Shannon's Corner

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. Making space for the stories people have.  Over the past month, I have continued providing online debrief care for ministry workers and families in different parts of the world.  Some individuals and couples began and completed their debriefing process this month, while others are still in the process of working through their experiences.  Each person's story is unique, and the time needed to reflect, process, and make sense of those experiences varies.  Through these online conversations, I am reminded that even across geographical distances, we can create a safe space for people to share openly, explore their emotions, and give voice to the hard things they may have been carrying. One of the meaningful aspects of debriefing is helping people recognize the many layers surrounding an experience or loss.  Sometimes, we carry the weight of a situation without fully realizing how much is connected to it—the relationsh...

  The mountains have a way of capturing our attention. They are beautiful, breathtaking, and filled with opportunities to experience awe and wonder. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to spend time in the mountains between West Virginia and Virginia. My eyes gazed upon the beauty surrounding me—the fall trees displaying their vibrant colors, the crisp, clean air, the warmth of the sunshine, and the quiet that seemed to invite me to slow down and simply be. There was no need to rush to the next thing or accomplish a particular task. I could just be present in the moment, taking in the beauty around me. Something about being in the mountains fills my soul and refreshes my mind, body, and spirit. The beauty reminds me of the importance of making space in our lives to experience awe and wonder. Life transitions can consume a great deal of our attention and energy. Transitions can leave us feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or emotionally depleted. We may become so focused on figuri...

  Transitions can be challenging. We often find ourselves focusing on what has changed, what we have lost, or what we still need to figure out. We may feel uncertain about the future, frustrated by the present, or nostalgic for what used to be. Sometimes, we become so focused on what is different that we struggle to recognize what is still good. This is where gratitude can become a helpful companion in our transitions. Gratitude doesn't take away the difficulties of transition, but it can help us notice what is sustaining us as we move through them. Let's be honest. Practicing gratitude can feel difficult when life is messy. When we are grieving a loss, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering what comes next, being told to just be grateful can feel dismissive of what we are experiencing. Gratitude isn't about pretending that everything is fine. It isn't about minimizing our pain, ignoring our disappointment, or convincing ourselves that we shouldn't feel sad. We can be gr...

  Recently, I had a conversation with someone who was sharing a situation she was navigating and trying to figure out how to connect with another person. As she talked, a question came to mind: “What is your name?” It may seem like a simple question, but our names carry significance. Our names are part of our identity. They are connected to our stories, our relationships, and our sense of belonging. When someone takes the time to learn and remember our name, there is an opportunity to feel seen, known, and valued. Knowing someone's name can be the beginning of connection. It can be the first step toward building a relationship. And sometimes, that simple question can open the door to something much deeper. As I thought about this question, I was reminded of the encounter Jesus had with a man living among the tombs in Mark 5:1–20. This man had been separated from his community. He lived among the tombs, and people had tried to restrain him. His life was marked by isolation, sufferin...

  I have stepped into a different role and a different routine for eight days. And honestly, it is somethings that I’ve looked forward to. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I’m especially grateful that I’ll get to spend time with some really awesome people. There is something exciting about stepping outside of your normal routine and experiencing something new. But I also know that different is different. Even when we are excited about a transition, it can still come with challenges. I’ve been given instructions and a schedule to help guide me through these eight days. I have some idea of what to expect, but I also know there will be things I encounter that I have never done before. I’ve already had to learn and navigate things that are unfamiliar to me. And that has reminded me of something important about life transitions: You can be grateful for a transition and still find it challenging. We sometimes assume that if we are excited about something new, it should feel easy. Bu...

  Purpose is the sense of meaning and direction that comes from living in alignment with what matters most to you—your values, relationships, gifts, experiences, and the way you want to contribute in this season of life. Purpose answers questions like: What matters to me? Why does what I do matter? How do I want to show up in the world? Who do I want to become? What do I want my life to contribute? Purpose can change its expression across seasons. Your purpose doesn't necessarily disappear when you leave a job, retire, experience a loss, change careers, or step away from a ministry. The role through which you expressed purpose may change. For example, someone may have spent years expressing purpose through caring for others professionally. When that role ends, they may wonder, “If I'm not doing that anymore, what am I here for?” The transition becomes an opportunity to explore how the same values—compassion, connection, service, growth—might be expressed differently. Purpose is...

  WooHoo!!!  Celebrate with me as we have reached and surpassed the 2026 budget goal of $65,500.  God is so good.  THANK YOU!  I am overwhelmed with gratitude and how the Lord has increased my faith in resting securely in Him to provide and how He has invited each of you to be a part in this incredible ministry.  Thank YOU! What a joy to be able to experience and learn about a different culture, Armenia.  A pagan country until the third century when St. Gregory the Illuminator came to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the King of Armenia.  St. Gregory was first thrown into a six meter pit at Khor Virap to die but God kept St. Gregory alive. Thirteen years later, the king was dying and St. Gregory was sent to come and pray to the true God for the king’s healing.  The king lived and became a Christian and had all the pagan temples in the country removed and churches built in their place. Armenia was known as the first Christian nation. T...

  Have you ever found yourself asking that question? Maybe you used to wake up knowing what you were working toward. You had a role, a responsibility, a dream, a calling, or a place where you felt needed. And then something changed. Sometimes the transition is something you chose. Sometimes it was chosen for you. And somewhere along the way, you realize: “I don't know what I'm doing anymore.” You may feel confused. Numb. Disconnected. Sad. Grieving. Apathetic. Things that once brought fulfillment don't seem to matter in the same way. You may even wonder: “What is my purpose now?” Purpose is often connected to the roles we hold and the things we do. These roles can give our lives structure and meaning. So when a role changes or disappears, we can experience more than the loss of an activity. We may experience a loss of identity, belonging, contribution, direction, and meaning. We might wonder: Who am I if I'm not doing what I used to do? And sometimes the deeper question...