Today, we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Sharick . Hannah was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Melissa Heiland.
Hannah , can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Central Florida with wonderful parents and 4 younger siblings. My mom’s parents were missionaries in Southeast Asia, so she grew up there, which definitely shaped her worldview and in turn, shaped mine. She would read us stories of missionaries and people in other countries who were persecuted for their faith. I went on multiple international mission trips as I grew up. Missions and international travel have been a part of my life since I visited my grandparents when I was 6 months old!
When I went to college at Stetson University, I had decided to pursue graduate work in psychology; however, God had other plans. I began to feel called to mission work, but had no idea where I was supposed to serve. Just a few months after making that decision, I met my husband, who began our relationship with saying “Just so you know, I’m going to be a missionary in Japan.” I replied, “Ok…I’ll pray about that!” We got married a year and a half later, and two years after that moved to Japan as full-time missionaries.
Our time in Japan was amazing – I miss it every day! – but after 6 years, we knew it was time to come back. We weren’t sure why or what we were going to do. I was pregnant with my second child when we moved to Japan, and I was pregnant with my fifth when we moved back to the US.
It’s been a little over 5 years now since we came back, and it’s become clear that working with Beautiful Feet International is a big purpose for our being led to leave Japan. I was asked to serve on the board of directors about 3 years ago, and my husband has helped with various technical tasks, like updating their website. I also have lead several short-term trips to serve the pregnancy centers in Costa Rica, and in May I am leading a trip to the country in SE Asia where my grandparents were missionaries and my mom grew up. Melissa Heiland and I will be training nationals in pregnancy ministry there; I recently found out that several of our contacts there knew my grandfather, so that is really special to me.
I’m also a postpartum doula in Volusia County, I homeschool my five children, and lead a local homeschool co-op. It’s been quite a journey to get to where I’m at right now, but honestly I feel like I’m right in the middle of the journey now!
We’ve heard great things about your organization. For our readers who might not be as familiar, can you please tell them about the organization?
Beautiful Feet International exists to spread God’s love by founding, training and equipping pregnancy ministries around the world. We have over 80 pregnancy centers affiliated with BFI in 24 countries now! What sets us apart from other missions and non-profits is how intentional we are to work closely with national partners. We start pregnancy ministries which will be connected with a local church and run by local people. Within a few parameters, they then have the freedom to run the ministry in the way that will be most effective within their own culture and community. It has spread quickly – we started our first pregnancy ministry in Costa Rica in 2013, only ten years ago. I’m most proud of the way our ministry is extremely sustainable and cost-effective, and even more than that, how so many women and children’s lives have been changed by the pregnancy ministries that have been established around the world.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Melissa Heiland and Beautiful Feet International and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Beautiful Feet International.
I’ve known Melissa since I was around 11 years old. When I was 12, she took me on my first mission trip to Belize. This was in the early 2000s, when Beautiful Feet International was a short-term missions agency. A few years later, Melissa started a pregnancy center here in Central Florida, and as a teenager I was able to volunteer. I remember stuffing envelopes in the office! When we returned from Japan, I felt as though I was supposed to be on the board of directors, but didn’t want to ask (I’m not really “board” material!). Just a short time later, Melissa called to ask if I would consider joining the board! Of course, I said yes. That was a confirmation for me that BFI was where I was supposed to be.
Melissa has had a major impact on my life – from missions to pregnancy ministry, and now a combination of the two through Beautiful Feet International. She is always willing to say “Yes” to new opportunities to spread God’s love.
Melissa also is always listening to what God calls her to do, even when it seems impossible by most standards. The idea that BFI would have 80+ pregnancy ministries around the world would have seemed preposterous 10 years ago!
Another way Melissa inspires me is the way that she always puts her family first. Despite how incredibly busy she stays as the founder and president of BFI, she also makes it a priority to be a great wife to her husband Ken, mother to her six kids, and GG to her 9 grandbabies.
Website: hannahsharick.com
Instagram: @hannahsharick and @postpartumdoulahannah
Facebook: facebook.com/hannahsharick
