Apostle Sharon L. Ruff is a native Washingtonian, who is married to Pastor John Douglas Ruff, has two children, Michelle Nguyen and Tyrone Simms, and two grandchildren, Cheno and Chyna Nguyen compliments of her son-in-law, Khoung Nguyen. She is the second of Geraldine Gore's six children but the first to bare the shame of being a bastard child. Rejection, sexual and emotional abuse, coupled with untold despairing events, hopelessness and witchcraft attacks marred her childhood and prompted her first suicidal attempt at age 10 when her aunt, Rosie Pitts, died. Although she was raised up in the A.M.E. Zion church, she went on a rampage looking for God in different denominational churches, so that she could "curse Him out in person" for allowing the only person that loved her and protected her to die.
By age 13, all alone, she visited a spirit-filled Baptist church and experienced the amazing presence of the "love of God" as she entered the building. While praying in the back of the church, she was baptized with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in unknown tongues. Nearly every day, she joined with three teenage girls in "cookie and jello" parties to Jesus where they sang praise songs and studied the Bible in her attempt to pursue a close relationship with the Lord Jesus. During this two year period, her Christian devotion took on profound new meanings. Then, at age 15, she was raped and became pregnant which caused her to drop out of D.C. public school in the 10th grade. She became disillusioned with Jesus and felt that He did not love her anymore and as such abandoned her faith. Amazingly, her life evolved far beyond expectations as she received a G.E.D. diploma, then a college degree from American University. However, her relationship with Jesus was the farthest thing from her mind as she pursued a life of sin.
By age 35, she had climbed the ladder of success and reached a GS-13 status in the Federal government. To onlookers, as a Black female professional employee who regularly received awards and promotions, she had overcome every obstacle, and conquered prejudicial attitudes which prevented many others from succeeding. Even as a single mother who had experienced two divorces and raised her children, she was a model individual. However, what people saw or perceived was an image which prevented them from seeing her desperation, her constant inner struggle seeking peace, a sense of belonging, acceptance and purpose!
On a rainy Friday night in August 1985, she could no longer avoid the truth of the pain, sin and ugliness surrounding her life. Her many accomplishments: beautifully decorated single family home; bank accounts; credit cards; expensive jewelry; designer clothing; executive position; nor, numerous male partners were able to satisfy the longing deep inside. She was absolutely miserable once again. That night while driving home, the thought of suicide entered her mind and she immediately agreed with it. Then suddenly, she experienced a divine encounter with God that forever changed her life and eventually brought forth understanding, mercy, and forgiveness for all the ugly experiences in her past. She would later discover that God's hand was on her life from inception and He had caused her to survive her mother's abortion. She would also discover that evil spiritual forces had been attacking her, including the witchcraft practices of both maternal and paternal grandmothers, throughout her life in an effort to stop her from accepting the calling that God had chosen for her. In spite of it all, through the workings of the Almighty Creator, she eventually learned the truth about her God-given destiny, and yielded to become "An Apostle: a servant of God sent forth with a sword!"