Six years ago Angela McMahan made a life-changing decision.

She had woken up in a pool of blood after another abusive weekend with her then-husband. So close to death, she made a decision to turn her life around, leave her husband and serve God.

“He would abuse me verbally and physically, and I eventually starting abusing myself by drinking and drugging,” she said.

“That night, when I woke up covered in blood, I got to my knees and looked up and said, `God, if you are real, you have to help because I’m in serious trouble.’ That was when everything changed. I knew if I didn’t leave that place, I would die.”

It took another two years for McMahan to finally divorce her husband.

After gaining her independence, she began the journey of creating a healthy, clean lifestyle.

During her transformation, she began going to her local church and participating in its choir.

She said she quickly realized that many other women were suffering the same pain she once was by living with domestic violence.

“I kept running into women in crisis. I would literally be in a bathroom and hear a woman talking about domestic violence, and it was like she was talking to me,” she said. “I guess that’s what they mean when they say you have a calling in your life.”

In 2007 McMahan started Arising Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping end the effects of domestic violence in the lives of women, children and household pets.

Arising Hope provides safe and secure emergency housing to victims of domestic violence in the Denver metro area, especially in the Westminster, Thornton and Northglenn areas.

During their time at the shelter, residents are expected to participate in biblical-based counseling and classes.

“I just took a leap of faith and went for it. There was a lot of trial and error, but it’s all been worth it,” she said. “I have seen women turn their lives around, and it’s amazing to be a part of that.”

McMahan’s first shelter was in her home in Northglenn.

She began with one woman and her dog, and a couple of months later,she said, she had a houseful of women, children, dogs and cats.

The Arising Hope shelter is now in Thornton, in a house donated to McMahan.

A cadre of volunteers at Arising Hope assist victims with legal concerns, safety planning, secondary housing, transportation, life-skills coaching, employment, job training and any other issues they bring up.

Arising Hope also provides service to the public, including counseling, biblical classes, life-skills coaching, and educational and spiritual training.

“We are really here to support and help anyone dealing with domestic violence,” McMahan said. “We have many resources we provide for free.”

For more information on Arising Hope, visit www.arisinghope.org or call the emergency crisis and information line at 303-280-3180.