Shannon's Corner

  SHANNON’S CORNER December 2021 MERRY CHRISTMAS! “This is what the Lord says:  ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’  But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”—Jeremiah 6:16 In thinking what “ancient paths” can represent it reminds me of well-worn paths that people and even animals have trodden.  They may be weathered paths like the Inca Trail hiking to Machu Pichu.  In our spiritual lives they can be the various spiritual disciplines or practices to help form our spiritual lives.  I have been reflecting on this verse during this Christmas season and some of the “ancient paths” can even be our Christmas traditions and rituals we do this time of year.  But whether they are spiritual disciplines or Christmas traditions they should all point us to Jesus. Are we too caught up in our traditions, the busyness of the season,...

  SHANNON’S CORNER November 2021 I enjoyed my trip to One Mission Society (OMS) headquarters in Greenwood, IN.  It was surreal in a way as my family, the churches where my Dad served and even Cherry Run Camp have hosted so many missionaries who have or still are serving with OMS.  I was asked to participate with Duane Brown, Darryl and Kelly Chambers in presenting to the OMS leadership the importance of serving and equipping the sending church to provide missionary care in partnership with OMS so that the missionary will be well cared for throughout their missionary service.  I got to meet one-on-one with some of the leadership as well for them to get to know me better and ask any questions.  One question that I was asked, “How much do other agencies budget for member care?”  I shared that I do not know as I have never actually seen anybody’s budget, but I believe your budget for member care should reflect how much you value your pe...

 

  SHANNON’S CORNER October 2021 Walking in the brisk coolness of the morning, listening to the birds sing, the wind blowing through the trees, the water babbling, and the sun rising over the mountains creation in its beauty is praising our Creator God and I get to not only hear and see but also participate in worship.  Mark, Bethann and I had the privilege of facilitating a time of retreat with around 30 gap year students and four staff members of OneLife.  As a way of introductions, the students shared a photo that they had chosen that represented their definition of wisdom.  Most of what these students shared amazed me of how they articulated things and the maturity as they shared why they chose that photo in regard to wisdom.  The theme was Wisdom Received and Wisdom Achieved as we walked through creation – the fall – redemption – new creation.  Some amazing discussion during class, around meals and the campfire chats. ...

  SHANNON’S CORNER September 2021 You know you are a Third Culture Kid when…Your life story uses the phrase “Then we moved to…” three (or four, or five…) times. You know you are a Third Culture Kid when…You can’t answer the question:  “Where are you from?” TCK Identity I had the privilege of working with seven precious kids and teens, ages ranging from three to sixteen.  I was honored that they opened up their “heart packs” to me as we processed through their experiences and how it impacted their lives and the feelings attached with them.  Each one had a story to share about their experience of living overseas and returning to the states.   We did many activities and art projects to help elicit their story so that they could process their emotions.  One activity that all the kids and teens enjoyed was a journey through grief.  They had a map of where they were on reality mountain and had to get to springs of new normal but had ...

  SHANNON’S CORNER August 2021 As I reflect over this month to write this newsletter, one thing keeps bubbling up.  God nudging me out of my comfort zone, which has gotten a little wider since starting this mission journey back in 2004 when he first called me into full-time missions.  I feel God has been nudging me around equipping by producing more content regarding member care.  I have been producing content throughout the years, health education and Bible studies and more recently in developing some trainings for Safe Place Ministry and for BCM Peru.  In some of my conversations with Safe Place, I have received the opportunity to create and write content for a member care manual that would help in equipping missionaries and member care providers.  Safe Place Ministry would help to edit what I write and produce the manuals that would be sold on their website.  Safe Place Ministry is interested in developing webinettes (6...