“The Refuge was an oxygen mask when I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I felt heard, understood and accepted in a way that was like a healing balm to my soul, mind and spirit!”

“[The Refuge] gave me training to be able to give back to the community, and support in moving on in healthy ways. I went from feeling hopeless, suicidal and without purpose to finding healing from the many years of abuse through the programs at the Refuge.”

“I can't say enough how amazing The Refuge has been. It's truly a God send for women like me who were or are in a domestic violence marriage or relationship. We learn so much from the lessons, our mentors, and other women in the group. They bring so much light in our darkest time.”

Refuge provides a safe space for us all to really understand what happened or what's happening to us. Because when you're so isolated from the world because you think it's all you there's a lot of comfort in knowing that there are women going through the exact same thing

Refuge gave me strong women mentors who listened compassionately and clarified instances of abuse I shared and encouraged my growth. Our group of attendees became friends I cared for in their confusing and hurtful situations, and we supported each other because we understood. Refuge’s program taught me what God's Word says in reference to abuse and that I am His beloved daughter. This program and the love and support I felt were invaluable to me as I grew and made necessary and positive decisions for myself.

"Refuge for me has become a safe place to sort through the tangled web of lies and half-truths about who I am, what I am feeling, what is actually happening, what the Lord declares marriage is to be and, most importantly who I really am in Christ — who He declares me to be."

“I think today was another realization for me about how bad it had gotten . . . The normalization of women friends gathering around a table laughing and sharing food and gifts, He stole that normalization from me for years. And now the tears are coming, because I want to say thank you for giving me back NORMAL and healthy . . . Today, I finally realized how far I have been able to come thanks to Jesus putting the Refuge into my life. Sometimes I forget how close to death I was.”

“My experience has consistently been that women come into the Refuge scared, alone, feeling crazy, trying harder and harder to make their marriages work and feeling like failures, confused and questioning who God is. But they finish their time with us with confidence, they know their worth, they have new found wisdom and clarity, and they know that God is for them and good in all He does. I love being in a position to watch this transformation happen. They truly walk in victims and walk out survivors.”

“This thank you card does not even begin to cover the warmth of God’s love given to those of us who are or have been oppressed. Through your kindness in this year’s Christmas gifts was of abundance and truthfully, hard to accept because of years of not being heard or not being seen. Thank you for your obedience to our Savior in showing us what God is doing in our lives. By walking beside me you continue to help me to believe that God does hear me and He does see me. Blessings to those who pray for the victims of abuse.”