THIS PAGE IS HUMBLY DEDICATED TO JUST A FEW OF THE PERSONAL STORIES WE HAVE RECEIVED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY OF HOW GOD HAS USED THE MESSAGE OF FORGIVENESS FROM RUBY RIDGE® TO BLESS YOU, PLEASE CONTACT US. WE WOULD ALSO BE HONORED TO RECEIVE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS.
TESTIMONIALS
Hi Sara! Just wanted to let you know that both my boys, Luke and Nik, will be baptized on Dec. 8. They had to prepare their testimonies ahead of time to share with the pastor. We are going to the church after school today to record them, and the video will be played just before the baptism.
My oldest son, Luke (14), included the Ruby Ridge to Freedom event in his testimony...that it was part of what God used in his heart to lead him to want to be baptized. I just wanted you to know.
Much love in Christ, Gayle
My oldest son, Luke (14), included the Ruby Ridge to Freedom event in his testimony...that it was part of what God used in his heart to lead him to want to be baptized. I just wanted you to know.
Much love in Christ, Gayle
Dear Sara, I am an American living in Australia, and I recently purchased, downloaded and read your book. While I have no personal story to tell, I wish to thank you for putting your story in a book form for all to see. It is very inspiring, and you have my gratitude. I think that to forgive is easy to say, but harder to do. For you to forgive what happened to you and your family speaks of great courage, character, and especially faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I sometimes wish that more so called 'Christians' would take this to heart. D
 EASTHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH AUGUST 28TH 2011. IN LOVING MEMORY OF SHAUN, 1966-2011 |
 EASTHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH, AUGUST 28TH 2011. THANK YOU M! |
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Sara,
Just watched your interview with William Shatner on Biography network. I want to say thank you for your amazing testimony, and your willingness to glorify Christ through your forgiveness of those who caused so much tragedy in your life. Thank you for your honest vulnerability. Your words on television were rare, fresh, and a bright light of encouragement for all to see. Blessings, D |
Sara-
I heard you speak last night at the Hilton Garden Inn- AMAZING! I wanted to talk to you right after, but I didn't get the chance:( If I had went by myself, I would've waited all night. Sara, I definitely left INSPIRED, AMAZED, and ENCOURAGED. Your talk last night is something unforgettable to all of us. Thank you so much for standing up and sharing this crazy life you've had! I think it's really awesome that your sharing your story with the world. You are definitely changing people's lives and I think that is SO cool :) It's pretty amazing what God can do in our lives when we put our faith and trust in Him! AM |
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Sara,
I wanted to thank you (albeit a bit late) for sharing your story, I saw an article about you in the Billings Gazette last year in September. I grew up in Noxon (About 15 miles from the Idaho border and 50 from Sandpoint), I was also 16 in 1992 and remember the story about your family well. Thank you, also, for sharing your testimony and written words of encouragement with the world, I personally found great comfort in your writings. Your words lifted me up, I suspect they have the same impact on everyone who reads them! Thank you, and God Bless, J |
Dear Sara,
I recently watched for the first time a rebroadcast of your appearance on the show with William Shatner (I suppose I'm a little slow on the uptake as I know it was first aired a while ago). Words cannot describe how moved I was. Far beyond any outrage I felt at the injustice inflicted upon you and your family was an immense feeling of awe and wonder at the grace and dignity with which you now handle the entire episode. I have only recently in my life, I am 51 years old, really begun to understand the liberating power of forgiveness and letting go of resentments. Seeing you on this program made it so very clear to me and I cannot thank you enough. I wish you all happiness and health in your future on this earth. With the greatest admiration, N |
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Sara,
Hello and Happy Labor Day to you, your hubby and son. I just wanted to thank you for comming and speaking at Easthaven Baptist Church. There was so much truth that came out that i was not aware of. I ache for you and yet say Praise God for you have the grace of God. It was wonderful to see you in a moment of weakness and know that it happens and is ok to just drop and pray. My daughter and her friend was with me that Sunday and they both were touched by your message. To forgive somebody takes alot especially when they have taken somebody or something that means so much to you with no problem. I had to forgive somebody, not publically but in my own heart and yes i felt the weight lifted and now i dont have to think about it anymore. Again Thanks Sara and Keep doing what your doing for the Lord it really does help others to hear your story to look at there own life and make things right with God. T |
Sarah,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for comming to Libby Christian Church and also for praying with my husband and I last night. I feel so much better today now that after hearing your story I was able to turn The hurt from my abuser over to God and fully forgive him. I cannot thank you enough for comming to our church you are such a strong and incredibel woman. God bless Name Withheld Hey Sara and Mark,
Just wanted to tell you guys Shelby and I loved listening to the two of you. After loosing my brother last year i fought myself for a long time and after listening to you two speak it opened my heart again to the lord. We hope we can see you guys again and cant wait for our family to experience what we did. All our prayers are with you, continue to touch people like you did us. N and S |
Sara,
I happened upon Aftermath the other night and didn't have a clue what the subject was when I stopped on it. I didn't have time to watch it but I saw in your eyes that you had been through something that I needed to hear about from your own mouth so I hit record. A few days later I went back to it and saw "Ruby Ridge" and my heart nearly stopped.
I'm only a few years older than you are. I cried for you then and cried for you again. And then I wept at your child-like faith and how you have allowed the Lord to carry you.
I want you to know that your insight to why this happened to your family has helped me greatly. It's hard to set ego aside and though most ego battles don't result in the level of pain that Ruby Ridge did, it is a reminder of just how far the will and pride of man can take us. It's amazing how far a person will go to be right these days.
I love you, sister, and I know that if we happened upon each other we would be great friends.
That's all. :D B
I happened upon Aftermath the other night and didn't have a clue what the subject was when I stopped on it. I didn't have time to watch it but I saw in your eyes that you had been through something that I needed to hear about from your own mouth so I hit record. A few days later I went back to it and saw "Ruby Ridge" and my heart nearly stopped.
I'm only a few years older than you are. I cried for you then and cried for you again. And then I wept at your child-like faith and how you have allowed the Lord to carry you.
I want you to know that your insight to why this happened to your family has helped me greatly. It's hard to set ego aside and though most ego battles don't result in the level of pain that Ruby Ridge did, it is a reminder of just how far the will and pride of man can take us. It's amazing how far a person will go to be right these days.
I love you, sister, and I know that if we happened upon each other we would be great friends.
That's all. :D B
DEAR SARA,
YOU SIGNED A BOOK FOR ME TONIGHT, AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU DID SO FOR MANY, SO I DOUBT YOU WILL REMEMBER WHO I AM, BUT THAT DOES NOT MATTER. I TOLD YOUR HUBBY THAT I HAD WRITTEN A BOOK AND WANTED TO SEND IT TO YOU. SO THAT WILL BE COMING YOUR WAY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IN YOUR BOOK, I NOTICED IT WAS PRINTED IN 1998 WHERE MINE WAS PRINTED IN 1995.
I WAS AN ORPHAN FROM INFANCY AND WAS RAISED IN A STATE INSTITUTION THAT WARE-HOUSED CHILDREN. I ALWAYS FELT I WAS ROBBED OF MY CHILDHOOD. IT WAS A HORRID PLACE, AND I LIVED THERE UNTIL I WAS 12-YEARS-OLD. I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT PAIN AND HATRED IN THOSE 12 YEARS, AND IT WAS MANY, MANY YEARS LATER THAT I LEARNED ABOUT LETTING GO OF HATRED AND REVENGE.
IT IS SORT OF LIKE THE ACID THAT EATS THRU ITS OWN CONTAINER. IF YOU PUT SOME-ONE IN YOUR JAIL-OF-HATE - "YOU" HAVE TO GUARD THE CELL-DOOR.
ONE REASON THAT I COULD NOT FORGIVE FOR LONG, LONG YEARS, WAS BECAUSE I FELT IF I DID SO, THAT IT WOULD LEGITIMIZE WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO ME, AND THAT I PROBABLY DESERVED IT.
I FOUND THAT WRITING THE BOOK WAS THERAPUTIC FOR ME. - THAT A GREAT WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM MY SHOULDERS.
SARA, THIS PAST JANUARY FIRST, I TURNED 76. YOU ARE YOUNG AND HAVE SO MUCH LIFE AHEAD OF YOU, AND I THRILL THAT YOU HAVE HEALED SO EARLY. I KNOW IT WAS NOT EASY, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. YOUR PRESENTATIONS TELL OTHERS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT MANY OTHERS SUFFER THRU VARIOUS KINDS OF HURT AND HARM DONE TO THEM. YOUR MESSAGE IS THERAPUTIC AS WELL. I WISH YOU GOD-SPEED IN CONTINUING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WITNESS, FOR I FEEL BLESSED HEARING IT FROM YOU. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT IN THE FAMILY OF THE LORD, THERE ARE NO STRANGERS - ONLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT WE HAVE NOT MET YET. IT WAS MY EXTREME PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
C
YOU SIGNED A BOOK FOR ME TONIGHT, AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU DID SO FOR MANY, SO I DOUBT YOU WILL REMEMBER WHO I AM, BUT THAT DOES NOT MATTER. I TOLD YOUR HUBBY THAT I HAD WRITTEN A BOOK AND WANTED TO SEND IT TO YOU. SO THAT WILL BE COMING YOUR WAY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IN YOUR BOOK, I NOTICED IT WAS PRINTED IN 1998 WHERE MINE WAS PRINTED IN 1995.
I WAS AN ORPHAN FROM INFANCY AND WAS RAISED IN A STATE INSTITUTION THAT WARE-HOUSED CHILDREN. I ALWAYS FELT I WAS ROBBED OF MY CHILDHOOD. IT WAS A HORRID PLACE, AND I LIVED THERE UNTIL I WAS 12-YEARS-OLD. I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT PAIN AND HATRED IN THOSE 12 YEARS, AND IT WAS MANY, MANY YEARS LATER THAT I LEARNED ABOUT LETTING GO OF HATRED AND REVENGE.
IT IS SORT OF LIKE THE ACID THAT EATS THRU ITS OWN CONTAINER. IF YOU PUT SOME-ONE IN YOUR JAIL-OF-HATE - "YOU" HAVE TO GUARD THE CELL-DOOR.
ONE REASON THAT I COULD NOT FORGIVE FOR LONG, LONG YEARS, WAS BECAUSE I FELT IF I DID SO, THAT IT WOULD LEGITIMIZE WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO ME, AND THAT I PROBABLY DESERVED IT.
I FOUND THAT WRITING THE BOOK WAS THERAPUTIC FOR ME. - THAT A GREAT WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM MY SHOULDERS.
SARA, THIS PAST JANUARY FIRST, I TURNED 76. YOU ARE YOUNG AND HAVE SO MUCH LIFE AHEAD OF YOU, AND I THRILL THAT YOU HAVE HEALED SO EARLY. I KNOW IT WAS NOT EASY, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. YOUR PRESENTATIONS TELL OTHERS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT MANY OTHERS SUFFER THRU VARIOUS KINDS OF HURT AND HARM DONE TO THEM. YOUR MESSAGE IS THERAPUTIC AS WELL. I WISH YOU GOD-SPEED IN CONTINUING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WITNESS, FOR I FEEL BLESSED HEARING IT FROM YOU. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT IN THE FAMILY OF THE LORD, THERE ARE NO STRANGERS - ONLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT WE HAVE NOT MET YET. IT WAS MY EXTREME PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
C
Sara,
I have been wanting to write you for months now about what you and your ministry has done for me and family members by addressing your readers on your web-site. So, you have my permission to post this letter. I pray I can get everything said that I feel in my heart that God wants me to share:
Sara and I become friends thru a mutual christian friend and hair dresser, Tracy, about a year ago now. Hair Dressers are so cool! If you get blessed to find one you can trust to tell your life story to and have it kept in confidence, keep them! Tracy introduced us saying we should meet because we had a few things in common. Not only were we both chrisitans but like Sara, I too had lost a family member to a senseless murder. My sister, Tina and three other police officers from her unit were ambushed and shot execution style while starting their day in a coffee shop. Needless to say, I had some things to work thru and Sara's beautiful message of forgiveness and healing was a start to my journey. Like I imagine others who first meet her, instantly I was drawn to her beautiful smile and child-like faith. I had the great priviledge to hear her speak for the first time at the Hilton Garden Inn presentation last year. While watching the video hosted by William Shatner, I was filled with all different kinds of emotions the great deceiver enjoys keeping us captive with (sadness, anger, resentment, fear); but by the end of the presentation, these emotions were soon replaced by hope for the chains to be unlocked and a longing for more of God's presence in my life. I found myself yearning to do what Sara had done to forgive and forgive totally with grace. I know that we are told by health care professionals, that although it is a very hard process and usually is day by day; to forgive those who have wronged us is necessary for good emotional and physical health; but I wanted more than that. I figured out thru reading God's word and taking a class called, The Way of the Master, if a person forgives the way the Lord forgives we can in fact have more annointing. I wanted so much to be closer to God. I wanted Him to trust me and to work thru me more to save the lost - to be part of something bigger than myself. But, I soon found out to do this, to TRULY have a heart for what breaks His, I had to not only learn forgiveness but to release those who wronged me by praying for God to bless them and bless them abundantly! The murders took a big toll not only on the family members of the fallen officers but on the nation. No one felt safe, especially law enforcement, and the nation was stunned. These people took my sister - our peacekeepers. They took a mother and father away from their children - an event no child should have to experience. This horrible tragedy devestated relationships of all kinds - I soon felt like I had lost two sisters left behind to the grief and unforgiveness along with our beloved Tina. When we hear about wars abroad, of course we expect casualties. Although ugly, this is the nature of war. But, when war breaks out in our own back yards to people who are to protect us here at home it is devestating to the public psyche and breaks down our trust and replaces it with extreme fear, anger & a feeling of desperation and unforgiveness. Please don't get me wrong by me telling you these things. I don't struggle with these things very much any more (although, at times, the enemy can make me think I haven't truly forgiven). I tell you because I want you to understand just how hard this was going to be. I have had to forgive before but this time it was going to be a "tall order" to accomplish. I am hear to tell you, a person cannot totally forgive another without the Lord in his or her life. Not totally. For a person needs to first understand what Christ did on the cross for their own sins and iniquities. "For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." Psalm 25:11. The key word here is "great". Telling a lie, adultery, stealing or murder. It is all a sin to God. I am a sinner too and in need of constant forgiveness. If I expect the Lord to forgive me I must forgive as well. He not only expects me to forgive He commands it as stated in Matthew 18:21-22. "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
All of this has started a desire in me to create a letter of forgiveness to send to each person involved in my sister's death. I need to do my part. There were 7 of them total; six were found guilty and are serving prison sentences, and one was found "not guilty". The first letter is still in progress. I want it to be sincere - I want the person reading it to know he/she is so loved by God - He is so jealous over them there is nothing they have done or will do that he will not forgive them for if they will just repent and believe. I have a mental picture of the pearly gates in heaven some day; witnessing my sister joyfully embracing each and every one who sent her to heaven early with tears of forgiveness streaming down her face and their's. Some family members and friends may think this betrayal or nieve. From the world standpoint maybe; but not when God is involved. Mighty things happen when He shows up!
Thank you Sara for showing those of us who are left behind we can accomplish mighty things if we just believe with child-like faith and allow ourselves to be directed by the one who loved us first even before there was time. My journey is not over...its just starting!
Love ya girl! Tammy
I have been wanting to write you for months now about what you and your ministry has done for me and family members by addressing your readers on your web-site. So, you have my permission to post this letter. I pray I can get everything said that I feel in my heart that God wants me to share:
Sara and I become friends thru a mutual christian friend and hair dresser, Tracy, about a year ago now. Hair Dressers are so cool! If you get blessed to find one you can trust to tell your life story to and have it kept in confidence, keep them! Tracy introduced us saying we should meet because we had a few things in common. Not only were we both chrisitans but like Sara, I too had lost a family member to a senseless murder. My sister, Tina and three other police officers from her unit were ambushed and shot execution style while starting their day in a coffee shop. Needless to say, I had some things to work thru and Sara's beautiful message of forgiveness and healing was a start to my journey. Like I imagine others who first meet her, instantly I was drawn to her beautiful smile and child-like faith. I had the great priviledge to hear her speak for the first time at the Hilton Garden Inn presentation last year. While watching the video hosted by William Shatner, I was filled with all different kinds of emotions the great deceiver enjoys keeping us captive with (sadness, anger, resentment, fear); but by the end of the presentation, these emotions were soon replaced by hope for the chains to be unlocked and a longing for more of God's presence in my life. I found myself yearning to do what Sara had done to forgive and forgive totally with grace. I know that we are told by health care professionals, that although it is a very hard process and usually is day by day; to forgive those who have wronged us is necessary for good emotional and physical health; but I wanted more than that. I figured out thru reading God's word and taking a class called, The Way of the Master, if a person forgives the way the Lord forgives we can in fact have more annointing. I wanted so much to be closer to God. I wanted Him to trust me and to work thru me more to save the lost - to be part of something bigger than myself. But, I soon found out to do this, to TRULY have a heart for what breaks His, I had to not only learn forgiveness but to release those who wronged me by praying for God to bless them and bless them abundantly! The murders took a big toll not only on the family members of the fallen officers but on the nation. No one felt safe, especially law enforcement, and the nation was stunned. These people took my sister - our peacekeepers. They took a mother and father away from their children - an event no child should have to experience. This horrible tragedy devestated relationships of all kinds - I soon felt like I had lost two sisters left behind to the grief and unforgiveness along with our beloved Tina. When we hear about wars abroad, of course we expect casualties. Although ugly, this is the nature of war. But, when war breaks out in our own back yards to people who are to protect us here at home it is devestating to the public psyche and breaks down our trust and replaces it with extreme fear, anger & a feeling of desperation and unforgiveness. Please don't get me wrong by me telling you these things. I don't struggle with these things very much any more (although, at times, the enemy can make me think I haven't truly forgiven). I tell you because I want you to understand just how hard this was going to be. I have had to forgive before but this time it was going to be a "tall order" to accomplish. I am hear to tell you, a person cannot totally forgive another without the Lord in his or her life. Not totally. For a person needs to first understand what Christ did on the cross for their own sins and iniquities. "For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." Psalm 25:11. The key word here is "great". Telling a lie, adultery, stealing or murder. It is all a sin to God. I am a sinner too and in need of constant forgiveness. If I expect the Lord to forgive me I must forgive as well. He not only expects me to forgive He commands it as stated in Matthew 18:21-22. "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
All of this has started a desire in me to create a letter of forgiveness to send to each person involved in my sister's death. I need to do my part. There were 7 of them total; six were found guilty and are serving prison sentences, and one was found "not guilty". The first letter is still in progress. I want it to be sincere - I want the person reading it to know he/she is so loved by God - He is so jealous over them there is nothing they have done or will do that he will not forgive them for if they will just repent and believe. I have a mental picture of the pearly gates in heaven some day; witnessing my sister joyfully embracing each and every one who sent her to heaven early with tears of forgiveness streaming down her face and their's. Some family members and friends may think this betrayal or nieve. From the world standpoint maybe; but not when God is involved. Mighty things happen when He shows up!
Thank you Sara for showing those of us who are left behind we can accomplish mighty things if we just believe with child-like faith and allow ourselves to be directed by the one who loved us first even before there was time. My journey is not over...its just starting!
Love ya girl! Tammy