Being raped at age 16 was a tragic experience in Acworth resident Tammie Hall's life. But Hall, now 49, said she has managed to overcome resulting turbulent chapters in her life by growing in her faith in God.

In her newly released book, "Journey of Courage," published by Tate Publishing, Hall shares how God restored her faith in him and in return, brought her peace. She said she believes she has a responsibility to help others who have been dealt misfortune.

"The book is a conviction from God; the healing that he taught me and brought me through and to share it with other people - male or female - that are struggling with tragic circumstances in their life that they haven't been able to deal with," said Hall, an accounting office manager.

Hall said she was working in a summer job at a fast food restaurant in Paulding County when she was raped by her boss in a storage supply room. She said it was his last night there before relocating to another state, which she was unaware of. Hall said she was embarrassed by the incident and didn't tell anyone about it.

"Satan moved in and told me that no one would believe me and that it was all my fault. He told me that I was damaged, no good and that nobody would want me," she said.

Hall said she buried her secret deep in her heart for the next 16 years. She said she suffered from anger issues, moved from one abusive relationship to another, and was sexually promiscuous.

"You either go one of two ways when something like that happens. You either become promiscuous or you become a prude," Hall said. "I didn't feel worthy of true love."

Eventually, Hall said keeping the secret of being raped began to eat at her and that at age 32, she told her surprised parents. But still, she said she continued to carry a lot of shame with her. And it wasn't until at age 40, that she reached desperation and asked God for help on a Friday night alone on her bedroom floor.

"I was just so far gone with abuse and desperation that I just didn't want to live. As I was crying and in my shame, hurt and pain, my head was down and I was just feeling worthless and unloved. I finally looked up and I said three words: 'God help me,'" remembered Hall.

"God reached down and he touched me and I had never felt anything like that in my life. The love of God penetrated every pore of my being and it almost took my breath away. It was such an intoxicating feeling of love, mercy and grace that my tears turned from tears of anger into tears of joy."

Two days later, Hall said she rushed to church so that she could give her life over to God. She has since rejoined her childhood church, Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church in Dallas, where she teaches adult Sunday School. She has also remarried. She has one son and a stepdaughter.

Darin Cochran, former pastor at Whitworth Memorial, grew up knowing Hall and said she has undergone a total change in her life.

"When she was very young, she had a lot of abuse issues and then she got tangled up in some bad marriages, real young and very abusive. Just a long history of abuse," said Cochran.

"She has just come light years from where she was at. She is really using all of that as a great testimony. Not just through the book, but I've seen her become a minister of that type of need."

Writing "Journey of Courage" took 7.5 years to complete while she went through a healing process, said Hall. By the time she finished it, she said she had found forgiveness in heart for her rapist.

"I guess it was about two or three months after I had surrendered my life to (God) completely on that Sunday night, he put a conviction in my life to write a book that would help other victims of rape, molestation, physical and mental and emotional abuse," Hall said.

"As God was healing me, he was also using me to write about that healing."

"Journey of Courage" is available in bookstores, from the publisher at tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon. com. For more information, visit journey ofcourage.tatepublishing.net.