Our Story
Called to Serve. Chosen to Share. Driven by Faith.
About Shawn
From a Difficult Childhood to Sharing the Hope of Jesus Around the World
Shawn grew up in an alcoholic and abusive home. At just 10 years old, he experienced the loss of his father—an experience that would shape much of his life.
For much of his childhood, Shawn didn't know who Jesus was. He grew up without a relationship with Christ and without understanding the hope that could be found in Him.
That changed when Shawn was 20 years old.
At the age of 20, Shawn came to know Jesus Christ and gave his life to Him. For the first time, he began to understand what it meant to have hope, forgiveness, and a relationship with God.
Years later, Shawn faced another life-changing battle when he was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, a form of cancer. Through that difficult journey, Shawn experienced firsthand what it means to hold onto faith and hope in the middle of a storm. By the grace of God, Shawn battled the disease and survived.
Through the experiences God had brought him through, Shawn began to understand that his life had a greater purpose.
Shawn knew he was being called into ministry, but for a long time, he wasn't sure what that ministry was supposed to look like. He simply knew that God had given him a story, a testimony, and a desire to reach people who might not otherwise walk through the doors of a church.
That calling began right where Shawn was—in his workplace.
He started sharing his faith and witnessing to the people around him. Then he began sending short devotional messages by text, sharing Scripture and encouragement with coworkers and others beyond his workplace.
Those simple messages became Wednesday's Word.
What started as a few text messages has grown into something much bigger than Shawn ever imagined. Today, Wednesday's Word is known to be reaching people across three different continents and at least seven different states, and it continues to grow.
The messages have also been translated into three different languages so far, allowing God's Word and the message of hope in Jesus Christ to reach even more people beyond Shawn's immediate circle.
Shawn believes that the Gospel shouldn't be limited by walls, buildings, or borders. There are people everywhere who need to hear that they are loved, that there is hope, and that Jesus Christ offers saving grace.
That is the heart behind Street Shepherd Ministries.
Shawn's own story has given him a heart for people who are hurting, struggling, or searching for hope. He understands what it is like to grow up in a difficult environment, experience loss, face devastating circumstances, and wonder what life is supposed to look like.
But he also knows what it is like to discover Jesus.
His desire is to meet people where they are—to reach people from all walks of life, encourage those battling addiction and difficult circumstances, bring hope to those facing cancer and other hardships, and most importantly, share the love of Jesus Christ.
Shawn knows what it is like to not know Jesus. He knows what it is like to face a battle that seems bigger than you. And he knows what it means for God to take the broken pieces of a life and use them for His purpose.
What began with one man, one message, and a desire to share God's Word is continuing to reach around the world.
And Shawn believes this is only the beginning.
His story is a reminder that your past does not have to determine your future—and that God can use your story to bring hope to someone else.
Our Statement of Faith
At Street Shepherd Ministries, we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the foundation for our faith, our lives, and our ministry. We believe God's Word is true and that it calls us to know Him, love Him, and share His truth with others.
We Believe in One God
We believe in one God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
We Believe in Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, willingly gave His life on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose bodily from the dead. We believe He ascended into Heaven and that He will one day return.
We Believe in Salvation
We believe that every person is separated from God by sin and that we cannot save ourselves through our own works. Salvation is a gift of God's grace, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
We believe that we receive this gift through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and surrendering our lives to Him. Through Christ, we are forgiven, made new, and given the hope of eternal life.
We Believe in the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is present and active in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit convicts us, guides us, strengthens us, and empowers us to live a life that honors God and serves others.
We Believe in the Church
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of believers who are called to worship God, encourage one another, serve others, and live out the mission Jesus gave us.
We believe every believer has a purpose and a role in sharing God's love with the world.
We Believe in Sharing the Gospel
We believe the Gospel is not meant to be kept within the walls of a church.
Jesus calls His followers to go into the world and make disciples, sharing the Good News with people from every walk of life.
That is at the heart of Street Shepherd Ministries.
We believe there is hope for the person struggling with addiction. There is hope for the person facing cancer. There is hope for the person who feels lost, broken, forgotten, or far from God.
That hope is found in Jesus Christ.
Our desire is to meet people where they are, share the truth of God's Word, encourage them through life's battles, and point them toward the saving grace and love of Jesus Christ.
Our Commitment
We commit ourselves to proclaiming God's Word, sharing the Gospel, serving others, and following wherever God leads us.
Through Street Shepherd Ministries and Wednesday's Word, our prayer is simple:
That people would hear God's Word, discover the hope of Jesus, and come to know Him for themselves.
