My name is Shannon Volkar

          and this is my story...

I grew up in Peters Township with my parents and older sister. As a child, my sister and I attended Sunday School on a weekly basis. I believed in God but I never really tried to understand Him. Church messages were hard to comprehend and I tended to get bored, so after I outgrew Sunday School, I rarely attended church.

Growing up, my dad was my best friend. His family meant the world to him. He worked hard to provide for us. Saving everything he made, he created an annual tradition of taking the family to Disney World just so we could enjoy each other and enjoy our times together. Dad was a big believer that life was precious and every moment should be treasured.

My life was shattered at the age of 16 when my dad died suddenly from heart problems. He was only 40 years old. I didn't understand why my world had to be turned upside down. What I would have given for just one more day with my dad. He seemed to hold all of my hopes and dreams in his hands but I was forced to move on without him.

My little hands had to take over and they had a lot to hold. I lived the life of a typical teenager and went on to college, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre - paying every penny by myself. I achieved another important goal - working at Disney World as a student intern which took me back to fond childhood memories. I came home and worked a number of jobs and within 8 months found my current place of employment. Life surrounding these college years had not gotten any easier. In those few years I lost 3 grandparents, a cousin and several other wonderful people. I went through depression over a number of things, including a break-up with my first true love. As I battled the anger and loneliness, I felt like I lost years of my life. Many times I asked God the question, "Why?".

I knew there had to be a reason that I went through all of this, but I wasn't the only one experiencing difficulty. My sister battled Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which left her isolated and disrupted our family even more as she was unable to function with the rest of the world.  It was my sister who first came to Orchard Hill. As she listened to the messages that related directly to everyday life, she moved from just believing in God to making Him an active part of her life. I saw a change in her that I did not understand, God had become alive to her and she became very vocal and insistent that I experience the same thing.  But I wasn't ready. I felt like she was trying to make me who she was. I wasn't used to seeing this side of her so I backed away.

Her persistence paid off and after only one visit to Orchard Hill, I was hooked. The music and  message spoke right to me and I found myself finally beginning to understand. Even though I felt blessed with family, friends, a job, and a nice home I had still been lonely. All of those things just weren't enough. I had understood who God was but I did not understand that I could have a relationship with Him.  

In January, I began to attend Orchard Hill regularly. The people I have met through this ministry stand by me through every day life. It helps to know there are others to turn to when life seems difficult. I also wanted to use the hard times I had faced to help others, so I joined GriefShare. I knew if I could make one moment of someone's day a brighter by sharing experiences or just being there to listen I would have achieved an important goal.

I have overcome a lot and now live a life of purpose. I look forward to serving in many ways and getting to know my Orchard Hill family. I thank God for bringing my sister here, for her persistence in getting me here and for the work God is doing in all of our lives. We have moved through our struggles and have become better sisters, daughters, wives and mothers. It makes me proud to know that I will be a member of Orchard Hill when my niece and nephew are baptized at the end of April.

Today is just the beginning, my story will continue to unfold as I serve God, grow in my faith and reach out to others. I hope, as others hear my story, that they will be inspired to begin a new chapter in their own life. My life is in God's hands and he will continue to lead me in the right direction. My name is Shannon Volkar and this is my story.