Women Connect: His Faithfulness — Shani Parotti

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."— L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Ponder

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.—Psalm 37:4-5 (English Standard Version)

What pure joy it is to follow Jesus! Do we get everything we long for? Of course not. Does that matter? Not usually. But when we commit our way to the Lord as we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us such fresh perspective on our desires. We understand better what matters. And HIS ways and dreams for us are always best.

As you will see when you...

Meet

my friend, Shani.

Shani (pronounced 'shaw-nee') is the oldest of three kids. She was raised by a single mom in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. They moved a lot when she was a child. At her age of fourteen, their new neighborhood had a wonderful church they began attending.

Shani's mother really flourished in her relationship with the Lord in those years, and it was a time of real stability in their home. When Shani came home from school, she would consistently find her mother reading the Bible.

Shani and her mother embraced everything in that church, and it was there she saw how a life with the Lord Jesus could truly be the key to a peaceful, flourishing family.

While attending the youth group at their church, Shani met Dan Parotti. They both participated in a play that the youth group performed and toured with over the summer. Because there was a five-year age difference between them, they didn't consider dating at the time. But they were very fond of each other. (Let's hear it for fondness! 🙂)

Dan joined the Marine Corps in 1991. When he returned home on leave two years later, Shani was eighteen. Drumroll please…they began dating, and in May of '94 they said, "I do". They completed his final military service year in North Carolina together.

Fifteen months and twelve days later…they gave birth to their first son. They now have two sons, two daughters in love, and one daughter. Their beautiful family has added two grandchildren, with another due in January.

Best of all, they are all following Jesus and raising their grandchildren to love Him too.

For the past seven years Shani has worked as a household manager for a nearby family. Dan had been the facility director of a large church in Bloomington, Minnesota. Then eight years ago his position expanded to Senior Adult Pastor.

As Shani served with Dan in a supportive role, they both cultivated a deep love and respect for the older population. While they were there to serve, Shani is quick to add there was not one time they did not feel reciprocal care and appreciation. (A secret to the blessed calling of ministering to and with senior adults.)

Eight years ago Wes and I taught two workshops on consecutive days at a Senior Adult Conference in Branson, Missouri. Amid mostly older adults in the first workshop, a much younger woman stood out. As Wes and I alternated sharing, we couldn't help but notice this "younger one" rapidly taking notes. We were drawn to her.

Imagine our surprise and delight the next day when she came back to our repeated workshop, this time with her husband in tow. Following our class we made a beeline to meet this sweet couple…Dan + Shani Parotti.

In their forties they were just beginning to lead the senior adults at their home church, Cedar Valley in Bloomington, Minnesota. We knew we had a "live one" in this couple. Kindred spirits, for sure. A forever friendship was forged.

With the theme of the conference centered on the joy of intergenerational ministry, the Parottis returned home with a fresh and reaffirmed vision.

Shani says:

There are numerous secular organizations developing ways to cure the anxiety and mental health crisis, and they keep coming back to intergenerational relationships. In the church we have the great privilege to be under one roof with all ages! We need to maximize this advantage by ensuring we have opportunities to interact and serve alongside one another! If the church can really become the unified family of God, then we have helped solve this problem the world seeks to correct.

Eventually Dan joined the YES! board. And as of a few months ago, Dan and Shani were unanimously voted to become the next executive directors of YES! Young Enough to Serve.

This transition will happen sometime in 2025 when the Parottis have raised their support. The roles for Wes and me will eventually taper, but we are excited about partnering with Dan + Shani now and into the foreseeable future.

This couple is an answer to prayer and a huge asset to the Kingdom of God. We believe with all our hearts the best of YES! lies ahead. God is SO faithful.

Thankful

how the Lord orchestrates our lives when we commit our ways to Him!

The next 'women connect' will be my final issue. Sharing these bi-weekly stories of God-honoring women with you has been a special joy for me over the past year.

Shani and I are collaborating on a new monthly email that will start in Spring '25. We are at the beginning stages of designing this newsletter. We trust it will be informative and fun as we continue to share stories of people who are making a difference.

Heart

Maybe you know someone younger…or older who needs Jesus - or a Bible - please let us know if we can send a Bible to you for them.

Judy Popineau Wick