Chicago author Helen M. Clark has released a new faith-centered book, “Victory is Mine! Vengeance is the Lord,” a deeply personal narrative documenting her journey through trauma, forgiveness, and spiritual restoration. Clark met with readers during a Meet & Greet held Saturday, November 29, at Spill The Beans Coffee Shop on Chicago’s West Side, where she discussed her story and the message she hopes to share with survivors across the country.
Clark’s book recounts the attack she endured on September 22, 1996, when she was violently assaulted while waiting at a bus stop. The incident gained significant media attention at the time, including reporting by ABC7 Chicago’s Cheryl Burton. In her new work, Clark revisits the fear, isolation, and depression that followed, describing how those emotions shaped her life in the years after the assault. She writes candidly about anger and the desire for revenge—feelings that many survivors experience but rarely speak about publicly.
Her testimony places particular emphasis on the transformative role of faith. Clark has said that healing truly began when she found the strength to forgive her attacker and surrender her pain to God. “God didn’t just deliver me — He transformed me,” she said. “Every broken place can become a place of beauty, every scar can become a story, and every survivor can step into complete victory.” Her message encourages readers to understand forgiveness not as forgetting the past but as reclaiming power from it.
The November 29 community gathering at Spill The Beans Coffee Shop offered an intimate setting for Clark to share more about her writing process and vision. Attendees asked questions, purchased books, and spoke with Clark about their own experiences with trauma or emotional wounds. The event also highlighted the importance of creating supportive spaces within Chicago’s neighborhoods, particularly in communities like Austin and the broader West Side, where residents often face high levels of violence and limited access to mental health resources. Clark said she hopes her story will contribute to ongoing conversations around healing and resilience in these communities.
Beyond the personal narrative, “Victory is Mine! Vengeance is the Lord” serves as a guide for those seeking spiritual restoration after trauma. The book outlines how survivors can confront shame, silence, and anger while moving toward peace and renewed identity. Clark argues that while trauma may leave lasting marks, it does not have to define the rest of a person’s life.
Her work has already drawn praise from early readers, one of whom described the book as “a powerful and necessary read” that leads readers “from deep darkness into the light of faith.” Clark said she hopes the book will resonate with survivors of rape, individuals struggling with unforgiveness or emotional pain, and faith leaders searching for tools to support members of their congregations.
Clark also operates the Victory Is Mine Trauma Recovery Program, a faith-based coaching model designed to help survivors rebuild their lives without traditional counseling or therapy. Her approach focuses on identity, personal restoration, and spiritual growth, offering an alternative for those who feel disconnected from conventional treatment pathways. She said her goal is to show that complete healing—emotional, spiritual, and relational—is achievable.
“Victory is Mine! Vengeance is the Lord” was released November 29 and is now available online and at select bookstores. More information about Clark’s work, including future book signings, speaking engagements, and media requests, can be found at www.HelenMClark.com.
