Adopted at birth, Shane had to deal early in life with the issues of rejection and anger toward a biological father who abandoned him and a biological mother who gave him away.
Raised in church by a loving couple who adopted him, he found the love and acceptance of Christ and encountered that full reality as a teenager.
Shane was called into the ministry at a youth rally at the age of fifteen and has never turned back. After High School, he moved to Arizona to attend Master’s Commission at Phoenix First Assembly of God. From there, Shane continued his ministerial studies through Global University School of the Bible.
He served as youth pastor in the Bronx, NY; Alton, IL; and Youngstown, OH as well as working in inner-city ministry in Louisville, KY.
He met his wife, Elena at a youth workers’ conference in Kentucky. They married in September of 1995 and have been partners in ministry ever since.
Elena, also adopted, was raised in church as well. She surrendered to the reality of God at 18 and immediately got involved as a worship leader in her church youth ministry. Elena plays keyboard and recently taught herself to play the bass guitar. She currently leads the women’s ministry and the young adult ministry at Word of Life. She graduated nursing school in 1995 and works in a doctor’s office.
Shane and Elena have two wonderful daughters who are constant reminders of the love and grace of God.
Posts
Why did you decide to be a lead pastor and not a youth pastor anymore?
ReplyDeleteGreat question. I heard very distinctly from God that it was time to make a change a little over 4 years ago. I was preaching a series of messages on God's will to Bible School students in Uruguay when God dropped it in my heart. I spent a year letting God work out His call and prepare me for the transition.
ReplyDeleteI loved being a youth pastor. I also love being a lead pastor.