About

Hi there! My name is Shilo Song Thompson. Yep, Song. My parents loved a song during the ’70s by Neil Diamond titled, “Shilo”, which was written about a childhood imaginary friend. However, I like to think that God had a much bigger plan in the formation of my name, which in Hebrew means “His gift”. When I think of His redemption story in my life, these verses from Psalm 40:1-3 come to mind, “…for the LORD inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” 

My husband, Glen, and I currently serve our U.S. military at Schofield in Oahu, Hawaii. He has been an Army Chaplain since 2012. So far, we have lived in Fort Lewis, WA, Fort Sam Houston, TX, and Fort Jackson, SC. Prior to the military, we pastored for 4 years. We have four precious kiddos: 3 biological, 1 adopted. I’m a homeschooling mom who enjoys a stack of books, sunshine, exploring the outdoors, and a delicious amount of ice cream (current love: acai bowls).

Testimony

I was born and raised in Arizona—a sunshine girl at heart. My parents divorced when I was 6 years old and remarried a few years later. Around 8 years old, my mom and second dad took me to church, where I was exposed to the gospel for the first time. Over the years, seeds were planted, but the gospel never took root in my heart. I obtained my first job as a bus girl at a local restaurant in Prescott around 15 years old, and it was there that I started receiving attention from the young men that I worked with. Unfortunately, this erupted into a rebellious lifestyle of lust and worldliness that continued into my early college years. By 20 years old, I was desperate for change. I felt empty. I felt ashamed. 

After two years of college, I decided to take a year off and moved to Colorado, to serve in Americorps (a U.S. extension of the Peace Corps). At first, it seemed noble, but really I was trying to run from my dark and sinful lifestyle. But God had other plans. My roommate, Kylie, was a Christian, and over the course of her witness and example, God began drawing me to Himself. One night while alone and reading in my dorm room, I cried out to God, “I don’t want to be in control of my life anymore, please take it. I only desire to live for You. Please forgive me” (Gal. 2:20). I woke up the next morning and knew I was different. There was joy and peace. And my lifestyle slowly began to change.  

I went back to finish my degree in college and quickly got involved in Christian fellowship where I continued to grow in knowledge and wisdom. After graduation, I worked as a social worker for foster care and adoptions. Then in 2001, I moved to California for further training in biblical counseling at the Logos Bible Institute at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley. I had the privilege of working at The Master’s Seminary for several years, and it was during this timeframe that the friendship between my husband and I grew. 

Our Love Story

My roommate, Karen, hosted a summer college bible study at our home. Glen was at this first meeting. We both signed up for an evangelism event at Venice Beach for the following morning and ended up being paired up together. While witnessing, I remember how bold and gentle he was with each person we spoke with. I was impressed and didn’t know men like this existed. However, it was not until 2 years later that our paths crossed again.  

While he was home on leave for R&R from serving as an Army Chaplain Assistant in Iraq, he came back to the seminary to re-enroll in his classes. Through a series of events, we ended up eating lunch at an old, beat up restaurant called The Bear Pit. We talked for over 3 hours! Afterward, we corresponded for three months as he finished out the duration of his tour. I picked him up at the airport on November 11, 2004, and on Christmas Day, he asked me to marry him. We were married on June 12, 2005. 

A few significant things stick out from our early years of marriage. I remember waking up one morning in our tiny apartment, and he had written on the board the verse from Acts 1:8, “…and you will be my witnesses to the end of the earth”, to remind us to keep an eternal perspective in all the decisions we made, wherever He was to send us. He would also share jokingly, “Babe, stick with me, I’ll take you places.” He has surely has taken me places. Since then, we have lived in 10 homes throughout six states, and we are not done yet. What an adventure it has been so far! We are thankful to minister and serve our soldiers & families. Although we have had our share of trials and storms, I respect and adore him more each passing year. When I think of marital love, a favorite poem written by Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) expresses it beautifully:

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere,
That when we live no more we may live ever.

Hannah’s Adoption Story

We believe adoption is remarkable picture of God’s redemption story. Each child matters to Him. By taking that step of faith to reach out to the least of these (James 1:27), we have witnessed God do amazing things, and changing us for the better.