A Report From The Frontlines
My Name is Legion…Faces from God’s Living Room by Will H. Shewey / Cover art © 2025 Will H. Shewey
Will H. Shewey’s My Name is Legion... Faces from God's Living Room was inspired by his 11 years as the pastor of Shades of Grace, a United Methodist Congregation storefront church in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Founded in 2014, Shades of Grace is strategically located in the epicenter of Kingsport’s unhoused community where it quickly became a sanctuary for the "last, least, lost, and lonely." The church provides essential services such as meals, showers, clothing, IDs, and mailboxes, while also offering spiritual support through worship, Bible studies, and sacraments like baptism.
The book features heartfelt stories of individuals, including children, veterans, individuals with mental health challenges, those battling addiction, and people who have faced unimaginable trauma. For example, a young boy living in a tent near a creek found a new family after years of hardship. A woman with schizophrenia found comfort in the church, despite her cyclical struggles with mental health and homelessness. Another man, who lost his limbs due to gang violence, found faith and was baptized alongside his partner. Each story underscores the complexity of homelessness, revealing layers of mental illness, addiction, systemic failures, and personal tragedy.
Shades of Grace also serves as a place of healing and transformation. Many individuals have experienced moments of redemption, such as overcoming addiction, reconnecting with family, or finding employment. These stories demonstrate the power of compassion, faith, and community in helping people rebuild their lives.
The ministry’s work extends beyond life into death. Shades of Grace has hosted memorial services for many who passed away as well as burial plots for unclaimed individuals, ensuring dignity in their final moments., emphasizing that every life is precious in God’s sight.
Additionally Pastor Shewey reflects on the profound challenges of ministering to the unhoused, describing it as messy, unpredictable, and often heartbreaking. Yet, he emphasizes the importance of showing love, patience, and respect to all, regardless of their circumstances. The book is filled with biblical references and hymns, grounding the ministry’s work in Christian teachings about compassion, forgiveness, and hope.
Despite its humble beginnings, Shades of Grace has become a beacon of hope, demonstrating how faith and community can transform lives not just in Kingsport, but internationally with its outreach efforts in Nigeria that include providing fresh water, an orphanage, a school, and plans for a House of Worship.
Within its 87 pages, My Name is Legion... Faces from God's Living Room provides a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of compassion. Through the stories of those who have found refuge at Shades of Grace, Pastor Shewey invites readers to see the unhoused not as statistics but as beloved children of God. The book challenges us to extend kindness and understanding to the marginalized, reminding us that we are all shades of grace.
To obtain a free digital copy of the book, click here. For more information, please visit Shades of Grace’s Facebook page.