Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Yesterday we shared that during the month of October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month - we are providing you with tools to begin recognizing various types of abuse in order to support victims with more knowledge. Oftentimes, the types of abuse people experience are NOT physical; they are more subtle yet equally destructive.

October DVAM Weekly Type of Abuse Topic:
Coercive Control

Coercive control is one of the most devastating—yet often overlooked—forms of domestic abuse.

Definition of Coercive Control:

Unlike physical violence, coercive control operates through a pattern of domination, intimidation, and manipulation that slowly strips a woman of her freedom, confidence, and identity. It is the quiet tightening of restrictions, the constant monitoring, the subtle threats, and the emotional pressure that make her feel she has no safe choices left.

Learn more about the Power & Control Wheel developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth, MN.

Lena's Story, shown in the video below, portrays the journey someone experiences in a relationship with someone that uses coercion to eventually control every facet of their life.

Watch more Stories of Hope on our YouTube channel:

Stories of Hope

Download this article written by Evelyn Colon to learn more about how coercive control eventually strips away a person's sense of self and independence. They become powerless against the mind-games of the controller.

How Do We Help?

FOCUS Ministries offers FREE counseling services to EVERYONE. We keep your secrets secret. We do not share your information. We will not force you to make any decisions or choices about your future or safety that you are not comfortable with. We will only listen, support, advise and pray with you (if you desire it). We facilitate online and in-person support groups. We provide online or in-person trainings. We offer financial counseling to help you gain (or regain) independence. We will walk with you, however long the road ahead of you extends. Reach out today for support for yourself or someone you know.

www.focusministries1.org (quick-exit button available to avoid cyber-tracking)

contactus@focusministries1.org

630-617-0088

Side Note: To ensure you receive all of our training emails this month, check your spam filter to make sure that you have marked emails from paula@focusminstries1.org as "Primary" inbox emails and mark the email address as "not spam".

Help Us Reach $60,000 for Hope and Healing

This October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we're asking you to join us in raising $60,000 to sustain our ongoing ministry to survivors. This isn't a one-time project—it's the lifeblood of the work we do every single day to walk alongside women (and men - it's not only women that experience domestic abuse) as they move from crisis to courage, and from fear to freedom.

Your Gift Changes Their Story

Every donation—whether it's 50, $75, $100, or more—directly impacts a person who is trying to break free from coercive control. We need monthly donors who become part of their story of courage, healing, and restoration. It says to them: you are not alone, and you are not forgotten.

Behind every dollar is a face, a family, a future being rebuilt. Your generosity today is tomorrow's turning point for someone still finding the courage to take that first step toward safety.

Click the campaign image below to be directed to our fundraising page. Join our October campaign and/or set up a monthly donation!

We also invite you to set up your own crowdsourcing fundraiser that supports our cause. Simply click on the "I want to help fundraise" link to very simply set up your own individual fundraising page which you can share with your social network! All proceeds go directly to us to support our ministry!

Click this link to go to our fundraising & donations page: https://www.focusministries1.org/join-us/donate#

Stand With Us

Thank you for standing with FOCUS Ministries as we continue to shine Christ's light into places of deep hurt and walk with victims toward hope and freedom. Together, we can make sure that no one has to face this journey alone.

Give today. Be part of their healing.

DONATE!