In 2002, Wonder Voyage still seemed a bit shaky.
After a summer of trips in 2001, Shawn was stopping shoplifters and cleaning up spills as a part-time mall security guard. It was a humiliating job, a startling contrast to the work he was doing just a few weeks before with Wonder Voyage. By 2002, Shawn was also working as an interim youth minister for two different churches to make ends meet. All told, he was working at least seventy hours a week. There was little other income: almost no donations coming in and still too few trips to support the year-round, day-to-day logistical needs of the newborn organization.
In spite of financial woes (which are not uncommon for nonprofit start-ups), Shawn still found a lot of joy. Even in his side jobs, he was still doing what he was uniquely good at: challenging people to grow in their journeys with Christ. Whether it was putting in a shift at the mall or filling in at a church office, God was there, working all things together for His glory. Personal relationships still took precedence over money and security, an ethic Shawn still maintained through a tough 2002.
It is actually a theme all too familiar to many of those who have come to work with Wonder Voyage. Our seemingly random paths – frustrating jobs, various failures, and dead-ends - somehow brought us to the doors of Wonder Voyage. We’ve all been at that place of feeling utterly humbled. And we are better for it. In the end, God takes all our situations, both the glorious and humiliating, our wondrous points in time and our moments in the mud, our victories and our failures and uses these circumstances to mold our lives into the image of Christ.
But our story now pauses with the separation of Shawn and Cheryl. It is a narrative best explained by Shawn, but it represents a major turning point, for not only his marriage, but the culture of Wonder Voyage itself. (for the exciting conclusion, check in to ShawnSmallStories next week.)
Mike Flickinger has been leading Wonder Voyage trips for four years and works full-time as Shawn’s administrative assistant. He has been commissioned to write this series of articles documenting the history of our organization. This articles covers 2002, the third year of Wonder Voyage.
Shawn, I think all of us are interim regardless of the time in or position of… I remember this season of your life like it was yesterday and I was so impacted by your ability to show through substantial loss what it means to follow Jesus. This painful, transitional time of sorrow and loss was not easy but struggle certainly made you stronger.
It is fighting through the valleys that puts you on top of the mountains (and you are so there Brother). Thanks for showing us not only that it can be done but it’s worth the necessary effort. We come to walk with God in a way we may have never imagined, yet today, experience.
Even though you were just an interim youth pastor, you were GREAT and such a blessing to us!!! We still think and pray for you often!!! Love your ministry and so proud of all that God has do for you and thru you!!!
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