Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Barbara Pettis.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Barbara, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission the drives your brand?

Better Place Ministries was birthed out of my own experience with domestic violence, drug abuse and attempted suicide. I believe without a doubt that my life was spared so that I could be a voice for women who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse who have not found their voice yet. Abuse started for me as a child and continued throughout three marriages and several unhealthy relationships.

God placed a deep determination, passion and purpose inside of me that I could not shake. Once, I stopped running from my calling in life, I hit the ground running and I have not looked back. Domestic violence and abuse is something that no one deserves and it has to be brought to light.

My mission is to bring as many women out of the deadly epidemic as I can. To educate and help rebuild self-worth that women are robbed of in this situation. There are several different types of abuse and I suffered every single one of them at one point in my life. For me, healing came way into my adult life. I had to say like Shirley Murdock in her song “I Love Me Better Than That” I had to get my life back, so I made up in my mind to fight for me. Now I am fighting for others and will do so until the day I take my last breath.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Barbara Pettis is the Founder/CEO of Better Place Ministries. A non-profit organization formed in November of 2013 and officially launched in March of 2014. Barbara’s powerful testimony of faith and trust in God guided her to establishing this nonprofit organization.

Barbara has extensive experience in public service and ministry. She is an advocate to end domestic violence. She offers her leadership to numerous organizations in this regard and works tirelessly to end this horrible epidemic. These organizations include her membership with The Texas Council on Family Violence and her board membership with The Genesis Women’s Shelter Faith-based Coalition Committee (2016-2017). Barbara is also a certified victim’s advocate. She is a member of The Family Place African American Domestic Violence Board (2020).

She is the proud mother of two adult children, a son and a daughter and the blessed grandmother of one granddaughter. In her passion for battered and abused women, it is her prayer to open a shelter that will house women and children who have suffered in this way and lead them in the direction of having wholeness and restoration. She will teach them how to live a life free of abuse and fear as well as regain their self worth, dignity and value the life given to them by God.

Her passion for this cause is driven by her own personal experiences with domestic abuse in both her childhood and as an adult. She is committed to helping others achieve their “Goals of Excellence” and has devoted numerous hours to educate and empower individuals that are affected by domestic violence. Her enthusiasm for this cause is infectious and it represents her personal zeal in life.

Barbara is highly active in her home church, Living Waters Worship Center of Seventh-day Adventists in Dallas. She currently serves as an ordained elder, Prayer Ministry Leader, Women’s Ministry Leader, and the Domestic Violence liaison for her church. Her passion for Christ has made her a sought-after speaker for both church and community events.

Barbara published and released her first book “From Pain to Purpose” in November 2020. She recently started hosting her own podcast show (He Love Me, He Love Me Not) on June 8, 2021, dedicated to shining a light on the deadly epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault.

She is a true woman of God who has accepted her kingdom building mission of spreading the good news of a soon coming Savior to all who will hear. Equipped with a song in her heart, she recommits her life to Christ everyday by adopting her life slogan “HE SAW THE BEST IN ME.” Her desire, as she leads others to Christ, is for them to know that their lives have value and God sees the best in them as well.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am a survivor of abuse and violence, the way I coped with that is by drinking and doing drugs. Because of the cards I felt I was dealt in life, I attempted suicide twice. I survived it all by the grace and mercy of God. I was tired of the downward spiral my life had taken and I determined to change the narrative. I no longer wanted to be an alcoholic so I took steps to conquer that demon. No, it was not easy, and I had some failures along the way. But today I am alcohol free! I no longer wanted to do drugs. Again, I took the necessary steps to be drug free. Today I am drug free! Today I realize how valuable I am.

I no longer look for my worth in a bottle, in drugs or a man. I know who I am and I am enough! Everyday I remind myself that I am loved, valued, courageous, magnificent. I am uniquely and unmistakably me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Oh my gosh! We would be here all day if I went through the litany of things I have had to unlearn. I think one of the biggest things I had to unlearn is that everybody doesn’t have an ulterior motive when they do something nice for you. Throughout my life when some people did things for me, they always had an ulterior motive. It was a favor for a favor kind of thing. I had to learn how to trust people, something that I have never done and something that I still struggle with today.

When you have dealt with so many cruel people in your life. It’s hard to trust anyone! However, I strive daily to break those chains. I will say this, I am still a student in the school of unlearned things.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bpministries.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bpministries
• Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/barbara.pettis1
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/barbara-pettis-6ab6b1141
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bpettisministry

Image Credits
Image Credits: Tracie Smith & AADVC