Faith-Based Advocate for Survivor Safety and Justice

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From the time I was in my mother’s womb, domestic violence was already part of my story. It followed me through childhood, into college, and into my young adult years, until I finally found the strength to leave an abusive relationship with the man I was engaged to marry. However, the work I do now was born from another kind of heartbreak. In 2016, my childhood best friend was murdered, and that loss shook something loose in me. Rather than allowing anger to consume me, I chose to engage with my community and seek clergy support to transform my grief into advocacy.

My approach to domestic violence advocacy is deeply personal and informed by my experiences as both clergy and a survivor. This dual perspective allows me to understand the spiritual, emotional, practical, and institutional burdens that survivors carry. My Doctor of Ministry research specifically focused on clergy support in response to domestic violence, equipping me with more than just concern for this work; I bring study, strategy, lived experience, and a heart for those who are often silenced or mishandled. My commitment is rooted in healing, empowerment, safety, and accountability. I believe the church must serve as more than a place of worship; it should also be a sanctuary for refuge, truth-telling, protection, and partnership. This is why I strive to enhance community engagement between faith communities and the wider systems of care that survivors need to live, heal, and become whole.

Preaching and speaking about domestic violence is not easy. It is uncomfortable, necessary, and often avoided. However, silence has never protected survivors, which is why I engage in this vital work. I am available to preach, speak, facilitate conversations, and serve on panels that address domestic violence from both a clergy perspective and a survivor’s lived experience. I provide essential clergy support in this critical area, bringing a voice that is pastoral, practical, honest, and grounded in advocacy, healing, safety, and accountability. I offer opportunities for: preaching engagements, keynote addresses, community conversations and panels, and clergy training and faith-based advocacy discussions. Sample topics include: Violence from the Parking Lot to the Pews to the Pulpit: A Holistic Clergy Response to Domestic Violence, Know Your Role: A Community Response to Domestic Violence, Stronger Together: Ending the Cycle of Abuse, and Domestic Violence Stops with Me: Be the Change. My goal is not to make people comfortable; rather, I aim to foster safer churches, stronger communities, and more informed environments where survivors are heard, protected, and supported through active community engagement.