Our History

People often ask to hear the “story” of Shunem Ministries and how it all began. The story is God’s story . . . not mine. The idea for this ministry to missionaries and their families took me by surprise while walking in the neighborhood and praying. Little did I realize that a story was in the making. My eyes were opened to a need . . . that of caring for God’s servants.  A vision for the ministry happened in my heart. In contagious ways, God used people . . . people with a heart for Him and for serving Him, to provide this beautiful gift of hospitality and care for His called servants. Our family moved into the Sylvan Woods neighborhood in the Fall of 2003. The sprawling white house across the street had a “For Sale” sign on the lawn that would go up and down, up and down, about every six months. Our little girl played with their little girl, and it was convenient for me to see the house when I picked her up. It was laid out perfectly for a guest house I thought. One day I shared with the owners the thought of how ideal the home would be for traveling missionaries coming and going in the area. They were touched and expressed delight that the home they had lived in for so long would possibly be used for such a beautiful purpose.

In July 2006, the owner of the house came to our door and told my husband and me that he had an offer on the house, but he did not want to sell it. We could hardly believe what we were hearing; we knew he had been trying to sell it for several years. At this point, we could see God at work in a way, extraordinary to us. We did not know they had added a clause in the listing contract that stated that we had “first right of refusal.” He knew we had no way of purchasing the house. We knew there was no way. But God . . . He had put a plan in motion.

The owners shared that they believed in the vision I had shared, and that they wanted the house to be used for the purpose of helping missionaries. Their new house was ready to move into. They had a potential buyer. And we had seventy-two contract hours to either go with it or realize that God had a different plan.

Step by step, in His timing and in His ways, God works. I received an e-mail from a friend . . . a good friend, with whom I had shared my heart and vision. She had looked at the house with me a few months earlier. She and her husband had been discussing how they could be involved in the new ministry, but they were not exactly sure how. The timing of her e-mail was unbelievable to us. We had to update her and her husband on the happenings, the time frame etc. A phone call was made, and we agreed to pray for God’s direction. Within a few hours, a contract for the house was negotiated between the owner and the friend who wrote the e-mail.

I knew God had spoken to me three years earlier about this missionary guest home. Every step in my walking was like a prayer, as I carried the house and vision for the ministry on my heart. Seeing God’s goodness, and His unfolding plan for this love gift of a home away from home for His servants, put an encouraging spring into my step. My feet were now at a running pace to keep up with all that was ahead.

I received Christ as my Savior when I was a small child. I have grown in “wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man,” as we learn in VBS. I also grew up as a missionary kid (MK) that traveled around with my parents . . . away from our overseas home. I have grown in faith through prayer and believing the Word. But this venture has been amazing in that I have seen God work in ways I did not see coming. For everyone involved with Shunem, we are learning to follow Him and trust Him with the details of His plan.

While helping the sellers of the house move into their new home, we were asked if we could use any of the furniture in the house. If so, they would donate it to the ministry. Appliances, pool equipment, window treatments, and other gifts equipped us to get up and running. We find that amazing! Again, God was at work.

More . . . God sent work teams, family members, and neighbors to get SHUNEM MINISTRIES off the ground and functioning. Painting, decorating, renovating, remodeling, dry walling, adding a two-bedroom downstairs apartment. A single missionary lady raising funds to go overseas lived here, worked, and contributed to the huge, 11,000 square feet task. Our first family of five occupied the apartment in January, 2006, as they adjusted to a new baby and made preparations to return to serve an unreached people group. With mind, heart, and unity of purpose, our motto was established:  SERVING GOD’S SERVANTS.

Missionaries give up comforts of home, stability, family, and resources to go where the road before them can be quite uncomfortable, where people have not heard of salvation and the Savior who died for them.  The vision of Shunem Ministries is to grow in ways that will offer more help and encouragement to those who come our way.

Shunem Ministries was named for a town mentioned in 2 Kings 4. . In the spirit of biblical hospitality shown to Elisha, God’s prophet, we serve. It is truly a great need for His servants in today’s world.
To grow and develop, we need like-minded partners with a heart for missions and the well-being of missionary servants.

Our staff and Board of Directors are committed to serving and to good stewardship of the assignment God has given. There are all kinds of ways to partner and help in the ministry. We need what you can do for Shunem's story to continue.

If  this little history of the work touches your heart, give us a call or write to us.

shunemministries@hotmail.com

317-431-8269
317-219-3115