About

My Story

If you want to get to know me, read my blog, subscribe to my missionary updates…

and keep reading below for just a small picture into my journey until now.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ and a missionary with Youth With A Mission (Y.W.A.M.) in South Africa. Little did I know where my entrance into YWAM in 2006 would lead!

As a child, I was intrigued by countries, cultures, maps… and of course, adventure! I went on my first missions trip to Bosnia through my Christian university. Afterwards, my life was happily consumed with volunteering for my church, mostly in youth ministry for the several years. Next God led me to YWAM, a Christian missionary organization, doing discipleship, evangelism, and dance ministry through YWAM’s training schools. During this time, I was so blessed to lead missions’ trips around the world! In 2010, I entered YWAM’s School of Biblical Studies in South Africa in order to equip me further in the Bible and in missions. I cannot go without saying that it’s one of the most valuable and intensive Bible schools I’ve ever done. I returned to the Cape Town area of South Africa as a full-time, volunteer missionary and served in ministry and community development. Some areas I have been involved in include empowering people affected by poverty and injustice, evangelism and discipleship, coming alongside ministry organizations with prayer, vision, and writing, and staffing communications for YWAM Muizenberg’s training schools and ministries.

Then I came into a time, which I call my “Season of Discovery,” where I entered into prayer and reflection – and asked God who I am created to be and also re-discovering my passions. I realized my heart for one-on-one discipleship as my office became my “counseling room,” as one coworker coined it. At first, I didn’t know how to process people’s trauma (or even my own), but I experienced God’s immense grace and help in dark situations. I recognized there was more healing, wholeness, and freedom God desires to bring to people and also my lack and need for training in these areas. This led me to my current mission statement:

I develop people to know their identity in Christ

and to be empowered for all God has for them,

released into living radically, loving others, and glorifying God.

For five years, I served with Bethesda House, a ministry of YWAM Muizenberg. Bethesda means “the place of the outpouring and mercy” and exists to see people encounter God and to be restored and equipped to transform communities with the Kingdom of God through worship and prayer, community events, evangelism, restorative ministry, and training to South Africa and the nations.

My personal vision is that

I so desire that ALL may be set free

to worship God with their whole being and whole lives.

At the end of 2019, my life was upended by a cancer diagnosis, which I am still on. You can read more about this journey on my Give-Cancer page. So far, I’m still in South Africa, and it’s been interesting, to say the least, to be weathering though a global pandemic, serious health issues, and national unrest. I lean into God, He is the Hope for the nations, and His Word is still true as I pursue Him with my life.

Thank you for taking the time to read just a bit of my story! I hope you’ll journey with me.

Shannon