Domestic Abuse and Spousal Abuse Help For Women
Who We Are
FOCUS Ministries - The Beginning
In September 1995, a group of women in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois began meeting once a month to encourage each other and provide a forum for sharing personal needs. Soon after, FOCUS Ministries was organized from that original group, one being Paula Silva. Paula is a single parents who has experienced the horror of spousal abuse, separation, and divorce.
The Vision
FOCUS Ministries has a vision to reach out to hurting women through:
- The distribution of monthly newsletters containing hope and encouragement.
- The establishment of support groups nationwide
- The training of support group leaders
- Education of pastors, churches, and businesses about domestic violence
- Speaking engagements (workshops, seminars, personal testimonies, etc.)
- A lending library to provide educational and inspirational books and videos.
 About Paula Silva
Paula Silva is co-founder and vice president of FOCUS Ministries, Inc., the National Support Group Director for FOCUS Ministries, Inc., and the director of FOCUS Women’s Center in Wood Dale, Illinois.
She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), co-host of “Restoring the Hope” conferences for women held in Illinois and Kentucky, workshop leader of “Train the Trainer”, and serves on the Faith Based Advisory Committee for Mayor Daley’s Office of Domestic Violence.
Paula received her BA in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College and was a second grade teacher for seventeen years. She also received her MA in Guidance and Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University and was a Counseling Intake Coordinator for a Christian agency.
She has been a guest on Midday Connection ( Moody Broadcasting Network) and on a cable TV program in Wheaton, Illinois. Paula has been a workshop presenter for the Christian Working Woman’s Getaway Weekend in Illinois, and has spoken to churches, crisis pregnancy centers, and women’s Bible studies groups. She has presented workshops on Codependency and Why Women Stay/Leave at women’s conferences. Paula has served on panels at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and has been a panelist at Mayor Daley’s Domestic Violence Seminar. She leads a domestic violence support group, and provides continual training for support group leaders, offers lay counseling and daily email or phone support to women who need help with relationship issues, and directs the daily activities of FOCUS Women’s Center in Illinois.
Paula is a single parent of three adult children, John, Amy, and Charity and a grandmother of two, Melissa and Jacob, who are the joy of her life. She enjoys reading and singing on the worship team of her church.
Paula often remarks, “I stand in awe of my Lord that He would use my painful experiences and shattered dreams in life to make a difference in someone else. He has been so faithful to me showering me with His endless love and blessings. What a privilege it is to be in an intimate relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit knowing that a way will be made when there seems to be no way.”
Paula is available to speak at churches, retreats, women’s conferences, schools, and conferences for pastors and counselors with a personal testimony or seminars/workshops on domestic violence. In addition help is available in starting a domestic violence support group. Contact her at 630-595-7023, by email at paula@focusministries1.org, or regular mail at FOCUS Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 2014, Elmhurst, IL 60126.
Ideas For Churches
Invite FOCUS Ministries to present a mini-seminar on domestic violence and the church's responsibility to help hurting women.
Resource Materials
FOCUS Ministries is dedicated to providing Domestic Violence Resources. For your convenience, we are providing an online Mail In Order Form as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. If you do not have the program, you may download it for free at: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Will You Help?
Focus Ministries needs your help to provide funding for complimentary copies of FOCUS Newsletter to shelters, hospitals, crisis pregnancy centers, and individuals who are unable to afford a subscription.
For less than the cost of one soft drink each month, you can provide a copy of FOCUS to women in crisis! Will you help? Send your donation to FOCUS Ministries.
Domestic Violence
Read the shocking statistics about domestic violence and how to get help if you are a victim. Victims of domestic violence are invited to contact us at: Contact Us for encouragement and advice.
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