About Shannon

A Little About Me…

Born into a musical family in Omaha, Nebraska – my Dad a Navy pilot, singer, and drummer, and my Mom a Social Worker, guitar-strumming worship leader – I began pounding the chipped keys of our Baldwin Acrosonic upright piano from the wee young age of five. I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t have my legs dangling off the edge of a piano bench or wooden chair, practicing scales or belting out worship tunes. But I do remember when my reasons changed.

Finding my Wings

When I was twelve, my family moved to Colorado, and not long after my parents got a divorce. I was devastated, confused, and very angry. But I had my music, and I had Jesus. And I soon found out Jesus can handle my anger, sorrow, and questions and that it actually helps me in profound ways to write about and worship through these emotions. This was when the fledgling songwriter and worshipper in me really began to find her wings. To this day, the greatest compliment I have received is to hear that one of my songs helped someone else put into words what they couldn’t seem to say for themselves and that it helped them look up, yet again, to our ultimate source of hope and peace.

A Lifeline to and from God’s Heart

After graduating from Christ for the Nations and Dallas Baptist University, I began walking through the doors God was opening for me. This granted me the opportunity to work with musical artists and ministries I greatly respect and love to this day, such as Women of Faith, Revive Our Hearts, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Integrity Music, Maranatha! Music, Focus on the Family, Our Daily Bread, Jared Anderson, Paul Baloche, & others. I’ve also had the privilege of writing and recording six albums of my own thus far and also writing for other artists over the years. This ministry path has taken me around the world but has also always kept me grounded as a worship leader in my local church, which continues to be at the heart of who I am.

Strangely, as all these wonderful ministry experiences were unfolding, I was often experiencing blinding pain in my personal life. I became increasingly familiar with the themes of abuse, infertility, trauma, depression, anxiety, betrayal, and ultimately divorce. Somehow, through most of these seasons, writing and worship continued to be a lifeline for me to and from God’s heart, just as it was for me as a child and is to this day. This certainly wouldn’t have been my choice for songwriting fodder, but He used it nonetheless.

God the Healer

After my divorce (I was formerly Shannon Wexelberg), I really thought it was all over (Read my “Burn the Ships” blog to find out more). My chance at ministry as I once knew it. The songs. The ability to serve as a worship leader in and for the church. All of it. But God surprised me. He gathered friends around me who spoke truth. He provided and opened doors in ways I could never explain. He plucked out the lies of judgment and rejection from my mind and heart. I don’t have enough words here to tell you how God has redeemed my pain, healed and continues to heal the broken, traumatized places in me, and is reworking my storyline. He has given me bouquets upon bouquets of beauty for my grubby fists full of ashes. I tell you, it’s a wonder. And He will do the same for you.

Writing a Love Story

He gave me my precious, kind, loving, steadfast husband Joe, who is a full-time art teacher and stained glass artist. Until he came into my life, I didn’t know what it was to be loved so completely. I see Jesus in him. Between the two of us, we have three sons we are (hopefully) raising to be responsible, loving, caring adults. And we have a pretty spectacular dog named Chloe. We love living life together at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and cherish each moment.

So, this is my story so far. There has been a lot of ache, but there is so much more tender mercy and beauty. There was once an ocean of confusion and pain, and now I’m swimming in love. My wings were clipped and my song stolen, but now I’ve been given wings to fly again and, by golly, God is filling my heart with new songs.

So, stay tuned, my friends. Be encouraged in the midst of your own pain. God is not done yet. Pen in hand, He is writing a love story.

I’m grateful to walk this journey with you.