Dusty's Story

Dusty Rall pleaded, “God, if you’re real, please help me out of this mess!” The Lord heard and answered her prayer. When Dusty first contacted The Hope of Survivors, a supporting lay ministry that addresses pastoral sexual misconduct, she wasn’t sure how we could help or whether we could even be trusted. The only two religious leaders she had known up to that point had abused her.

We learned about the abuse Dusty constantly faced and her horrendous upbringing.  Dusty was born into a Satan-worshiping family, her father a high priest in the Worldwide Church of Satan. She was exposed to and endured unspeakable horrors and Dusty was taught Satan is the creator and God is powerless.

During one visit as my husband, Steve Nelson, read the Bible and prayed for her, the ugliest voice spoke through her, threatening to kill her as well as me and Steve. Through heart-wrenching prayer, an anointing, the reading of Scripture and pleading the divine merits of Jesus Christ’s blood that was shed on Calvary for the remission of sins, Dusty was delivered—solely by the power and authority of Jesus Christ. She gave her heart and life to the Lord that night, even though she could not even say the full name of Jesus yet.

A couple weeks later her family sexually and physically assaulted her again. She spent two and half weeks in the hospital with a feeding tube inserted because of the ongoing poisoning she was given. We held a special anointing service for her for physical healing with Shelley and J.D.Quinn joining us. The next day Dusty called me and said, “Yay for Jesus!”  We praised God for loosening her tongue so she could praise the name of Jesus!

Healing has been a slow and often painful process. However, Dusty has seen the power of God conquer the enemy and set her free. She chooses to cease complaining and to praise Jesus through it all.

As a new babe in Christ, Dusty shares her faith with others. One specialist wanted to remove her stomach, since it no longer worked. She told him, “I’ve been talking to God and He’s going to heal me.”  The physician laughed at her and told her God was a fable.  She was quick to reply, “Oh no, He’s not! I know He’s been healing me and if you don’t believe it, then here (she handed him Steve’s business card), call my pastor!”  God is honoring Dusty’s faith and she is healing.

On October 10^th, 2009, Steve baptized Dusty into the Fairfield (Illinois) Church. The smile on Dusty’s face and the joy in her heart were especially evident to all. Satan lost this battle. Jesus delivered Dusty and gave her a new life. The service ended with the congregation singing “Jesus Loves Me”, the very first song Dusty learned.

Please keep this precious child of God in your prayers. Next time you’re tempted to complain and think life is unfair, think of Dusty and join her in exclaiming, “Yay for Jesus anyway!”

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