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An abuse survivor, sent to Rikers Island tells, tells her
story of overcoming through Christ
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Article By Rebecca Johnson
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Posted December 6, 2017
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Photo Credit: Facebook
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Christian writer and ministry leader, Dr. Antoinette Goodrich, author of On the Road to Destiny, may
seem to have her life together now. But there was a time when she was suffering through a cycle of
pain and abuse, with no apparent way out.
At 7 years old, her innocence was stolen and her world shattered when she was sexually molested by
her uncle at the house where he, her aunt, and cousin lived. “Although that incident was brought to
the awareness of my family and my uncle was forgiven, and restored with his promise of never
touching me again, the molestation continued, and lasted for the next nine years of my life,” says
Goodrich,
That perversion led her on a downward spiral that cast a dark shadow over her life. “These sexual
attacks opened a door in my life to sexual promiscuity and I fell into the hands of many men who
sensed my sexual drive and youthful vulnerability,” explains Goodrich in an interview with EEW
Magazine.
According to the charismatic speaker, whose sermon, “Don't break down before you break through,”
has helped liberate others, the abuse, for a season, did, in fact, break her down. It also opened her
up to more abuse—this time, domestic. “After years of being mishandled by men outside of the church
arena, at age 17, I met and fell in love with a man who was actively in ministry,” recalls Goodrich.
The two wed on April 15, 1995. She thought she had found her happily-ever-after. But soon, her
world came crashing down around her again. “I became a victim of domestic violence for the next 21
years of my life at the hands of my husband,” she says. Despite being brutalized behind closed doors,
Goodrich admits she thought her spouse would change each time he apologized.
He never did.
If she believed things couldn’t get any worse, she was wrong. “During my marriage, I was introduced
to a business, which was later found to be illegal and fraudulent. I was left holding the bag,” she tells
EEW. Goodrich learned that $100,000 had been stolen from the accounts of innocent victims and she
took the fall.
“I was arrested and charged with accounts of felony and grand larceny. I was taken to Rikers Island
prison where I spent 3 days in general population and had an experience that I'll never forget. I was
facing up to 20 years in prison, but through much prayer and God’s grace upon my life, the charges
against me were dropped,” says Goodrich.
After being released, she tried to put her life back together again.
In 2016, after more than two decades of being beaten, Goodrich finally found the strength and
courage to escape the violence inflicted upon her by her husband. “I decided that enough was
enough,” she says, adding, “and I was no longer going to stay in a marriage where I was being
physically, mentally and emotionally abused, and our four daughters would no longer be eyewitnesses
to this lifestyle.”
She filed for divorce and has been laser-focused on fulfilling God’s call to ministry since that time.
“I've delivered the Gospel both near and far,” she says—something she did “even while going through
my storms of life.”
Goodrich is grateful for her mentor and leader Dr. T.L Penny, pastor of Shabach World Cathedral in
Sumter, South Carolina, whom she says, “has been my inspiration through greatest transition of my
life and continually.” These days, the indie author, who has enjoyed writing since elementary school,
is using her book to give voice to “the silent cries of the countless women” who will be “empowered by
my testimony and comforted by knowing they're not alone.”
For those who feel disqualified by their mistakes, Goodrich, who was raised by two strong women—
her mother and late grandmother, Pastor L.M. Jones—has a message.
This overcomer through Jesus Christ says, “I want you to know that there's nothing that you can do
that will disqualify you from the great destiny that God has already chosen you for, and has prepared
for you. Romans 8:28 says ‘And we know that all things work together for the good to them who love
God, who are the called according to his purpose.’ In other words, not only every good thing, but
even every bad thing that you may have done or experienced is working in unity to bring forth good
results if you love the Lord.”
She continues, “No one who is living, or has ever lived, is mistake-free. God chose you even before
you made a bad choice and inspite of it. There's no success without failures, and there's no
accomplishments without mistakes. Remember this: you may make mistakes, but your mistakes don't
make you.”
If you would like to support this inspirational woman, you can purchase her book, On The Road To
Destiny, via PayPal using the email: ontheroadtodestiny40@gmail.com. When you forward your
shipping address to the same email, your book will be mailed out to you the following business day.
Follow her online at:
Instagram @LadyGoodrich
Twitter @Lady_Goodrich
Periscope @ LadyGoodrich
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