Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2660

Tonight's special guest is Makayla Boatman from Stephenville, Texas, who grew up in a physical, emotional, spiritual and sexually abusive household. "My father physically, mentally and spiritually abused us," she says. "My nana mentally abused us. My oldest brother sexually abused me. I cannot honestly remember a time in my life where there was no abuse." She left the family as soon as she could. "When I was 18 the morning after I graduated high school (May 2019) I moved out and have not looked back since." In recovery now, she has been in Christian counseling for almost two years. "Life was hard to say the least and honestly if it were not for my relationship with Christ I would not be here today. I struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life," she says. "I never felt truly loved and cared for by any of them but God. I always felt like we were all my dad's puppets, knowing if we objected to anything our life would be even more miserable. Although at the age of 16 I finally stood up 100% for what I believed in." Today Makayla is doing much better. "I feel at complete peace with my decision to completely cut out my family, it was what God showed me was best for my health. I have spoken at Fields of Faith; I have spoken to groups of youth kids at church camps/D now. I have written many things on Facebook. Also have written many poems on my experiences but never published, I've only shared with people God put on my heart. Like my youth girls I teach at my church and some women I've taught at my church that have gone through similar abuse or the same that I have."