her season in the Catholic Church, but realized how much more being in relationship with Him meant in her daily life.
Darkness Comes To Light
A couple years later, she was contacted by the police letting her know that her molester had been accused of molesting other young girls. The police encouraged Cheryl to tell her family. She still had many connections to her molester’s family, and one member also told Cheryl that it was time to speak up. With that encouragement and the strength from her deepening faith, she came forward to her family. When she told her brother, she had to assure him that she was at peace. By God’s grace, she harbored no hatred towards her molester; she did not live as a victim or let that season of her life define her. At this time, her dad was agnostic, who now identifies as an atheist, and was still friends with her molester. He asked her, “What carried you through this?” Cheryl told him, “That’s when I came to know Christ. While I have not always been faithful to Him, He has always been there and has always been faithful to me.” She boldly shared how Christ is her ultimate peace, protection, and love. Despite living through one of the most tumultuous experiences a person can have, Cheryl knew God was still good and lived her life with that foundation. As she grew in her faith, her confidence in God enabled her to speak up.
A Foster Care Journey
Cheryl and her family began a new chapter of their life when they began the process of fostering. One of the questions they ask in the process is if you have been molested. Cheryl was originally afraid of this question, yet it turned into a redemptive moment; it meant she could relate and empathize with her foster son. Once their foster child was in their home, it became clear he had issues with women, and they struggled in their relationship. They kept a connection with him even though he ended up having to be removed from their home. After leaving, he was arrested and served time in prison for six and a half years. He was out for less than a year before being arrested and eventually sentenced to twenty-three years for two separate murders. Cheryl found herself needing courage and strength beyond what she could muster on her own to support her foster son. God revealed to her that no matter the difficulty of the situation, she is called to love God and do what she can to depend on God.
God’s presence was apparent in a way she had never known, and this served as a mark that her heart had been changed in uncountable ways.
A Secret Redeemed
It is evident to Cheryl that God desires a relationship with her, with all of us. She saw this when she joined a community group at Northridge and was met with listening ears, immense support, and consistent encouragement. Cheryl decided to take the next steps and become baptized through her group. God’s presence was apparent in a way she had never known, and this served as a mark that her heart had been changed in uncountable ways. She can see how God continually drew her back to Him throughout her life with endless mercy and peace. He is always caring for us, even in the most complicated and hurtful situations. The secret she was committed to taking to the grave is the one which God redeemed and transformed to be shared with others.
