Aaron met Shannon while in college at West Virginia University. They were married in 2001 and moved to Raleigh, NC. There, Shannon taught preschool and Aaron began his career in sales. After a short time, they relocated to Beckley, WV where they both pursued careers in pharmaceutical sales. By early 2004, the Lord had blessed them with their first child (Isabella), a great church family, and began shaping them for his purposes. Shannon had assumed the full time role of stay at home mom and Aaron was continuing his role in pharmaceutical sales.

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In 2005, after the birth of their second child (Blayne), God provided Aaron with a sales opportunity in medical device sales in Morgantown, WV, at which time they relocated again. After several years at home, Shannon felt called to return to work. Their personal need and search for preschool for their children brought them to a new desire in their hearts. They found that Morgantown had a need for a quality, Christian, early learning facility. In 2007, God revealed his plan for the DePue’s to open a Christian daycare in Morgantown. God showed His favor and provision through Aaron’s career in sales, as well as through a new fantastic business partnership. The day after their third child was born (Avalynn), they began their journey in entrepreneurship by purchasing the property and building for Place of Grace Early Learning Center. The facility ministers to over 100 families and 25 employees at any given time. Shannon has worked there full time since 2008 managing daily operations.

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In 2013, they also acquired Guard Dog Storage as part of their small business portfolio. In early 2013, they also felt called to sell their home and rebuild. This started a time of true transition and growth in their family. Their home sold in less than a month. What followed was a long list of difficult circumstances…loss due to death, family illness, moving, Lyme disease in Shannon, moving again, and job loss. However, nothing is wasted with the Lord. It was during this time that they experienced the love of Christ in a new and amazing way that brought them to full surrender of their lives and plans.

In the fall of 2013, Aaron’s job was eliminated due to changes in Medicare reimbursement. Before the layoffs, Aaron and Shannon had started building a new house. Throughout the next year, Aaron worked on the house and searched for a new medical device position. It soon became apparent that God had other plans for Aaron’s career. In 2014, Aaron followed God’s calling to full-time ministry as the director of Development at Covenant Christian School. His administrative role maintained responsibility for everything from marketing and business, daily operations, policies and procedures, organizational communication, and fundraising, to school discipline. Those four years at Covenant were a wonderful season of spiritual growth, learning, and discipleship for Aaron, also bringing together his business background and love for ministry.

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Aaron’s career change also opened the door to allow the DePues to begin mission work in Budapest, Hungary, during the summers of 2015 and 2016. During those two summers, their family’s lives were dramatically impacted. The work of transformation and surrender that the Lord had been doing in their lives over the previous years was confirmed and supported. It became very clear to them that the Lord had called them to a longer commitment to serving in Hungary as the next beautiful step in this journey. They plan to arrive in Hungary by summer of 2019.

 

Aaron and Shannon will serve as the social entrepreneurship coordinators, combining two things that they are super passionate about: business and missions. They will be focusing on the start-up, building, management, and successful implementation of a thriving entrepreneurial ministry to create financial revenue for the benefit of the mission field and to see lives transformed for Jesus Christ.