Dear “Why Jesus” Subscribers,

Can you believe it’s been a year since the “Why Jesus” website and blog launched? And what a year it’s been… for all of us… Amen?

Writing weekly has been a labor of love, a joyful pursuit, and (full disclosure) potent soul-therapy for me.  

It’s also been a new adventure in “online community” – thanks to YOU. I appreciate so much your comments and feedback; I’m deeply grateful for your partnership in this journey.  

Today, I am very excited to share with you – who have been such an integral part of this endeavor – some Big News:

FIRST – Launch of My First Book!  Over the course of the last 6 months  “Beginning … Again; Discovering and Delighting in God’s Plan for Your Future” has come together by the grace of God, and with more than a little help from my friends. 😊 

Beginning… Again  is a Bible Study Workbook – eight weeks of study, reflection, prayer, and focused action. It draws from several years’ worth of courses I developed and taught.  And it is blessed and beautified by my creative partner, world-renowned Christian artist, Sara Joseph. Sara’s exquisite art pieces do more than illustrate the workbook – they provide a visual corollary to the scriptural truths the workbook outlines.  

I am beyond delighted with the result: a gorgeous testimony to our Lord!  

The vision Sara and I share for this work is that it will serve as a map for those who are facing a daunting journey of change in their lives. 

If that sounds like you or someone you know, the workbook is now available on Amazon… or, if you’d like a signed copy, come celebrate with us two weeks from today – on Saturday, October 23, from 2-4 pm at First Frisco UMC (7659 Preston Road, Frisco, 75034).

Proclamation – by Sara Joseph – featured in “Beginning… Again.”

SECOND, Launch of Sunwing Press! Publishing the workbook required learning a great deal about the publishing business.  (Frankly, that education often felt like trying to sip from a fire hydrant!)  Along the way, it became apparent that the work would be best served by our retaining control of the publication process.  You know my love for all things “Sunflower and Hummingbirds.” Well, my clever Mark took that love and devised the name for our new publishing entity: “Sunwing Press.”  

The working mission statement for Sunwing Press is “Beautiful books for Christ Seekers.” My hope is to provide resources to churches, education directors, Sunday School class leaders and individuals… anyone who is hungry for more Jesus. To do that, I will draw from the many years’ worth of education curriculum I’ve built for various churches/groups and repackage for publication under the banner of Sunwing Press. 

Having experienced the tremendous blessing of partnering with a top caliber Christian artist, my vision for Sunwing Press is to partner similarly with other Christian artists, both experienced and emerging. Hence, “Beautiful Books for Christ Seekers.” 😊

THIRD, Re-launch of the Why Jesus Website!  As all this beauty-saturated creative work has been unfolding in the print realm, a very talented web design professional, Alayna Quiles, has brought fresh beauty to the look and feel of the website! Please take a few minutes to enjoy the loveliness and the many “user friendly” features. I especially encourage you to spend some time with the Why Questions page – intended as a support for seekers and budding apologists alike. All this research is intended as a gift and tool for you – please use it to encourage those in your life for whom “why questions” are a struggle.

You’ll notice a whole new page on the website, dedicated to the workbook and featuring weekly teaching segments that correspond to workbook chapters. Check it out – and then please let me know how I can better support the Beginning… Again process.

Friends, I plan to continue to produce a weekly blog for you. And I would love to expand our circle… if you are blessed, built up, or better equipped by the weekly blog, please invite others to subscribe so we can multiply the encouragement factor of our little online community. 

I will close by acknowledging how humbled I am by all of that has come together this year.  Only God! Only God.  

Thank you again for your encouragement and support.   

I treasure each of you.

Shannon