By Shelli McNutt
Shauna Xerri’s story begins far from the desert apartments where she now teaches English to refugee families. She was only eight years old when she first felt a stirring toward missions, unsure where God would send her, but sure of one thing: her life would be dedicated to serving Him. It wasn’t until Shauna homeschooled and graduated her 3 children that she began asking God where He was going to launch her into the world of missions.
That direction came in unexpected, God-arranged ways—through divine appointments with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) that opened the door for Shauna to pursue ESL certification. “Only God could have arranged it,” she often reflects. After her training, she simply waited to see where the Lord would lead.
Early Ministry Roots
Before Las Vegas, Shauna spent two summers with unreached people groups in Papua New Guinea during her college years. Then she moved to California, serving ESL learners in local outreach. That early season shaped her understanding of the Gospel and language: teaching English wasn’t just about words—it was about dignity, access, and open doors for faith.
Her passion deepened, but it wasn’t until she settled in Las Vegas that the call crystallized. While waiting on God’s next assignment, Shauna “just checked out” ways she could serve in her own city. That small yes led to Refugee Family Ministries—and it became her long-term calling.
Refugee Family Ministries: An Apartment Becomes a Classroom
Today, Shauna and her husband lead the very ministry where she once volunteered. Refugee Family Ministries runs out of a simple apartment complex where government agencies resettle refugee families. The location isn’t just convenient—it’s essential. Students can walk to class, babies and toddlers in tow, without worrying about transportation or child care.
The living room becomes a classroom, where Shauna teaches English to newcomers from Mexico, Nepal, Afghanistan, Liberia, and Venezuela and other countries all over the world. Here, she shapes lessons that both meet survival needs and weave in scripture, “teaching English through the Bible.” One room doubles as a children’s room, where volunteers engage toddlers and school-aged kids with fun, safe activities. A second room serves as a citizenship training space, where adults learn the Pledge of Allegiance, study U.S. presidents, prepare for the naturalization test, practice for a driver’s license exam, and even receive help with medical or school appointments.
Why Light of the World Learning Fits
The core of Shauna’s English teaching comes from Light of the World Learning (LOTW) resources. These materials, designed for early literacy, are powerful for adult learners because of their visual support, predictable structure, and scripture-centered themes.
A typical class begins with whole group activities: calendar practice, role-playing dialogues, and review of the last lesson. Afterward, learners split:
- Beginners gather in the living room, focusing on the alphabet, letter sounds, and fundamentals of reading and writing—skills some women have never been allowed to learn in their own countries.
- Intermediate learners move to the kitchen for small-group work with the LOTW curriculum, practicing practical dialogues about shopping, health, school, and community life and most importantly, learning to read through the Bible.
This structure meets everyone where they are, while holding the community together as one family.
Opening Doors Across Cultures and Religions
Shauna acknowledges the unique challenges of teaching English across so many religions, cultures, and educational backgrounds. Many women enter class without ever having been permitted to attend school. Some don’t know how to read or write even in their first language. Yet in this living room, with picture cards, mini-books, and scripture-based stories, they begin again—with dignity.
“It is not just about teaching English. It is about welcoming people into a safe place where they can learn, laugh, and know they are loved.”
LOTW’s structure supports this: “Jobs People Do,” “Things in My House,” “Going to the Market,” “Visiting Family”—all vocabulary tied to real life, supported by strong visuals, repeated patterns, and gentle faith integration. Shauna molds each lesson to the learners in front of her, always keeping doors open for the Gospel.
From Heart for Missions to Lasting Ministry
From a girl of eight with a heart for missions, to an English major waiting on God’s timing, to a homeschool mother who simply said yes—Shauna’s journey shows how small steps of obedience ripple into decades of ministry.
Now, in a Las Vegas apartment filled with babies’ laughter, new vocabulary, and prayers in many accents, Shauna Xerri helps refugees not only learn English but also glimpse the Light of the World Himself.