Trudy Harder Metzger - Between 2 Gods: A Memoir of Abuse in the Mennonite Community

Table of Contents

BETWEEN

GODS

A Memoir of Abuse

In the Mennonite Community

Trudy Harder Metzger

eLectio Publishing

Little Elm, TX

www.eLectioPublishing.com

Between 2 Gods: A Memoir of Abuse in the Mennonite Community

By Trudy Harder Metzger

Copyright 2015 by Trudy Harder Metzger

Cover Design by eLectio Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-1-63213-088-4

Published by eLectio Publishing, LLC

Little Elm, Texas

http://www.eLectioPublishing.com

The eLectio Publishing editing team is comprised of: Christine LePorte, Lori Draft, Sheldon James, and Jim Eccles.

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Publishers Note

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Authors Disclaimer

The author has made every attempt to recreate events, locales, and conversations as accurately as possible, and where appropriate, based on her memories of them and having confirmed as many details as possible with individuals involved. Any discrepancies and inaccuracies are unintentional. However, in order to maintain their anonymity, in some instances, names of individuals and places have been altered. Additionally, some identifying characteristics, such as physical properties, occupations, and places of residence, have also changed .

PRAISE FOR BETWEEN 2 GODS

The great educator, Booker T. Washington once observed, If you want to measure the true success of a man or woman, you do not measure it so much by the position they have achieved, but by the obstacles they have had to overcome. If ever there were a quote that was appropriate to a life story, this certainly applies to the life of Trudy Metzger. When you read what was done in the name of God in her faith community, it overwhelms the mind. When you read how Trudy has chosen to handle the obstacles and deception in her life, you will be amazed. Between 2 Gods is a book that outlines the life story of a woman who has chosen to overcome an extraordinarily difficult past. The fact that she is not bitter toward God, but instead has chosen to take her brokenness and use it as a portrait of grace, is simply amazing. I am very thankful that Trudy promised God that she would give Him the rest of my life because hurt, honesty, transparency, and spirituality will help everyone I know who has been victimized, to live a full life. I am honored to call Trudy a friend and fellow author.

Dr. Ike Reighard

Trudy Metzger has taken the tragic and painful experiences of childhood sexual and physical abuse, and started an inspiring ministry to those who have been harmed by abuse. She shares her story in a heartfelt and genuine way with those who attend her conferences. Her powerful message and prayer ministry changes many lives. In this gripping story, that will reach thousands more, she walks you through her years growing up and shares the abuse that she experienced and how she survived things that no child should ever have to endure. But as sad and dark as her story is, it has a happy ending. Every survivor needs hope and when you read her book you will come away with the feeling that if God could help heal Trudy than He can help heal me. I would encourage you to read her book and consider what God can do in your life.

Dale Ingraham, Pastor for 31 years,
Executive director of Speaking Truth In Love Ministries
President of MKSafetyNet, Author of Tear Down This Wall

Trudy's story is gut-wrenchingly real to the core. Her telling of it leaves nothing out, as she relives one raw encounter after another. How she survived is a testament to her strong will and tenacity, birthed out of her need to be loved. Gripping, stunning and heartbreaking, yet victorious.

Kelita Haverland, comedian, speaker, singer/songwriter
five-time Juno nominee

Wow! Your story had me riveted! You gave the raw facts with hope at the end, and left it hanging just enough to make me want to read the next book! I found myself praying: NO, not more harm! Can't anyone protect her? But I understand why an abuser can pick out one who had been abused and why that person feels like they have no voice. God have mercy on the innocents out there going through this very life right now. I didn't pick up any attitude toward our Mennonite culture. You were recounting your life and this really did happen. Facts are facts. That's the problem... People want to sweep it under the rug in the plain churches and I think this would help expose it. But, you better have your prayer warriors in high alert. Satan does not like sin exposed and there are people who will look for lots to try to discredit your story. But, our God is GREATER!

T. Miller

Just finished reading Between 2 Gods (Im way behind in housework now, thank you very much!) Wow wow! I couldn't stop reading. Sometimes I wonder if there will be a special jewel in the crown for those who came face to face with the devil for battle, and kept pursuing truth. Your story is beautiful like an old house with overgrown weeds and broken windows, renovated by God's grace into a beautiful mansion. You are one of the bravest people I know, to put your story out there like that.

Monica Orr

I dedicate this book,

Between 2 Gods

to :

My husband, Tim Metzger,

my faithful companion, my best friend, and the

love of my life. He knows well the story that spilled

onto the pages of this book, and loved patiently,

always, in spite of my story. Not passing

judgement, he listened compassion-

ately as I trusted him with it in

our early years together.

Thank you

!

Tim, you loved me to wholeness. Through you, God revealed His love and brought redemption into my life! I give you my heart with deepest trust and appreciation.

Special Thanks To

My husband, Tim, and our childrenAlicia, Nicole, Bryan, Toddrick, and Kordanfor your patience with me, as a wife, as a mother, and as an author. You have paid a price for my story, having suffered in the aftermath, and you have paid a price for my telling it publicly. There is no one in the world I love more, or to whom I am more deeply indebted.

Christopher Dixon, of eLectio Publishing, for giving my dream wings. You looked beyond the extensive editing my book needed, and saw potential to bring hope to half the population of the world by sharing my story.

My mother for many hours spent sharing stories of previous generations and your life with my father, filling in the gaps to my story. In all that was, and all that wasnt, I thank God for redemption. Thank you for blessing this project. It was hard living, and hard telling, for both of us.