When Hope Hurts

Abandoned at age two by her father, Carol was thrust into a life of unrelenting sexual abuse and child pornography when her mother remarried a deacon in their local church. After nine years, she brought the dark family secret into light, only to be silenced and sent away to live with her grandparents. At age 14, Carol began her journey of trying to find peace among the shattered pieces of her life. After years of running from the truth, she had to face her past. Carol began to try and answer her biggest question..."Where is God? When Hope Hurts." She knew she had to make a choice and to choose life, she had to choose to be free. She ultimately found freedom from the debilitating hurts of her childhood and adult life through the healing process of forgiveness, salvation and above all HOPE in a loving God who never leaves and never forsakes.

With faith, there is always hope. Carol Urton's story is compelling, riveting and empowering. Carol is truly a survivor that has been guided by the hopeful healing power of God. She not only survives, she thrives!
-Patricia Wenskunas, Founder CEO, Crime Survivors, Inc., and Orange County Crime Stoppers • www.crimesurvivors.org

The process of forgiveness is painful, but it produces great rewards. Carol Long/Urton had parent figures that abused and abandoned her. In the midst of her personal hell, she achieved a new perspective on life. Carol recounts her intimate story with honesty, telling of failures as well as successes.
-Carl Westerlund, Assistant pastor, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa

In the midst of pain and tragedy, when we feel abandoned and alone, God can be hard to find. Carol's story of strength and survival is a testament to God's love and faithfulness and serves as assurance to all of us that God never leaves us and lives can truly be restored. We know this to be true, just as we get to see these truths every day at the Orange County Rescue Mission.
-Jim Palmer, President, Orange County Rescue Mission