Heavenly voice directs local woman to pursue her dream

Elizabeth Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

A young Ottawa woman’s dream came true this past August. She started a business, opening Holy Voice Coffee-Bookstore and Gifts in the city’s east end.

Djenane Najmanovich was working for the government when she heard a “holy voice” telling her that she was meant to act on her and her mother’s ambition to open a business. Her personal life was busy when she left her job, but in April 2016 she heard God’s voice urging her once more to get down to business.

“With confirmation and a lot of prayer He confirmed, ‘Go,’ so we [she and her mother, Jeannine Pierre-Charles] went for it,” explains Najmanovich. “I don’t have a background in marketing or business, so I wouldn’t know anything about business, but He made it happen.”

They began planning in April and opening day came on August 24, 2016.

Holy Voice Coffee-Bookstore and Gifts offers a selection of books in English and French, apparel, music, and gift items, such as cards and mugs. The café’s menu offers lunch items, pastries, coffees, teas, and Caribbean fruit punch. The food and beverages served at Holy Voice reflect Najmanovich’s Caribbean background.

Another service Holy Voice offers is counselling. Najmanovich’s educational background is in counselling, so she gives customers the opportunity to come to her for support. Najmanovich also put up a prayer wall on a bulletin board, where clients can post their prayer requests. Every day before Holy Voice opens, Najmanovich prays for every request on the board.

The community surrounding the Cyrville Road location has been welcoming and supportive.

“What makes me happy is to see the community here,” says Najmanovich. “There is a curiosity. It feels like there is something calling them. Believers and non-believers, they come and it’s always the same feeling: ‘This feels like home.’”

Najmanovich’s aim was to foster a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Her desire was for a welcoming place where customers could come in to sit down, enjoy delicious food, and shop in a non-judgmental environment.

“Nobody’s going to judge you. You can be there and just start praying and nobody is going to discriminate against you. It’s normal. What makes us different is that it’s a Christian, multicultural coffeehouse for everyone. You can basically do whatever you want and feel at home. It’s your second Christian home,” explains Najmanovich.

A selection of merchandise available at Holy Voice. Photo by Elizabeth Mabie.

The dream doesn’t stop there. Najmanovich is already planning Holy Voice’s future expansion, hoping to move the current store to a bigger location and open a second store in the west end. They already host events, meetings, and dance practices for local dancers.

“This is just a starting point. Yes, we’re here for the Gospel. We’re here to help people come closer to Jesus and help people heal. Whatever we can do, as the Bible says, we are here for that.”