Mrs. Peg Shonebarger

A Personal Note

As a young child I went forward during an invitation because I thought that's what a person who wanted to avoid going to hell should do.  I answered some questions the way I thought the alter worker expected me to and went on my way having taken care of my eternal destiny - or so I thought.

Between that day and my teenage years I heard the gospel and Bible preaching so many times that I could have readily told you what it takes to get to heaven, though I was still in a lost condition.

Finally, while listening to an evangelist preach, I realized that I was personally involved in Jesus' need to die on the cross.  He shed His blood as a perfect sacrifice to pay for my sin.  While I knew in my mind that Jesus is God the Son, and that He died on the cross to provide payment for the world's sin-debt, I had never acknowledged my sinful condition.  Never repented of it and called on Him accepting that gift  of forgiveness and a home in heaven.  Never thanked Him for going to the cross for me, making that greatest of gifts available to me.  I did so then, and have never regretted it.

My husband and I have served the Lord together from the earliest years of our marriage.  God called him into fulltime ministry in 1981 and what a journey it has been!

The privilege of being in the ministry is something for which I regularly give thanks to God.  What a blessing it has been to share in the joys and sorrows with Jon as we have labored for the Master!

Over the years as a pastor's wife, I taught a women's Sunday school class, worked and taught in various children's ministries, and was involved in counseling and discipleship/mentoring.  I have also played the flute for the Lord and sung in our choirs.

Now we have embarked upon a new leg of our journey, evangelism.  This ministry is by far the most challenging, but God is always good and we are always in His care.  His word is true, His promises kept.  He has sent my husband to proclaim the gospel to the lost and give encouragement to believers.  I feel truly blessed to be able to help him in whatever capacity the Lord brings my way.