Shannon and Mary Hess
When God called New Day Community Church co-Senior Leaders Shannon and Mary Hess to Waynesville, He did so in specific ways that neither of them could ignore. Having received numerous words from God and various types of confirmation (ask them to tell you the story sometime!), Shannon and Mary felt a settling in their spirits that God was calling them to replicate the DNA of their home church in Summerville, SC into the western North Carolina area, leading them to make the tough but exciting decision to leave behind a tight-knit community and venture into the unknown of the mandate God had given them.
Now long-time residents of Waynesville, the Hesses dedicated themselves for several years to the community by plugging into local life, knowing that God would one day bring to fruition His call to plant a relationship-focused, community-driven church with full room for the Trinity to operate in fullness and change lives.
Shannon and Mary believe in the importance of “doing life around the table” – fostering the Kingdom-centered, healthy community that Jesus modeled in the Gospels. They believe that the Kingdom of God is relational in nature, and that believers in Jesus can further His Kingdom by walking out a journey of emotional and spiritual health that leads others to do the same, through training and equipping people to live Kingdom life outside the Church. Primarily, this is done through several important tenants:
Focus on the Father’s love,
Intimacy (relationship),
Restoration (healing of the heart),
and Extending the Kingdom (marketplace ministry).
Shannon and Mary have been married for 20 years and have two beautiful daughters, Haley (married to Tim and mom to Josiah) and Zoe (who still lives at home). With a long line of church ministry in both of their families, Shannon and Mary have been actively ministering in the Kingdom for the majority of their lives, having served on the pastoral team in multiple roles at New Day for 6 years prior to moving to Waynesville.
In addition to their church and ministry experience, Shannon holds a business degree from Carson Newman University, and Mary holds a counseling degree from Liberty University.
Lovers of music, fun, good food, conversation, and laughter, the Hesses live out their faith around the table, pursuing others in wholehearted and authentic relationship and equipping them to walk out their God-given destiny.