Shane Stanford

Shane Stanford (born September 12, 1970) is a pastor, author and speaker known for his journey as an HIV positive Christian minister. Shane was recently named the Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Gulf Breeze UMC is one of the largest United Methodist Churches in the country.
Overview/Summary:
Shane serves as Ministry Leader/Host for The United Methodist Hour (www.thehour.org), a television program airing weekly in over 30,000,000 homes nationwide.
A former church planter, Shane is also a retreat leader and self-development consultant. With his wife, Dr. Pokey Stanford, Shane is the co-author of the A2 Indicators assessment program, used as the primary church health assessment by over 800 congregations.
Shane travels extensively sharing his journey as an HIV+ Hemophiliac and Christian minister. Recently, at the invitation of Rick and Kay Warren, Shane spoke to the 2006 Global AIDS Summit for Saddleback Community Church in California.
Shane currently serves on the steering committees of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund and the United Methodist Commission on Communications.
Shane is a graduate of the The University of Southern Mississippi (Honors College, B.A—Political Science) and Duke Divinity School (M.Div.—Theology and Ethics).
Shane’s story has been highlighted in newsmagazines and tv specials. His memoir, A Positive Life, due for release from Zondervan in 2010, details Shane’s struggle as the first openly HIV positive minister to be ordained. Shane’s first congregation rejected him as pastor because of his health.
Shane is an activist for several causes related to pandemic poverty and has presented with such notables as Rick Warren, Jeanne White (mother of Ryan White) and Deanna Favre (wife of Brett Favre).
Shane's books include:
•The Seven NEXT Words of Christ (Abingdon Press, 2006).
•The Eight Blessings (Abingdon Press, 2007).
•365 Devotions for Men by Men (Contributing Author-- Abingdon Press, 2008).
•When God Disappears (Regal Books, 2008).
•A Positive Life (Zondervan, Coming Fall 2009)
•You Can't Do Everything... So Do Something (Abingdon Press, Coming Spring 2010)
Shane writes a regular blog entitled Making Life Matter and has published articles in several magazines and journals including The Upper Room, Alive, Giving, and Worship Connection.
Personal Information:
Shane is married to Dr. Pokey Stanford, an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. They are the parents of three daughters, Sarai Grace (12), Juli Anna (9) and Emma Leigh (5).
Websites:
www.thehour.org
References:
1. "www.macgregorliterary.com"
2. "www.thehour.org"
3. "www.gbumc.org"
4. "www.shanestanford.com"

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