Shannon Lawson
Shannon Lawson is a multi-talented artist, pastor, wife, mother and business owner…a modern day renaissance woman. Originally from Akron, Ohio, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and also where she met her husband. They currently reside in Harrisburg, PA and are raising their three children together.
As a young girl, Shannon grew up in the church and was a PK (Pastor’s Kid). She saw the good, bad and ugly sides of ministry. Although she has always felt called to work in ministry, there came a time in her youth that she became angry with God and the church. She became increasingly frustrated when the actions of those around her didn’t reflect the Jesus she knew and loved; so, she made the decision to step away from the church- but not from God. It wasn’t until she became a mother, that she began to see the church and the heart of God differently. She made the choice to rededicate herself back to purpose and started a youth ministry focused on sending inner-city youth on mission’s trips around the world. She is committed to raising up world-changers and providing them with encouragement, support and opportunities so that they are able to see themselves the way God sees them.
Her dedication to fulfilling her purpose has been challenged and tested. Approximately one year ago, she was unexpectedly let go from a job that she had been dedicated to for a decade. It was unforeseen, a bit painful, and even unnerving as her family financial portfolio had now changed from a two-income household to a one-income household. It was during this time that she began to seek God earnestly for guidance and wisdom on what would be the next steps in this journey. She kept hearing the Holy Spirit say— “wait”. So that’s what she did.
During this time, she began to freelance in marketing and design, and little by little, jobs just began to pour in. Within nine months, she had landed multiple contracts with several companies, and had just about doubled her previous income. And even just recently, she received an offer to become the associate executive director for an established inner-city youth ministry within the Allison Hill neighborhood in Harrisburg, PA.
This year has been nothing short of amazing. She has experienced the reality that God will sometimes put us in positions that at the moment feel painful, traumatic and overwhelming. But, He’s actually promoting us into places that we would have never expected. What may look like a painful experience, is actually a repositioning by God to place us exactly where He desires us to be to fulfill His Purpose for our lives. It’s easy to get stuck in the moment, and in the pain…but He is calling us all to a place of Purpose.
Her life bible verse through this year has been Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” He simply calls us to Him. It is in the stillness and in the waiting, where our intimacy with Him grows and develops. It’s a place of complete trust, a place of absolute faith, a place of depth with the Father. It’s there where we discover who we are in Him, the purpose we carry, and the vision to carry it forth.
Shannon currently serves as the Assistant Pastor at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Harrisburg, PA, and also serves on the Women of Purpose Board of Directors. As a thriving business owner, Shannon is committed to providing excellence to all her clients in her marketing and graphic design projects. If you would like more information about Shannon’s business or to contact her, please click the link here.