“When you walk by faith and not by sight - life is truly an adventure!”, says award winning marketing influencer, world traveller, and pastor Shannon Mischuk. From early years to the present Shannon’s life has been an adventure only Holy Spirit could have guided.

Shannon was taught early to walk by faith and not by sight2 Corinthians 5:7.

Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia during the early days of the Jesus Movement in the 70’s, both her parents were full gospel leaders in ministry who were actively involved in the beginning of the charismatic movement. Her father, Dwayne Jacobson, had accepted the position as one of the first presidents of The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship in BC that had made its way west from Toronto to British Columbia.

During those days too, the Word of Faith movement founded first by Kenneth Hagan and Oral Roberts and pioneered in Texas by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and Jerry Savelle was making its way into Canada, Shannon’s father was very involved in organizing meetings for the Copelands and Savelle at the FGMF. Shannon and he three sisters grew up enveloped by faith.

In addition, Doyle "Buddy" Harrison, minister and Faith Christian Fellowship International founder, and Christian publishing companies founder including Harrison House, Honor Books and Albury, who was part of the initiators gave Shannon her introduction to the world of influencer marketing and Christian book publishing.

Right out of high school Shannon became a travel adventurer when she worked first as an expeditor in Vancouver for Holland America for four years in the early 1990’s, taking a year off to live as an International Student in Kanazawa, Japan in 1991. When she settled in back home, she also began to work in finance.

Meanwhile Holy Spirit was grooming a young pastor in Kitchener, Ontario to plant a new church. He had been the youth pastor and associate pastor at Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church in Arnprior for five years after graduating with a B.Sc. Theology from North Central University in Minneapolis in 1988 and believed God was calling him home to start a new work. The groundwork for New Song Church and World Outreach began in his parents’ living room the summer of 1992. The first official service was held on Easter Sunday in 1993 at a pub on the grounds of the University of Waterloo. Pastor Dave was 26 years old at the time and very much single.

At the end of the summer in 1995, Dave was swept off his feet by a Sunday visitor. Shannon was in town visiting family.

they quickly began 5000-kilometre long- distance dating later that fall. On the 40th day of meeting in person they were married on May 11,1996, on the top of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, BC.

Back home in Kitchener, Ontario, the couple continued to pastor New Song Church. and Shannon worked in finance.

When they were pregnant in 1998 with their first son Quinton their faith was suddenly put to an extreme test in the middle of all their blessings. They were told the baby had multiple issues and not to get their hopes up for a healthy child. Suddenly all those years of investing the Word of God into their lives had the return on investment they needed. They stood in faith, speaking the Word of God at the situation and during the pregnancy, being moved by faith and not by sight. Refusing to believe the ongoing diagnosis and digging into and believing the Word of God, Quinton was born healthy 23 years ago. Quinton was followed by a girl and two more boys.. All are serving Jesus, going to school, and working in the ministry when they are home.

“My firstborn Quinton decided to have a pandemic wedding and married his high school sweetheart in August 2020,” said Grandmother Shannon. Their first child, a boy, was born in early October.

Shannon is an entrepreneur with the gift of teaching. Her background in finance has helped better manage the ministry. Because of the congregation’s generous spirit of giving, New Song Church and World Outreach has become a literal international outreach.

As a church they have participated in dozens of international missions’ trips around the globe. In 2008 they spent three weeks on a humanitarian trip to they spent three-weeks on a humanitarian trip to Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa with 20 teenagers from the United States and Canada.

Ten years later in 2018 they did a 19-day humanitarian trip to Kenya and Tanzania that resulted in supporting planting a church in Arusha, Tanzania. They have also helped start the first a non-government managed Christian radio station, as well as a Bible College and Orphanage.

At New Song Church Pastor Shannon leads, among other projects, the women’s ministry Shine on Sisters.

Two years ago, Holy Spirit guided the near empty nester into a new adventure. She began working for Graf-Martin Communications Inc, a Christian national non-profit marketing agency, specializing in Marketing and PR for non-profit organizations. to launch their digital marketing department. She joined. the trusted brand, marketing, publicity, and communications partner for organizations championing hope, justice, and generosity in their community, or around the world. As the Digital and PR Engagement Manager she uses her skills as a nationally known and award-winning blogging and digital social media specialist “Marketing for Good” making marketing a good thing.” “My extensive work creating an engaged online community has provided me opportunities with top brands, ambassadorships, and as a media spokesperson,” she said.

Pastor Dave too has been led into new adventures. He received a Doctorate of Divinity Honoris Causa from the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (HSBN) School of International Ministry in 2018. In early 2022, November he is transitioning from lead Pastor to increasing his also looking at an apostolic ministry...being a father to fathers.

For more information about New Song Church and World Outreach,
24 McIntyre Place, Kitchener, ON N2R 1H7, service times and other programs, visit https://newsong.ca email info@newsong.ca or phone 519- 279-8599.

To speak with Shannon at Graf-Martin phone 519-342-3703 ext 107

In an upcoming issue Christian Life in London will feature Graf-Martin Communications Inc. to learn what they do for local and international not for profit organizations. Founded in 2008 by Ellen Graf-Martin, President / Chief Integrated Marketing and Brand Strategist, she also hosts The Change Makers Podcast CLIL we will look at how Christian marketing company is not an oxymoron and can still profit while making marketing good.