Loss, Hope, and a Faithful God

Jennifer is fascinated by stories: the stories of the Bible, the stories of God's continuing work, and the most important story of Jesus' redemptive love. Since these are the stories that have changed everything for Jennifer, she wants nothing more than to point others to the joy she has found.

As a young woman and a new believer, Jennifer experienced a period of "refining fire." She nearly lost her life to a miscarriage, her beloved father was diagnosed with ALS, and her youngest child was experiencing serious symptoms with no obvious answer. As Jennifer shares, "In a crisis, there is no standing still; you will either run from God, or you will run to Him." Questioning what God had actually promised is what drove her to His Scripture. The stories she discovered there were breathtaking, and launched a life-long, passionate pursuit of God's Word.

Jennifer's first album was a Christmas gift for her father, and she was shocked when it went national, and then global. On her tours, she began sharing the stories behind the songs she wrote. This led to more and more invitations to speak at outreach and women's events around the world. Jennifer also partnered with Compassion International, reflecting her desire to put her platform in service of the most vulnerable. This work profoundly affected Jennifer's personal life, as her interactions with orphaned children led her and her husband to adoption.

Their son, Noah, joined the Shaw family when he was nine years old from China, and was able to have life-saving heart surgery soon after. Ethan, aged eight, and Anna, aged six, joined the family the following year. Although the challenges of older child adoption and their medical needs were significant, Jennifer continued to see daily evidence of God's faithful care and the immense blessing God had gifted her in her children.

As her speaking career continued to gain momentum, Jennifer also became an author. Her book  Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song is a memoir of her son Toby's journey with Sensory Processing Disorder, and her children's book,  Dumplings Mean Family, seeks to give children and families a warm, loving way to talk about what it means to belong to each other.

Through each chapter of Jennifer's story, she has found God's faithfulness to be a constant companion. She says, "I have learned that God really will use all things for the good of those who love Him. He's never left me or forsaken me, and He's given me a front-row seat to redemption. I want everyone to know this Jesus who's changed everything in my life."

Jennifer holds a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary, and a Master's Degree in Music from The Manhattan School of Music. Her ministry has been featured by Focus on the Family, Insight for Living, FamilyLife Today, Compassion International, Joni and Friends, and many more. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her family and her very anxious, 10 pound poodle.