Shelley Rakestraw

Shelley Rakestraw

Executive Assistant to Trevor Joy

Life Story

I was born into a Christian home with parents who faithfully served the Lord all my life. We were present for every GA (Girls in Action) meeting, Sunday school class, Vacation Bible School, youth camp, Disciple Now weekend and everything in between. I was blessed to have felt the Lord tug at my heart at the early age of 9, and was baptized in front of my church family.

I started dating my husband, Chad, during our senior year of high school, and we went on to date through college at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. We were married the summer after we graduated and moved to Lewisville to begin our careers. We joined The Village in 2006 and have been active members ever since. We have four beautiful daughters: Madison, Kamryn, and our twins, Brooklyn and Katelyn. We have seen the church love and support our family through numerous difficult hardships, including our daughter’s diagnosis with neuroblastoma. We are incredibly grateful for His healing over her body and for the support of the staff and people of The Village.

Through all the trials and joys in my life, I’ve always struggled with perfection. I was raised in a home where perfection was an expectation. It wasn’t until I went through Steps in 2014 that the Lord showed me that I am His despite being broken and imperfect. The idol I had created of the perfect life, perfect kids and perfect family was not why God loved me. He loved me for me. I’m so thankful for the freedom I have found in knowing that I am His despite my imperfections.

Hope for The Village Church

My hope for The Village is that we would be a place where everyone feels loved and accepted despite their imperfections. That we would be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are in need and offer a place of rest to those who are weary and in search of the Lord.