The church & missions

Hi friends!  It's been a while since my last post.  I've traveling lots, celebrating family birthdays, and sharing about Europe with anyone that will listen!

I have to say, we in Arkansas have some wonderful church congregations, with wonderful hearts for missions and a willingness to fulfill the Great Commission by going into all nations, teaching, baptizing, and making disciples.  This is the ministry of training at Mattersey Hall Christian College, preparing 1000 students from 10 nations for full-time ministry.  It's a ministry of multiplication and fulfilling the great commission!

I've had the privilege to share in many churches during the last 10 months, and am excited to share in many more through the end of September.  I hope to leave for the field in October, and your prayers and support are making this happen.  If you would like to become a prayer or financial giving partner, CLICK HERE to find out how you can get involved. Thank you!

If you want to read more about what's happening, and where I will be serving during my next missionary term, CLICK HERE TO READ MY SUMMER NEWSLETTER!

Have a wonderful summer, friends!
Shannon

Long drives, audio books, divine appointments

Missionary furlough involves a lot of long drives, many audio books, and special divine appointments.  Last weekend I had the privilege to attend a seminar by a former professor.  It was just what I needed.  Divine appointments.  I then took off for 24 hours of craziness, driving about 8 hours, speaking 3 times, and listening to one of my many audio books.

My morning service was in the southern part of Arkansas - El Dorado.  My evening service was in the Northeast part of the state - Cash.  With 3.5 hours of driving in between those two services, and the evening service starting earlier than most, it was quite the adventure.

But I made it! God was with me.

I believe that every opportunity that we have to share is a divine appointment.  Each church brings new people to talk to, encourage, and pray for.  Each drive not only brings a new audio book, but also time to pray, listen to God, and see new sights.  Each crazy weekend is an indicator of God's provision.  And in the midst of all of this, God can also speak to my heart directly, whether it be through a former professor, His word, new insights or unexpected interactions.

I'm enjoying furlough.  Hope you are encouraged today as well.  Remember...God loves you!

Busy week...

Some weeks are busier than others...this week being one of those!  I travelled 1000+ miles (that's 17 hours!) from the north to south of Arkansas, and spots in-between.  Held 4 missions services in Monette, Crossett, and Jonesboro.  I visited with some wonderful pastors and congregations and the team is being built as these churches pray for me and give generously so that I may return to Europe!

Along the way I had to sit out a severe storm on the side of the road (with thanks to my storm watching parents who were watching the weather for me).  I also went to the Arkansas AG women's retreat where I served 70+ cups of tea, gave away over 100 bags of tea and 22 Europe testimony books!  Then yesterday, after missions services I was able to attend a church Memorial Day picnic.

For all of these adventures, this is my navigation help.  An itinerating missionaries friend is her GPS!  Although James (name of my GPS) did try to make me drive through a cotton field at one point! Bad James!

And these are some of the sights along the way.  Thankful for God's protective hand, His provision, and the opportunity to be in Arkansas for this time.  Very thankful for the many churches, pastors, and people who are praying for me and the ministry of training & mentoring in Europe.

The White River in Northeast Arkansas - recently flooded area.

Wood Street AG in Jonesboro, Arkansas

Storm outside of Crossett, Arkansas

I just thought this was cool. ;-)

One of the fun names of towns in Arkansas!

Getting to know you...

"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you, getting to like you, hoping that you like me."


I hope you are singing now...

These words, made famous in the musical "The King and I", tell the story of the formation of an unlikely friendship between the King of Siam and his British governess. This is one of my favorite musicals, probably because it is set in Thailand, but also because of the hilarity that comes when cultures clash.  The most refreshing aspect of this film is that people from vastly different backgrounds can come to understand one another and ultimately have a wonderful friendship. 

I love learning about different cultures and the challenge that comes along with that.  What I find more often than not is that we are all much more similar than appears at first glance.  I guess that's because we all have the same creator.

While itinerating, I have the privilege of interacting with people from my own culture, yet sometimes we are vastly different.  Many cannot relate to my having lived in another country for most of my life, while its difficult for me to understand that someone has never moved from their hometown. I don't speak like a southerner any more, but it doesn't mean we can't communicate.  As we interact together, we begin to learn about one another, accept our differences, and understand that God has placed us all on the planet for the purpose of working together. Unity.  The body. We all have different purposes & plans for our lives, but if we are serving God and fulfilling His will for our lives in the place where He has us, we can be unified, we can understand, and best of all, we can be friends.

I'm liking you better and better every day. Here's hoping that you like me too!


Now I'm off to make some more friends....

Missions Convention & Sacrificial Giving

Mission efforts are about partnership.  To everyone who has partnered with me over the years through prayers & finances I say a big THANK YOU!  You can read more about partnerships by visiting my ministry blog (click here!).

I had the privilege of participating at the Arkansas Section 3 Missions Convention during this past weekend and enjoyed meeting many pastors and members of the congregations of several AG churches in this area of Arkansas.  This area has been very hard hit by rains and flooding during the past week and many churches were unable to attend as roads were closed.  

I especially enjoyed sharing with the congregation of Salem First Assembly of God.  Pastors Kenn & Elizabeth DeShane have been friends for many years as Kenn and I went to Bible College together, and later, Kenn & Elizabeth spent time in missions in Cambodia.  It was great to see them again, and to meet the members of this congregation.  My evening service, unfortunately, was cancelled due to the weather, but I hope to meet with the church in Cash, Arkansas, very soon.

A highlight of the weekend was the opportunity I had to sit at a table full of teenagers from Salem.  This "assigned" seating seemed to be divine appointment as I had a great time talking to these young people and watched as they responded and gave sacrificially to the missions offering.  One young man said he "couldn't wait to give" as he had too much money in his wallet and wanted to give some away! Reminded me of the Macedonian church from 2 Corinthians! These youth will remain on my prayer list and I pray God uses this mightily in reaching their generation for Christ.

If you can't wait to give and would like to help me get to England, simply click here and fill out the form for a monthly commitment, or scroll to the bottom for credit card donations or one-time offerings.  All donations are tax-deductible, and rewards are given in heaven!

Thank you for your partnership.

Budget news...

As I sit this evening and drink a cup of tea (practicing for living in England where Brits drink more tea per capita than anywhere else in the world!), I thought I would write a little budget update.

I just received my new budget today and according to my calculations, I'm at 80%. I wasn't sure how the budget would increase moving to England, but it seems to be quite comparable.  That's probably because I'm living in rural England, not in London! In fact I'll be living 3 hours north of London, pretty much in the middle of England.  Mattersey, Doncaster, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom.  Yes - my address is going to be really long.

In light of this budget news, my new motto for my itineration hails from British history.  During WWII, the British government wanted to raise morale of the public as invasion loomed.  The slogan?  Keep Calm and Carry On.  It was the third in a series, with the first two stating "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory" and "Freedom is in Peril".  "Keep Calm & Carry On" goes along with one of my favorite verses in the Bible:  2 Tim 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."  


So that's my new motto:  Keep Calm and Carry On - 20% more monthly pledges to raise, and quite a few cash offerings - but I'm confident that God is my great provider!

Arkansas Sectional Council

It was a joy to participate in the Arkansas District AG Sectional Council tour earlier this month.  After two weeks of traveling 1500-plus miles, attending 15 sectional meetings, eating 14 church potluck dinners (which included 6 briskets, 5 fried chicken and all had green beans - which I love!), 6 stays in hotels, and was able to travel with 9 amazing Arkansas missionaries and 8 district leaders (who are awesome).  We met with all of the ministers in Arkansas and were able to not only hear the vision of the Arkansas District, but also what God is doing around the world in missions!


Here's a pic of the missionaries on tour (less one...sorry Heath!).  Thanks for praying for these missionaries as we all raise funds so that we may touch the world for Jesus!

• Terry & Babs Castleberry - Belize
• Joe Butler - US - Special Needs
• Carolyn Dorsey - Asia Pacific Media
• James Wright - Asia
• Mike & Charlene Peterson - Caribbean School of Theology
• Shannon Buckner - England
• Cecil Culbreth - Ark District Missions Director
• Matt Carpenter - Chi Alpha UCA
• Tom Hodum - Global Initiative
• Maurice & Marcia Lednicky - Thailand
• not pictured:  Heath Graham - Chi Alpha ATU