The Testimony of Christian Country Artist & Songwriter
Sandy Florence
Sandy singing debut began at age 7 during the early 1970's. Her home church planned a special event for members to share their talents. It was then when she connected with a loving congregation of Jamaican people who guided her heart in the right direction. Sandy never knew what the future would hold. But the prayers of these saints came in handy many years later. Then a music teacher desired to launch Sandy into the music world. But God protected her as He had better plans. She grew up in a home to which Christianity was later substituted for religion, and denial of the truth kept her past family from receiving God's best. Sandy was physically and verbally mistreated as a child, and the traumatic experience was kept silenced behind a wall of religion. The entrapment of her self image was shattered, and her musical abilities were laid to rest. At the age of 9, Sandy began showing signs of depression.
In the year 1981, Sandy and her family moved to Puerto Rico. After graduating high school in 1987, she began her college education. During the first semester is when all negative emotions came to the surface, and she was confined to a place of despair. Then Nicky Cruz's testimony was televised across the island of Puerto Rico. He shared his faith in Jesus which led Sandy to the Lord. She found hope in God. Depression temporarily subsided from her life. So the challenge wasn't quite over.
In 1989, Sandy returned to the U.S. She began working as a clerk for the Passaic County Board of Health, Personnel Department, Paterson NJ. She then passed her civil service test with flying colors, and landed herself a job at the Passaic County Superior Court House, Criminal Department. She graduated with honors from Katharine Gibbs School, and earned a certified degree in the Administrative field. She worked temporary as an Administrative Assistant for the Montclair State Bank, Personnel Department. But Sandy wasn’t comfortable in her profession, as she lacked to express her true talents which involved her music abilities. She also needed much time to heal and to restore emotionally.
Sandy met Douglas Florence at Brookdale Baptist Church of Bloomfield, NJ on October 20th, 1991. Their courtship of 1 1/2 years began after a beautiful engagement, and they married on April 24th, 1993. Sandy found strength in her husband and leaned on his encouragement. Depression was still a on going issue in Sandy's life as she questioned, "Why hasn't God healed me? Why me?" The answer to all her questions was simply, "A broken heart needs to mend and heal." Her Challenge to heal emotionally began at age 32. God instilled in her heart the importance of spiritual growth. The Lord challenged Sandy to begin singing for His glory. In doing so, she would heal. He also promised her a family after so many years of infertility. The promises of God inspired Sandy to strive harder, and to grow faithfully strong in the Lord.
The final and most difficult challenge for Sandy is when God instructed her to connect with her paternal grandmother. The practice of spirituality from ungodly sources, was passed down in Sandy’s family line on both paternal and maternal side. It continued until Christianity was introduced to her family in the early 1970's. Sandy’s paternal grandma converted to Christianity much later. Her grandma desperately needed a listening ear to unload all truth that would end a generational curse. So Sandy became her listener and grandma confided on her grand-daughter when unveiling the true facts. These facts are important details that would clarify misconstrue information within the family line. All of this vital information filled in the missing pieces of the puzzle in which gossipers could not fill in. It was time for all truth to unveil, and put closure to the past which led a family line astray.
Another blessed closure came to pass. Paternal grandma prayed for her granddaughter's conception. Sandy and Douglas endured much grief during their challenge with infertility. But when celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, in the State of Vermont, they received the best anniversary gift. Sandy was expecting! Though the pregnancy was wonderful news, there was health concerns. During the pregnancy, Sandy was diagnosed to have Mitral Valve Regurgitation of the heart, which at the time seemed mild. Regardless of the diagnosis, her beautiful healthy daughter was born on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, Doug and Sandy held God's promise gift of a child in their arms. The incredible story of their daughter's birth is still to be told. It began either the last few months of Sandy's pregnancy, or shortly before delivery. Baby Rosalind had transferred blood to her Mom from the umbilical cord, which became an odd case or seemingly unusual when giving birth to a child. Unbeknown to doctors, Sandy was developing additional health issues. The unexplained blood transfer served a purpose. Perhaps it brought about a safe delivery to prevent further complications. Unfortunately, Rosalind was born anemic. But she showed no sign of anemia to have fooled the nurses and doctors with her strength. The new born never needed a blood transfusion either. Doctor's were mind boggled by the incredible recovery! As for Sandy's health, she was further treated by a magnificent Christian Chiropractor, and slowly began a successful recovery. Then on December 19, 2007, their blessed daughter received Jesus into her heart shortly before her 4th birthday.
Through Sandy’s transition of healing, she began writing her own songs. Her first single release, titled 'Sacrifice', was aired on both Christian Country and Gospel Stations in the year 2007. The song charted on a Christian Country Billboard in Nashville, TN on January of 2007. Sandy never toured, never recorded a full album in her entire life, and was certainly not experienced within the music industry. But she still reached the milestone of God’s promise for her life. It became a successful mission in the Lord, and remains successful in the Kingdom of God.
Sandy's health eventually improved with holistic therapeutic treatments. Her past diagnosis showed signs of traumatic muscle injuries, pinched nerves, and her diaphragm was affected. Years of depression contributed to her health issues. Her weak diaphragm made it difficult for her to sing and record professionally. But she still plunged forward to do God's plan for her life. Then came the deceptive diagnosis of cancer in the year 2013. Sandy underwent radiation treatment, and were to undergo more treatment, until the truth was unveiled regarding corruption in the cancer industry. The Hackensack University Medical Center were 1 of many hospitals sued for medical malpractice and false diagnosis. But Sandy was still successful to walk away unharmed from a counterfeit group of medical physicians. With the Lord on her side, she's been able to continually succeed in her journey.