Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2800

Tonight's special guest is Nancy V Brown from Atlanta, Georgia, a child abuse survivor, advocate, coach and new NAASCA volunteer. Nancy is also an author. 'My Costa Rican Hummingbird Sings' is the story of her life journey. From her earliest days in Costa Rica, to her current life as an entrepreneur, she has faced countless challenges. At age 5 she experienced sexual child abuse at the hands of a trusted family member. She was told not to tell anyone and became ashamed and scared to tell anyone. The abuse continued for some time until she got enough courage to tell her mom. The abuse left her broken, ashamed and some of the family members did not believe her. Nancy was moved to her grandmother's care, who introduced her to knowing Christ and the Holy Spirit, relationships that saved her life a few times over. In school she experienced bullying, hazing and racism. She dealt with depression and attempted suicide as a teenager. She went through the criminal justice system and went into the foster care system. At her lowest points her personal relationship with God kept her grounded. As an adult she went through a failed marriage, narcissistic abuse, alcoholism and depression. In her memoir, 'My Costa Rican Hummingbird Sings', Nancy shares her life story to help guide others in their personal journeys. The book offers a tapestry of life's stories—stories of family, abuse, teenage pregnancy, divorce, single motherhood, racism, alcoholism, depression, sickness, loss, and through it all, the unending power of God's unconditional love. She also founded her program, "Brave Girls Rise UP," which is dedicated to empowering, supporting and building confidence for young girls.