Tami Shipman:
CLASS OF 1979
Sky View High SchoolClass of 1979
Smithfield, UT
Tami's Story
After Sky View, I graduated from Dixie College in 1981 and then came home and graduated from Utah State University in Early Childhood Education in 1983. Go Aggies!! I taught kindergarten at Bear River Elementary and McKinley Elementary for two years.
In August of 1984, I traveled with friends to Hawaii and there met my wonderful husband, David from Visalia, California who was also traveling with friends. He led me to the Truth of Jesus Christ and in August of 1985 we were married.
We settled in Visalia (gateway to Sequoia National Park—the giant trees) and lived there 10 years before my husband took a transfer to Colorado with the business in which he worked. We lived in Monument (by Colorado Springs) where I was blessed to stay home with our daughters as well as substitute teach at nearby schools (which gave me a whole new appreciation for subs).
We moved back to Visalia, CA in 1996 to follow the call of God on our lives and established the church we pastor now, Covenant of Peace International—West Coast (or COPI as we call it). (copiwestcoast.org)
We have two beautiful daughters, Tiffani (34) and Marissa (32). Both were interns at GO Ministries in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and traveled about 2/3 of the year doing ministry outreach. Both now work for our ministry as well as in their own fields (accounting and foster care). They also established a successful ministry called Outshine where they mentor teen girls about finding their identities in Jesus, as well as teaching them about how conduct their lives and dress modestly in this world while still being able to be trendy.
As a family, we’ve had the blessing to travel widely, both for personal and ministry reasons--Israel, Romania, Moldova, Transnistria, Thailand, Russia, Canada, Hawaii (our 20th anniversary), England, France, Holland, Mexico and most of the United States (48 states so far).
I retired from my teaching career of 38 years in June of 2021. I taught grades K-2, with first grade being my favorite and where I spent the majority of my teaching. I also did my graduate work at CSUF (Fresno State), but I am NOT a Bulldog. I’m a loyal Aggie all the way! While I enjoyed my career, it definitely did not end the same as when I first began, so I’m thankful for the incredible years I had. In retirement, I am able to travel more with my husband and assist him in ministry, as well as work in my editing/proofreading business. I am also very involved in our church leading women's ministry and prayer ministry.
My husband is an anointed preacher/teacher (David E Shipman Ministries) and has written two amazing books. He is also a brilliant business man who understands money and how it works and has many years of investing and trading, as well as helping others get their houses in order.
We have a great vision for missionary work. My husband has done ministry work all over t...Expand for more
he world—Bangladesh, China, Thailand, India, Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, England, Russia, Moldova, Romania, Transnistria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Poland, Myanmar, Mexico, Honduras, and Chile. Through COPI ministries, we have funded and built a medical clinic that will serve the people of Kisumu, Kenya.
Having been adopted at birth (both adopted parents deceased) and wanting to know more about my biological history, I had my DNA tested in 2016. I had done searches before and always came to a dead end. I received a small amount of non-identifying information from the adoption agency and knew the ages of both parents and some general facts, but nothing much to go on.
Right away, I matched with a first cousin who lives in San Diego and is about 18 years older than me. Through that connection and a couple of others, I was able to discover who my birth father (deceased) was. Then in 2019, I matched with a paternal half brother--one year older than me who was born and raised in Montana. It has been fun getting to know him!
However, the biggest blessing came in March when my sister-in-law, who is a genius “genealogical detective,” took newly found information and found my birth mother! I was able to hear her voice for the very first time in 61 years! She was a young, scared, barely 18 year old girl when she birthed me (born and raised in the Netherlands, immigrated to SLC at age 15). She never knew if I was a boy or girl. So we joked that it had to be the oldest gender reveal on record. In that conversation, she expressed several times of wanting to meet me, but unfortunately, it has not happened yet. She is 81 and lives in Reno. My gut feeling is that there are family members who are understandably skittish about my intentions. My prayer is that those fears and reservations will lift and we will be able to meet soon. For now, I choose to respect the parameters in this new relationship and be thankful to the Lord that He answered my 40 year prayer and 30 year search.
Even though I know fully I am His child first and foremost, and even though I had wonderfully amazing and loving adoptive parents, I always had this giant question mark in my heart. I am so thankful for answers and new connections.
I’ve had such a rewarding life of which I’m so grateful, but I look forward to the only reward I desire—eternal life with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He saved my life and I owe Him everything! I’m so thankful for my personal relationship and blood covenant with Him. He knew me and ordered my steps before the foundation of the world. I am honored to be called His child and want to be rooted and grounded in His Truth and love. I purpose to live my life telling others of His goodness and faithfulness to His only Word. Walking with Him is definitely not easy in this troubled world, but it is most certainly possible with absolute trust in Him!
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