FOCUS Ministries Staff
PAULA SILVA is co-founder and president of FOCUS Ministries, Inc., and the director of FOCUS Women’s Center in Wood Dale, Illinois.
A member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Paula leads FOCUS Ministries’ Train the Trainer workshops. She leads a domestic violence support group, 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.
Paula has coauthored the book, Violence Among Us: Ministry to Families in Crisis; the article To Terrorize No More, in the 2009 Fall issue of Just Between Us magazine; and the article, Domestic Violence Among Believers, in the 2005 Vol. 13 No. 3 issue of Christian Counseling Today magazine. She has been a guest on Midday Connection and Prime Time America (Moody Broadcasting Network), the Scott Thomas Show (WYLL radio in Chicago), Time for Hope, and the Harvest Show. She has served as co-host of "Restoring the Hope" conferences for women held in Illinois and Kentucky.
Paula has served on panels at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and has been a panelist at Mayor Daley’s Domestic Violence Seminar as well as a member of the Faith Based Advisory Committee for the Office of Domestic Violence. She has trained pastors, leaders, and churches on the dynamics of domestic violence at Moody Memorial Church in Chicago and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida. She has presented Behind Closed Doors, What Color is Your Elephant at seminars and Ten Keys to Counseling Victims of Domestic Violence workshops at the AACC World Conference in 2005.
Having received her BA in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College, Paula was a second grade teacher for seventeen years. She also received her MA in Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University and was Counseling Intake Coordinator for a Christian agency. She has also attended Larry Crabb’s School of Spiritual Direction.
Paula is a single parent of three adult children - John, Amy, and Charity - and a grandmother of six - Melissa, Jacob, Emily, Mirai, Kaden and Keilia - who are the joy of her life. She enjoys reading and singing on the worship team of her church.
"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," she said.
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. 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.
