In Search of Pearls

[Gregory Matthews]

Sharon Estrada. IN SEARCH OF PEARLS: RESTORATION AFTER CHILD ABUSE A THING OF BEAUTY. 1997, Brentwood Christian Press, 140 pages.

Gang raped at seven, Beaten by her mother with a piece of firewood for allowing it to happen, sexually assaulted by her Father at 13,  Sharon carried the scars for decades.  Finally the repressed baggage could no longer be suppressed and Sharon confessed her "sin" to her husband, John, a SDA minister, afraid that he would reject her for her infidelity and deceit in not telling him prior to their marriage.  The day she told him, is the day that her healing process began.

She went on to graduate from college, obtain a Master of Divinity degree and then a PhD in psychology.  With this process she began a ministry to abused people, both men and women.

Her story differs from that which is told by many.  Yes, she gives the outline that I presented above in six early pages in the book.  But, the major focus of the book is NOT on Sharon's life.  Rather it discusses sexual abuse, what it is, how males may be abused--her son was by a teen girl, and she did not even recognize it as abuse at the time it happened.  She discusses recovery both from the standpoint of a psychologist and from the standpoint of theology and the nature of God.  If you read her book, you will get both good psychology, even when not called such and discussions of God along with Biblical references.

In short this is not the typical book that you might expect.  Yet, if is very much her story.

If you would like a copy of her book you may obtain it from:

Dr. Sharon Estrada,

368 Bishop Troutt RD

Westmorland, TN, 37186

615-644-8642

estrada858@juno.com

NOTE:

1)  Due to serious health issues that both Sharon & her husband John have  a response to an e-mail message from you may not come a quickly as you might expect.

2)  I worked with Sharon and John for several years at a time prior to her coming out with her story.