Jaque Banas Shank (1945 – 2017) blazed a trail for others. She began her spiritual journey when she could no longer ignore her growing thirst for God. Through her eventual involvement in church and Bible study, Jaque developed a sincere love for the integrity of God’s word. Still, she reached a point in the 1970’s when she was desperate to know if God would personally address her needs and concerns.
Relational by nature, Jaque asked the Lord to speak directly into her life. The Lord answered her irrefutable ache by whispering the word journalize in her heart. Finding the word in a dictionary, she knew He wanted her to write the words He would speak to her into a journal book, as a form of on-going dialogue. Through the practice, Jaque learned that growth is a personal process best facilitated with the Holy Spirit as the Teacher. As Jaque sought to maintain a daily surrender, she exercised grace and discipline to make journalizing a regular point of contact, a place where she could dive deeper into the wells of His presence.
Journalizing yielded transformational insights from God’s word and she began sharing from her journals in small groups. Jaque was encouraged by her pastors and spiritual mentors to write a bible study. Her first, Miracle in the Mirror, opened a door for believers to examine their identification in Christ while experiencing intimacy with the Lord through journalizing.
In her lifetime, Jaque penned eight bible study manuals, numerous booklets and articles, and recorded audio lectures to accompany her eight primary studies. She was a dynamic teacher, speaker, and author. Jaque made several appearances on the Trinity Broadcasting Network where her work was introduced worldwide and received by thousands. After her appearances on TBN, Jaque received a ‘Golden Halo’ award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council; she was honored for ‘outstanding public service providing educational and cultural merit’. Jaque was tutored, credited, and recognized by several prominent Christian figures, but she always honored the Holy Spirit as her primary Source and Teacher.
Jaque had a vision to help people turn their desire to hear God into a consistent lifestyle. She eventually founded Visionwriters International, Incorporated, a California nonprofit ministry, in an effort to help turn good intentions into positive action through a simple strategy. Jaque knew that once believers experienced dialogue with God through journalizing His word, they would want to do it daily, but that they may not know how to follow-through on their good intentions. Visionwriters International was born from the angst in her heart to help people overcome that obstacle.
The study manuals and lectures of Jaque Banas Shank are available to all who desire a more intimate relationship with God. Jaque believed her studies were best utilized within the structure of a committed bible study group, but she maintained hope that anyone with a heart to connect with God would find them, use them, and experience lasting change.