Shaunie Henderson Is Not Your Typical Church First Lady

09/18/24 • 34 min

The Groow Zone with Shaunie and Keion Henderson

Shaunie Henderson breaks the mold of the traditional First Lady of a church. The television star’s transition from basketball wife to pastor’s wife came with many unexpected challenges, including excessive public scrutiny and unrealistic expectations. In this revealing episode, Lighthouse Church’s first couple explore the delicate balancing act Shaunie navigates daily –between assumption and authenticity. They also discuss why they believe some religious norms and expectations are more cultural “pageantry” than Biblical wisdom. As First Lady, Shaunie says she’s more committed to “embodying her role instead of explaining it.” Less concerned with “quoting Bible scriptures” and “being untouchable,” she’s dedicated to “showing more grace and being relatable.” As a highly visible pastor with his own challenges, Keion affirms that Shaunie “should have as much latitude” to express herself in her role as he does.

Key episode insights include how authenticity makes you a stronger leader, why your character should always outrank your title, and how transparency sets you apart. For the Hendersons, “growing in your truth” means knowing your lane and being clear on what expectations you allow yourself to be influenced by. After all, as Keion questions, “Who can lead anybody when you lose yourself?”

Previous Episode

Why Shaunie and Keion Have a Marriage Mission

Driven by the belief that “without a vision, the people perish,” Keion and Shaunie Henderson are on a mission to thrive in their marriage. Soon after getting married, Keion –the self-appointed “technocrat”– sat with Shaunie, notebook in hand, to lay out a detailed vision for their union. Despite being a self-professed “winger,” Shaunie recalls how refreshing it was to unite around their purpose, and define the kind of relationship they wanted. A marriage mission may sound like rigid rules, but it’s actually a roadmap to a strong and lasting relationship. As Keion asks, “If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever know when you get there?” In this episode, the couple describes 3 relationship frameworks –A-frame, H-frame, and M-frame – and explain why they are committed to building an M-frame relationship.

The Hendersons say they nurture their marriage mission by practicing “10-Minute Wednesdays,” a communication exercise that helps them hash out misunderstandings and actively listen to and learn from one another. Listen and learn why the Hendersons’ marriage isn’t 50/50, why Shaunie believes “submission isn’t a bad word,” and why a marriage mission is ever-evolving. Commiting to the vision of a marriage requires much growth on the inside, but Keion reminds us, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

For further growth, read more about Davidson’s relationship frames.

Next Episode

Keion and Shaunie Worked Too Hard to Stay the Same

Keion and Shaunie’s commitment to growth means that change is always on the horizon. The word ‘change’ often gets a bad wrap, but the Hendersons believe it’s both an inevitable process and a representation of growth. Keion insists that “Change ain’t change until you’ve changed,” while Shaunie reasons that people should receive credit for embarking on the path to change. In this episode, they describe the necessity of transformation and how embracing new circumstances during critical transitions has helped them upgrade their relationship. They also dig into why compassion is a key ingredient to evolving because “All change starts with having a better relationship with yourself.”

Gain valuable insights on how to be patient with a loved ones’ growth journey, when it’s okay to outgrow people, and how to be a perpetual “student of life.” Everyday we’re presented with an opportunity to either settle for “the sea of the same” or welcome the changes meant to unleash the best version of ourselves, so choose wisely. It takes growth on the inside to develop “a mindset of change” and “nine times out of ten, we do ourselves a favor when we grant ourselves the freedom to evolve,” as Shaunie reminds us.