Shannon and Natasha Lovelady
My friendship with Shannon and Natasha could take a book! My first time meeting Shannon was years ago when he was a student in college and he was a little bit of a mess. Fast forward to seeing him with Natasha and it was neat to see how the Lord used her to really help settle him down. Their story and how they connected is beautiful. What Natasha brought to him, and even what she brings to his ministry today, is huge. They are both incredibly deep spiritually and relationally.
I feel like we really got to know them when we went through the adoption process together. They adopted two boys from Nicaragua, which are my son Luke’s two brothers. We all had times when we were probably at our worst during that season. I feel like we saw the good, the bad and and ugly on that one. But it was helpful that we were all going through similar things and I know for Tina and I, we found a lot of comfort in that. I feel like it was during that time that we all grew really close because we all leaned on each other heavily.
Fast forward to Shannon becoming the lead pastor. They both went on this journey of seeking the Lord about what our church needed and they realized it was discipleship. Which is what led to adding the soul care component. I feel like this set the direction of Southern Hills. Then the vision and heart behind City Station could be a whole separate chapter in and of itself. In all of this, Shannon and Natasha don’t become full of themselves nor do they get sidetracked. They just stay steady and on point. For me, that has been something that has been really cool to see.
Finally, fast forward to September 2020, we put their house on the market and it went under contract in one day! However, we kinda got drug through the mud with a situation between a lender and a borrower. We stayed under contract with them over 3 months and it fell apart. Although it was extremely frustrating for me and I know for Shannon and Natasha— to think they have their house sold and thinking they could move on, to not selling and going back to the market— they still handled it extremely well. I remember telling them that they were still teaching with their life in how they are walking through all of it. I know for me and my staff that was working on it, they showed incredible grace, poise and patience throughout the whole process of being tested and tried. I personally was blown away. They finally went under contract and sold and now they are going to get to build their dream home.
I think the best way to put it is that my relationship with them is deep and wide. I am so thankful to serve alongside both Shannon and Natasha at Southern Hills in every capacity and through whatever obstacle that may come. I am thankful for who they are in this community and as my friends, but I am most thankful for who they are in the Kingdom!
For these reasons and many more, I would like to honor Shannon and Natasha Lovelady as my “Clients of the Month”!