Our History

Early 2010, God inspired our Founder, Crystal Sutherland, to write down the steps of recovery she took from her journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse. After many hours of writing, countless prayers, tears, heartfelt conversations with family and the help of several friends, she finally did. By God’s grace and the courage of Kregel Publications, on April 27, 2016 Journey to Heal: Seven Essential Steps in Recovery for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse was released into the book world.

That Summer, Crystal led 52 women across the country and in the UK through her first Journey to Heal online study. The same women who helped her launch the book. In September of that same year, she was the keynote for a Sexual Trauma Seminar held at her church. Out of that event she led her first in-person group at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, where her and her husband still call home. Shortly after, it became necessary to equip other women to help facilitate the study, and so our Mentor Training Program began to form.

As the interest in Journey to Heal grew, so did the need to form a nonprofit. In 2018, Crystal gathered a group of seven like-minded survivors to form a nonprofit board. July 26, 2018 Journey to Heal Ministries was born!

In the Summer of 2018 we developed our Mentor Training Program and trained up our first team of volunteer mentors - many of whom are still serving with us in some capacity today.

In 2019 we launched a prevention education campaign called #END1IN10 to foster awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse nationally. That same year, as a part of that effort we hosted our 1st Annual Hope Run event to help raise awareness and support for survivors. We have hosted a race each year since!

Journey to Heal Ministries is a volunteer run 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, NC. Our mission is to help survivors heal from past sexual trauma by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community.Our vision is to see Journey to Heal Groups available to women in every local church and community.