It is true that we can't determine our family roots; a belief author and pastor Tom Barnhill knows all too well. Growing up in Texas, he endured physical and sexual abuse from his alcoholic father, as well as witnessed the unraveling of his parents' marriage, with his sisters. However, in his published testimony, Growing Beyond Your Roots, Tom describes how the trials of his life led him to seek the love and forgiveness of God. He escaped his abusive home by joining the army, but struggled with killing others in Vietnam. After an honorable discharge from the military, he moved to Florida and married his late wife, Jean. Yet past hurts caused him to battle his own alcohol addiction and led Jean to nearly overdose on pills. At that point, Tom wanted change and surrendered to God, leading him to Christ and to start a new "root" as a pastor.