Stephanie Shipley

“To receive Jesus and to take Him to others is the true joy of the Christian.”

-Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Where I serve

My first year on staff, I served at the University of Kentucky. Then I moved back to my home state of Georgia to serve at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA for two years. For the next three years, I served as a Regional Campus Director, where I was the Team Director at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and the Regional Director for three campuses. The last two years, I have served as the Team Director at the University of Kentucky, where it all started, and I am happy to continue here this year!

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My University of Kentucky Team of FOCUS and Newman Missionaries (back row: Sam, Joe, Nathan, Brian, and Brian; front row: Leah, Kelly, Annie, Elle, and me; and Brian and Annie’s baby Therese!)

My Story

Growing up a proud Catholic in the middle of the “Bible Belt” of the South, I thought I had a good grasp on the Catholic Faith. I went to mass and youth group every Sunday, attended all the retreats, and was the “good little Catholic girl” in school. I definitely thought I had a relationship with Jesus. However, when I started college at Georgia Southern University and met the FOCUS missionaries, I saw in them what was missing in myself, the joy that comes from that personal encounter and relationship with Our Lord. I slowly learned, through the guidance of the missionaries, how to have that personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, mass, and confession. Eventually, I came to desire to share the joy that I now had from my own relationship with Christ with everyone and anyone I encountered. To do this in a much more intentional way, I followed God calling me to be a FOCUS missionary, and today, I could not be more grateful for where He has led me and I can’t wait to see where He will take me next.

Me and Katie, one of the missionaries who invested in me at Georgia Southern.

Your Impact

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. I’ve been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.