Calling and History

 

Elegant Doves International, Inc. is a faith-based tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to helping women and teen girls heal from the emotional scars of incest abuse and post-abortion trauma. The vision for the ministry originated in 1988 from a personal experience of its founder, Linda Michelle Trainer. At the time, Ms. Trainer was a young adult in crisis seeking support to deal with the trauma of incest abuse. Upon contacting a local crisis hotline, instead of receiving help she was given a long-distance number to call that had a recording on the other end. This experience impacted Ms. Trainer so greatly that, within a month, she had organized an educational workshop at a local home for unwed pregnant teens to help prevent them from experiencing the same unnecessary detours when stepping out (in courage) to seek help in a crisis. Over the next few years, Elegant Doves International’s emotional and educational support systems continued to expand to include collaborations with other organizations focused on empowering women and teen girls suffering from the trauma of sexual abuse.

 

In 1992, just after moving from Michigan to Atlanta, Elegant Doves International was formally incorporated as a faith-based nonprofit. Ms. Trainer continued to form partnerships with local organizations whose visions aligned with Elegant Doves International as ministry outreach activities gradually grew.

 

In 2006, the organization’s mission expanded to include emotional healing and support for women and teen girls who had experienced abortions, prompting the ministry to collaborate with other organizations focused on abortion recovery assistance, thereby increasing the number of women and teens reached.

 

Elegant Doves International obtained its 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status in 2008, and since then, has steadily expanded its programs and services to include preventative programming as well. 

 

Since its establishment, Elegant Doves International has helped over 1,000 women and teen girls overcome the pain in their past and find avenues for hope, healing and purpose.