Dr. Ana Serrano shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ana, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is hit my knees and thank God for waking me up and giving me a great night’s sleep. I then feed my cats, make my coffee, and settle into my favorite chair for my morning devotions and writing in my journal. These moments are precious to me because they are my chance to enjoy God and the quiet. But more than that, my time with God sets the tone for my day, allowing me to make good and wise decisions.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Ana Maria Serrano, and I am the founder and director of God’s Heart Ministry/Las Valientes. We help women come out of domestic violence through the legal system. The nonprofit is celebrating 25 years of service to the community on May 5, 2026. Over the past 25 years, we have helped countless women make the difficult decision to leave their abusive relationships and start a new life for themselves and their children.
As a survivor of intimate partner violence, I understand what it takes to help a woman decide to leave. There are so many things to consider: the kids, work or lack of work, finances, and housing. There are also the added cultural issues to consider, such as language barriers, immigration issues, and transportation issues. Another issue that is sometimes overlooked is the faith or religious barrier. For many women, church and faith are an integral part of their lives, and leaving could be tantamount to displeasing God or losing His blessings.
Because of my personal experience with IPV, and working with so many women, my team and I have been able to help women know and understand that they can leave, they have legal rights, and God will still love them because it is not His will for them to be abused.
This year, on May 16, 2026, my agency is planning a quinceañera for 15 women who left their abusive relationships but never had their quinceañera. We are throwing them the party to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I am looking forward to celebrating these brave women who decided to change their lives and the lives of their children.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I believed that I was ugly, unwanted, and unloved. Because I believed this, I made many bad and wrong choices, marrying the first man who showed interest in me, who then confirmed my wrong beliefs in myself. Despite my attending college and getting good grades, joining the Army Reserves, and excelling at my military job, I still thought I was ugly, unwanted, and unloved. My ex-husband would always tell me that I was lucky he had even looked my way.
It wasn’t until I became a Christian and actually started a serious relationship with God that I realized and learned that God loved me, saw me as beautiful, and wanted me as His daughter. It took many years for me to know these things, but God was patient and slowly helped me to see myself as He sees me. God helped me let go of many insecurities that I had held onto, as well as helped me to forgive those who had hurt me.
Throughout my journey of healing, God brought me great friends and mentors, one of whom I always remember with love is Linda, who was like a second mother to me when I was married to my ex. She was the first one to show me what true love was, and who loved me to the Lord. I am thankful for each person God brought to my life to show me who He is, and His love and care for me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Throughout my journey with the nonprofit, there were many times I wanted to give up. When the nonprofit first opened, I had two grants to help me financially. Once the funds were used to fulfill the grant, I didn’t know that I had to continually apply for grants. So, for several years, I had to work a second job to support myself and my sons, while I helped women fill out documents and accompany them to court. There were many times when no one came for help, or no donations were coming in, and I thought I would need to close. Sometimes I had family who would tell me I should just close and get a job, and give up helping women who needed services. But there was something in me that just wouldn’t let me give up. When I was a child, my step-dad always instilled in me that giving up was not an option. So, even when I wanted to give up, I just couldn’t. Besides the fact that God had given me this mission, this job, and this calling to help abused women. So, even when I would fall to my knees crying, wanting to give up, God would always send someone who needed help, and I would get up, wipe my tears, and go help them. Even though there were many years of feast and famine, it was during these years that I learned how to trust God and to keep on keeping on.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie that I have heard when it comes to domestic violence is that it can be ended. There are walks, rallies, events, and more to “end domestic violence.” But the reality is that domestic violence or Intimate Partner Violence will never end. As long as their are men with anger issues, men who drink and do drugs, there will always be abuse. In every culture, and socio-economic group there is abuse, no one is exempt. Abuse happens in churches, the military, politics, among the rich and the poor, yet it is swept under the rug, even with all the information available concerning abuse.
The other lie is that abused women don’t leave because they want to be abused. But this is not true, there are many reasons why a woman may choose to stay in the abusive marriage or relationship. When I did the study for my doctorate, I learned that women stay at the start of the relationship for the children because they want their kids to have thier father in thier lives, even if he is an alcoholic, drug addict, or abusive. But then, they leave at the end of the relationship for the children because they don’t want thier children to be abused by thier father. Some women may stay because their abuser is their sponsor for immigration paperwork, or he is the sole provider, or he has broken them down to the point they believe they won’t make it without them due to lack of education or a job.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what God called me to do, although when I was younger I had no idea I would be working with abused women. When I was a child I wanted to grow up and be a psychologist, and even though I never became one, I now counsel and help women make the decision to leave their abusive relationships. What helped was my step-dad encouraging me to go to college and earn an education, which has helped to not only open doors to me, but also open doors for my clients.
I believe the path of my life has been guided by God, from running away to join the military, to earning my Bachelors, my Masters, and my PhD. I believe that everything I have experienced and lived through, including my abusive marriage helped shape me into the woman I am today. Even when I couldn’t see the road ahead of me, or understood what was happening, God was leading me and teaching me to trust him.
Never in my life did I ever think I would be the founder and director of a nonprofit helping my community, yet here I am. When I started the nonprofit I had no idea what I was doing, so I learned along the way and on May 5, 2026 God’s Heart Ministry will celebrate 25 years of service to the community. This is why I believe I am doing the work that God has given me to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lasvalientes.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasvalientes2001/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-serrano-lasvalientes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LasValientes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anaserrano2897
Image Credits
All pictures were taken by myself or friends
