Born to unmarried teenagers in what was then communist Yugoslavia, Radica Quackenbos was unwanted and unloved from the start. As an infant, she was left in the care of her alcoholic father. In the years that followed, Radica was sent to live on her mother’s farm, where she was forced to forage for herself and sleep with the animals in the barn. Dirty and ragged, she began stealing food and clothing, all the while wishing only to be loved.

As a teenager, Radica was raped, lived with a man whose alcoholism and neglect echoed her father’s. She had a baby girl and moved to Florida for an arranged marriage. Badly abused, she had had four more children by the time her husband left her for another woman. With five dollars in her pocket and limited English skills, she had nowhere to live and no way to support herself and her children. Where does a woman in those circumstances find God, and why should she believe in his grace? Yet God did reveal himself to Radica and assured her he had been with her every step of the way, even before she believed in him. She learned that God wanted her to forgive everyone who had ever hurt her, even her parents. Could she do it?

In this powerful story, Radica traces her journey through heartbreaking deprivation and abuse and shows us how God can use even the most miserable conditions to create a vital ministry of hope and assurance.

This is the true story of my life, I was born in a communist country, grew up without any knowledge of God. Many things happened in my life that should have driven me far from God. My life was one filled with hate and was one disaster after another. At the age of 43 circumstances lead me to a close and personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. As I look back over my life, I now see; God had me in His hands all through the difficult times. I see how He fed and clothed me after being abandoned by my mother and father. God was shaping me for His purpose in my life today.

My walk with God for the last 10 years has revealed the true value of my life. As I share my story, it is my hope that you will see the final outcome, more than the sad childhood and young adult life I had. I hope you will see how even without knowing God, He was always there.

My story is not intended to condemn or attribute anything negative to the people in my past; as God has always had me in His hands and I praise Him: even when I knew Him not, He was always there. Without my knowledge God’s power, mercy, and grace for my life was to glorify Him for His care and intimacy with me today. Surviving all I went thru I now know Him in the greatest way possible, personally, and intimately. He is my Savior, Lord, and close friend.

It is my hope and prayer as you read my story “In My Fathers Hands” that you will also see God’s hand in your past and come to understand how much He wants to be in your future. If your life is broken, you will see how He can repair it. If your life is blessed, I pray that you will be encouraged to reach out to the broken lives around you.

I now travel with my husband around the world and help in the ministry God has given to us sharing my testimony as the Lord opens doors and supporting my husband’s call to minister the Word of God. We have many open doors and step into each one with boldness and confidence in our God to equip us for each task and use my testimony to bring healing and restoration to the body of Christ