"Hello,

My name is Sharon. I grew up in a family that considered education to be essential to a child's preparation for life. My father would give as many definitions as possible for any word I asked him about. If he did not feel he had given me enough information about a word, he would go to the dictionary or encyclopedia and look it up. He and my grandmother read aloud to me, and my mother helped with my homework. Through their dedication to learning, they taught me to study deeply for understanding and real knowledge, not just to pass a test or earn a grade.

I graduated from South Garland High School in Garland, Texas (1976), Austin College in Sherman (1980), Texas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas (1983). I earned a bachelor of arts from Austin College, where I concentrated on humanities, especially Spanish, German, Hebrew and Religion classes. After leaving Austin College, I attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where I concentrated in religious education and earned a master of religious education. My internship was spent at Buckner Baptist Benevolences Children's Home in Dallas, Texas, where I worked for one-and-one-half years as a houseparent in the emergency shelter. My work at the children's home helped me gain insight into the needs of children with various challenges, and helped equip me to meet many of those needs with compassion and efficiency.

While at Buckner, I married the love of my life, Dr. Kevin, a family practice physician, and began a family. We raised four children, one of whom is adopted, and I became a stay at home mom who continued to do volunteer work through the local church. In Mexia, I served as preschool Sunday School director, taught Preschool Choir and Vacation Bible School and sang in the adult choir at the First Baptist Church. We attended that church for about 5 1/2 years before moving to another town.

In 1993, My husband and I were asked to join the board of Cecil Williamson Ministry in Evangelism in Starkville Mississi" less...