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BIOGRAPHY
FOR SHAY ST. JOHN – February, 2006
Senior
minister, Unity Church of North Houston,
Houston,
Texas
2006 marked
28 years of ministerial service for Shay. Her career began in 1978 as
she pioneered a Unity group in
Savannah,
Georgia. After 7 years of dedicated service, she left a healthy ministry
with a debt-free building to move to
San Francisco,
California
and serve at Unity Christ Church.
Six years there opened the way for her to move to “headquarters” for our
international Unity movement. Working for the Association of Unity
Churches, she was Vice President of Development and served there for
over 12 years. This "new" position in Unity opened the doors to many
Unity ministers and congregants of principle-centered ways to do
successful fundraising in Unity. Shay’s passion is to help Unity
churches put financial feet on their spiritual vision.
Beyond leadership in Unity ministry, Shay has also been actively
involved in Regional and International service to Unity. From Regional
and Association Board and Executive Team service to Regional
Representative, she has been and continues to be present for other
ministers and ministries in the Unity movement.
In addition, she has stretched the doors of Unity Church of North
Houston into the community, co-creating peace projects, wholistic health
events and community outreach with a growing Ministry Leadership Team.
The potential for service is dynamic here in Houston. Examples of ways
Shay has served the community in which she ministered are as follows:
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She and Father John
founded Kairos House in
San Francisco.
This “haven” for caregivers became a precedent setting model for a
national support network to caregivers of those with AIDS and other
life-threatening illnesses. This “model” for support has been
carried around our nation.
-
Shay was Chaplain
for two years to the
San Francisco
women police officers.
-
She continues as a
consultant and research assistant to The Monroe Institute in Afton,
Virginia.
-
A bear ministry,
brought into form through Holy Bears, a Houston-based business
founded on spiritual principles, opens doors for outreach far beyond
the initial vision that “birthed” the first of five bears. More are
on the drawing board as
Houston
responds to this “tangible” outreach.
Over a
decade of service at the Association of Unity Churches provided Shay
with many opportunities to visit and serve in Unity churches all around
the world. From each she has drawn insights into better ways to do
ministry.
Shay’s vision in ministry is to serve passionately, to love wastefully
and to empower all who are willing to grow to be all that God intended
them to be. From Johnnie Colemon, Shay has learned and demonstrated that
IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT.
Her church
in Houston has moved from a 5 acre, 5,000 sq. foot facility into an 8.8
acre 39,000 sq. foot facility, empowering community service in
ever-expanding ways. From a sanctuary that seated 110 to one that will
seat over 350, Unity Church of North Houston is prepared for growth.
Yes, IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT. |
