"From Prison to Pulpit: The Divine Set Up Journey of Author Shawn O'Neill"

  • Kairos Moments: When Time Stands Still

    In life, we all face moments that feel like turning points—times when everything changes in an instant. The Greeks call these Kairos moments, divinely orchestrated points where God’s timing intersects with our lives, shaping our paths in ways we could never plan. From a jail cell encounter with God to an unexpected love story at…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Dismantling the Prison Pipeline: Exposing the Plot of Third Grade Literacy Levels

    In the fight to dismantle the prison pipeline, early literacy stands as one of the most powerful tools. On Make a Difference Day, the Nehemiah Ministry joined hands with community partners to create two reading gardens at North Fork and Westside Heights Elementary Schools, providing young learners with a peaceful space to read, learn, and…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Out of Control but Not Out of Hope: God’s Plan in the Pruning

    Out of Control but Not Out of Hope: God’s Plan in the Pruning explores the tension between life’s overwhelming moments and God’s intentional process of growth. Drawing from personal experiences—balancing the demands of doctoral studies, leading multiple ministries, and planting new campuses—the post reflects on how God uses seasons of pruning to shape us for…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • The Shift from My Efforts to His Grace: Understanding True Righteousness

    This week’s blog explores the transformative journey from relying on self-effort to embracing God’s grace, emphasizing that true righteousness is found through faith in Jesus Christ, not personal achievements or good deeds. It unpacks the concept of positional righteousness—what Christ has accomplished on our behalf—and lifestyle righteousness—how we live out that grace daily. The message…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • From Prison to Pulpit: Expanding God’s Kingdom through Multiplication

    This last week, I had the privilege of joining 42 passionate leaders for a four-day church planting residency summit in Irvine, California, hosted by Cru Fellowship for Church Multiplication (CFCM). Our mission was simple: expand God’s kingdom through street evangelism and church planting. The highlight was day three, where we broke into teams to partner…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Why Plant Churches? A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Transformation

    In this blog post, I share my personal journey from prison to the pulpit, highlighting the importance of church planting as a way to fulfill the Great Commission. Drawing from the article “Why Plant Churches?” and my experience in the Avondale community in Pompano Beach, I reflect on the biblical mandate to plant churches, meet…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • The Power of Vulnerability – Embracing Authenticity to Heal and Connect

    The Power of Vulnerability – Embracing Authenticity to Heal and Connect In this blog post, we explore the significance of vulnerability and how it plays a crucial role in our healing and connection with others. Using the biblical story of Adam and Eve, we reflect on the natural human tendency to hide in times of…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Mobilizing Faith: Building Walls of Hope from San Andrés to Fort Lauderdale 

    This week’s “From Prison to Pulpit: The Divine Set Up” blog highlights a recent mission trip by the Messenger of Hope Global Ministry Team to San Andrés, Colombia. Led by Senior Pastor Tom Manning and other leaders, the team trained 200 pastors in evangelism, setting the stage for a massive crusade in February 2025. The…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Running Toward Purpose: Lessons from Jonah’s Journey

    In this week’s reflection, I dive into the story of Jonah—a man who ran from God’s purpose and found himself in the belly of a fish. Like Jonah, we often resist when God calls us out of our comfort zones. But through his journey, we learn invaluable lessons about obedience, repentance, and the power of…

    Shawn O’Neill

  • Running from God’s Will: My Journey of Disruption and Delay

    In my latest blog post, I dive deep into the story of Jonah, drawing parallels to my own life over the past five years. Like Jonah, I found myself unknowingly drifting away from God’s will, blinded by the pride of life and the distractions of the world. This led to disruptions and delays in my…

    Shawn O’Neill