Shan & Silver’s Story
Meet Sheshan and Silver! Their friendship blossomed as they served as youth leaders together for five years, always aware of their mutual interest but never dating until their marriage in 2005. Their shared commitment to their faith only grew stronger and deepened over the years. After a brief hiatus from serving to focus on their growing family, Sheshan and Silver felt a renewed capacity to serve. In 2014, they were approached about leading a small community group, they prayed about it and decided it would be a wonderful opportunity for their family. They envisioned a kid-friendly environment that would foster connections among young couples and families.
Soon they opened their home to a diverse range of families, single parents, and seniors. What they envisioned was so different from what God had planned and they wouldn’t have it any other way. This mix enriched their lives, allowing them to learn from each other and become family. They encourage anyone contemplating starting a group to take the leap. Emphasizing that it’s about creating a safe space for everyone and letting God, time and consistency build from there.
“There’s never a perfect time” (Silver, 2024). They expressed, if they waited for that, it would have never happened. If you make space and time for God – He’ll open up opportunities to build relationships that’ll provide you with so much wisdom, and growth (Shan, 2024). They advise that it’s ok to just try a group and if it doesn’t fit to try another.
Throughout their journey, they faced challenges, including the loss of community members like Rena, who passed away from cancer. Their group rallied together during tough times, providing support and comfort. Sheshan initially hesitated to take on the responsibility of leading the group due to their busy lives as parents and their careers: Silver, studying to be a lawyer and Sheshan a real estate agent. But eventually embraced it, when experiencing the true beauty of doing life in community.
Over the last 10 years, they have witnessed numerous blessings, including friendships that blossomed from shared experiences. They’ve learned that opening their home was vital to building a supportive community where they’ve been blessed with the gift of understanding different cultures and encouraged by the different ways that everyone practices their faith. Their gatherings often turned into enriching Bible studies, filled with laughter, encouragement, and prayer.
Sheshan and Silver’s story is a testament to the power of taking the first step, their faith, and the beauty of sharing life together. Life has only gotten busier for Shan and Silver but this community has made the load lighter, they show up for each other’s families, make food for each other in busy seasons, pick up their kids and just love helping one another. They continue to invite others to join their journey, believing that it’s never too busy to make space for God and the connections that come from serving together.
While every one of us will experience moments of being alone, we are designed for connection. Join us for our Alone Series, to find out more.
Written by R.M