When I was living with Domestic Violence, I could not imagine my life free. I didn’t feel seen. I couldn’t find my way out of the darkness and then this happened.
 
‘I’m afraid for your life’ is what the couple counselor said to me. She was talking about the fact that my ex had beaten me. I was sitting alone, in front of her, trying to figure out how to keep the relationship together. Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. It had been a couple of days since the fight and most of the swelling had gone down. I was certain that I had applied enough makeup to hide my black eye and bruised cheek. Clearly, I did not.

I spent years healing. I eventually volunteered at a local domestic violence shelter after completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree.

While in Law School, it became apparent to me that I would always be an advocate for survivors of Domestic Violence. There is a shame attached to being a survivor. When I would tell my story, the response was often “But you look so well put together” or “You are so smart, how did that happen”. Each time I would find myself educating the person about Domestic Violence while trying to remove the shame attached to being a survivor.

In December of 2021, my advocacy would lead to the creation of a non-profit to assist these amazing women. It would take three more years to fully understand how and what that advocacy would look like. Hence, the birth of Discernment Journey Ministries, Inc.
 
It is my hope and dream that each woman has the same opportunity, as I did, to move out of the darkness into the light. 

Germaine Z. English
C.E.O., President and Founder