Shawnda is a teenage believer who resided in the plantation house of the Southern contingent of the Young Tribulation Force. She only appears in The Rise of False Messiahs and has one line of dialogue.
Context[]
Judd Thompson Jr. and Lionel Washington arrived back at the United States in South Carolina with the expectation of rendezvousing with the Young Tribulation Force in Avery, Wisconsin by walking there or hitching rides with fellow believers there. Judd and Lionel noticed that Tom Gowin was captured by bounty hunters, Max and Albert, and tried to rescued them. They were captured by Max and Albert, but Tom Gowin's brother Luke rescued them. Carl Meninger, a member of the southern contingent, who had a communication from Chang Wong who informed the southern contingent about the Global Community's bounty hunter program urged Judd and Lionel to stay with them until they knew more about the bounty hunter operations.
Shawnda's Appearance[]
In a group meeting, Judd voiced his criticism of the organization and leadership at the plantation house. Judd said that everyone just follows Tom and Luke, without considering the insight and opinion of the other members. Carl Meninger justified this by saying that someone had to be in-charge and decisive, instead of voting on everything, otherwise, they might not have helped out Judd and Lionel.
Judd objected by acknowledging that there had to be leaders, but if others only follow, then they would feel left out.
Shawnda spoke up, saying that at the last hideout, people did come up with their own ideas, but they let someone in who ratted them out to the Global Community.
Earlier, Carl Meninger explained that the southern contingent used to live on a small island, which would not be a pleasant olfactory experience during the second Bowl Judgment. When Judd and Lionel first arrived to South Carolina, they overheard Max and Albert talking about how they have a lead on the people who were holed up on an island, which they estimated from the tracks and other stuff left behind, had about twenty-five to thirty people. When Lionel and Judd rescued Tom Gowin, who was bound in a Max and Albert's camper with two dead undecideds, Tom acknowledged that there had been believers inhabiting an island but someone was careless and alerted the Global Community to the island. Carl Meninger had explained that they moved to the plantation house. Meninger said that what the GC had meant for evil, God has used for good, since the plantation house was more spacious and commodious and it taught them a painful lesson about being more careful of the people that they trust. The plantation house consisted of about twenty people whose oldest members were a couple in their fifties after Luke encouraged them to read Tsion Ben-Judah's website. The youngest were people slightly older than Judd whose ancestors were African slaves who felt strange living in the plantation house. It is likely that one of these people was Shawnda.
Judd qualified his stance saying that the aim is not that everyone has a vote so that they would rule by majority, but to ensure that others can contribute their own ideas and talents to the group effort. Lionel support Judd's stance by citing Proverbs about the wisdom of numbers as "one does not go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors" (Proverbs 24:5-7).
Luke said that he wished Tom was here, but he was on watch duty. Luke said he was willing to hear the people out. However, everyone looked each other nervously.
Shawnda cleared her throat and was about to speak up, but she was interrupted by two short beeps from the the intercom system. Tom had spotted movement in the marsh area and noted that someone was headed to the plantation house. Immediately, the group went into action and performed routines to make the plantation house look like that no one has lived there. For example, they gathered dishes and silverware and hid them upstairs.
Carl Meninger introduced an intercom system that the Young Tribulation Force would be using. It is approximately three inches square and can reside near someone's ears. It allows one to communicate with everyone in the group on a moment's notice, and it is voice-activated. Since they are in a situation of heightened alert due to the establishment of the bounty hunter program, they encouraged everyone to wear one.
The two people walking towards the house were the siblings Lee and Brooke McCarty who were GC operatives who had concealed their marks of loyalty. They had and met with Judd, Lionel, Luke, and Tom Gowin. Lee and Brooke had a discussion with Judd, Lionel, Luke, and Tom about who they were and what were they doing on the property. Eventually, Lionel led them in the sinner's prayer, but they did not receive the mark of the believer, yet the acted as if they really converted. The group decided to accommodate Lee and Brooke McCarty, while concealing the presence of the other believers residing in the plantation house, so they can have escape later. The group had bugs in the plantation house, so they confirmed that they were GC operatives with concealed marks on their foreheads. In a few days, Brooke and Lee called a raid on the house under the impression that the group would bring in other believers to the plantation house that day. Just before the raid, Shawnda and the other inhabitants of the house were able to furtively evacuate the plantation house and go to another safe house in Barnwell, Georgia. The Gowin brothers, Judd, and Lionel were able to avoid being caught in the raid.
Since Carl Meninger who was apart of their contingent had survived to the Glorious Appearing, it is likely that Shawnda had eluded the GC and survived to the Glorious Appearing.
Appearances[]
- 35. The Rise of False Messiahs (only appearance)