Don & Sara Shepson

A Story Featuring a Summer HoneyRock Pastor

By HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development

July 28^th, 2022

Follow along as we continue sharing stories that feature our summer HoneyRock Pastors over the next few weeks! As HoneyRock continues to grow in year-round programming, we hope to partner with pastors who are willing to volunteer in both the summer and the school year months.

Interested in serving HoneyRock in this way? Email leah.wolf@wheaton.edu

WHO IS A HONEYROCK PASTOR?

"HoneyRock pastors volunteer their time to serve all members of the HoneyRock community. They offer pastoral support for our staff members and campers alike. Throughout the summer, pastors guide our summer community through vocational training and necessary discipleship, equipping those to serve at HoneyRock & the greater mission of the church."

Ashley Paige Kiley, Camp Programs Director

REV. DR. DONALD & SARA SHEPSON

Don & Sara were excited to join us at HoneyRock again this summer. Don & Sara met at HoneyRock in 1996 after spending a many summers here and engaging in winter programing during the school year. Don & Sara have served as HoneyRock Pastors for the past five summers, they love participating with the staff at HoneyRock in work and ministry. When not at HoneyRock, Don teaches at Grove City College (Bible & Ministry Department) and serves as an Assisting Priest at Grace Anglican Church (Grove City, PA). Don attended Wheaton College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and holds a PhD from Biola University in Christian Education and Spiritual Formation. Over the last 25 years, Don is especially drawn to working with college-aged students, he enjoys talking and praying with students and staff, and engaging in conversation about how their lives intersect with the life of God.

WE ASKED DON A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS TIME HERE AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY...

How did you get connected with HoneyRock?

Don: In 1976 I (Don) was a camper for the first time when my parents enrolled me in Residential Camp. I struggled as it was my first time away from home, but when I entered Wheaton College many years later I participated in Freshman High Road (today called Passage) and then returned every summer in college to lead wilderness trips. My first trip was with Rob Ribbe PhD (Executive Director); we led middle school boys through trips in the Northwoods. Years later, my wife Sara and I committed to making it possible for our children to participate at HoneyRock each summer in hopes that their experiences might shape their lives in similar ways that our lives were impacted. Not only did Sara and I meet there, I received a vocational call to ministry while at HoneyRock and we both received training here that has shaped our years of ministry together.

Why do you think the role of a HoneyRock Pastor is so important during summers at HoneyRock?

Don: Students at HoneyRock are given opportunities for all kinds of  Purposeful Challenge (one of HoneyRock's Core Values), and sometimes they need an outside voice to help them think through and navigate them. College students are in an important transitional period of life and they have lots of questions about how to grow into mature Christians. It is therefore a really good thing to have a pastor walking with them to help them think through those issues. Occasionally they run into serious pastoral issues in their cabins and need a pastor to help them think through ministering to their kids in ways that bring redemption and point campers to God’s goodness.

College students are in an important transitional period of life and they have lots of questions about how to grow into mature Christians. It is therefore a really good thing to have a pastor walking with them to help them think through those issues.

Can you tell us what your past week has looked like as a HoneyRock pastor?

Don: This week I preached on Sunday and led two all-staff morning devotional times. I worked with the Summer Worship Coordinator to develop meaningful times of encountering the Lord. I met 1-on-1 with several students to talk about various issues including faithfulness in relationships, vocational calling to ministry, sexual purity, and various theological topics. I sat on panels to field question about life and faith from high school campers. I got a chance to work in the kitchen where they needed extra help because the dish washer broke. Lastly, I had an awesome week of prayer as I walked across camp and engaged the Lord about the ministry at HoneyRock. It’s so cool to see campers during Morning Watch learning to follow God.

What is your favorite part of pastoring the summer community at HoneyRock?

Don: My favorite part of HoneyRock is seeing all that the Lord is doing in this amazing community of ministry training and education. I love walking with students and high school campers, encouraging them to follow God faithfully. It’s awesome to see young men and women giving themselves to the Lord, and working out those implications for their lives. Our time at HoneyRock is always full of fantastic ministry conversations and it’s an honor and privilege to spend time in these ways.

What made you want to serve as a volunteer in this position?

Don: I’ve always appreciated HoneyRock’s mission, so I am eager to partner in ministry with HoneyRock whenever possible. I love the disciple-making and leadership training that goes on at every level of ministry here. This philosophy of ministry is right on biblically and it’s such a fun honor to join the summer programs and walk alongside the staff, encouraging and helping them in ministry. As an Anglican pastor, and ministry professor at Grove City College, I want my students to have the same life changing experiences in leadership that I had, so I promote HoneyRock with my student interns.

"Our time at HoneyRock is always full of fantastic ministry conversations and it’s an honor and privilege to spend time in these ways."

We are so grateful for Don & Sara's time and their partnership in ministry with us. Don and Sara, thank you for making time to be with us! We loved having you and your family here for the week. Come back again!