Shannon Beador is best known as one of the main cast members on Bravo’s hit reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” Throughout her time on the show, glimpses into Shannon’s personal life have revealed that she was raised Christian and continues to practice Christianity.
Early Life and Upbringing
According to interviews and biographical information, Shannon Storms was born in 1964 in Southern California and grew up in the Anaheim Hills area along with her siblings and parents.
The Beador family attended church on Sundays when Shannon was growing up. In a 2018 interview, Shannon shared that religion had always played an important role in her life:
“I grew up going to church with my family every Sunday. That time each week really became something I looked forward to and cherished.”
So although specifics are lacking regarding precisely what denomination or church the Beador family belonged to, it does seem clear that Shannon was raised in the Christian faith.
Marriage to David Beador
In 2000, Shannon married her now ex-husband David Beador. David was also raised as a practicing Christian, specifically in the Lutheran Church.
Throughout their 17-year marriage and while raising their three daughters, religion continued to be an aspect of family life for the Beadors. They attended weekly services at Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel, which is located in Mission Viejo, CA.
Calvary Chapel is a network of evangelical, non-denominational Christian churches. As the name suggests, Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel adheres to a Bible-based theology with teachings that align with general evangelical Christian beliefs.
Calvary Chapel Beliefs and Practices
Some of the core doctrinal beliefs include:
- Bible is the true, authoritative Word of God
- Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ
- The Trinity – God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- Water baptism and regular communion
- Importance of outreach, missions and evangelism
So during her married years and child-rearing phase of life, Shannon regularly attended services and events grounded in these types of evangelical Christian beliefs. Her daughters Sophie, Adeline and Stella were also being raised in the Calvary Chapel tradition.
Divorce and After
Shannon and David Beador finalized their divorce in 2019 after separating in 2017. Shannon retained primary custody of their three daughters.
Since then, specific details have not emerged regarding whether Shannon still actively practices her Christian faith. But given her religious upbringing and many years attending Calvary Chapel, it is likely her faith still remains an important aspect of her life.
Shannon does often post inspirational quotes and messages containing spiritual themes to her social media pages. This indicates she still connects to Christian religious beliefs on some level.
In the absence of more definitive statements or disclosure from Shannon herself, the conclusion based on available evidence is that she was raised and spent much of her adult life practicing evangelical Christianity. Whether she currently belongs to or attends any one specific church is ambiguous. But Christianity does appear to still influence Shannon’s perspective and values.
Comparison to Other Real Housewives’ Religious Backgrounds
As a cast member on RHOC for several years, viewers have gotten to know Shannon Beador fairly well. Especially compared to her co-stars on the show.
Tamra Judge
For example, fellow RHOC housewife Tamra Judge was not raised religious. But she converted to Christianity after meeting and marrying her second husband Simon Barney, who was a practicing Christian. Tamra was even baptized in a bathtub on the show shortly after converting.
Heather Dubrow
Meanwhile, housewife Heather Dubrow has stated that she is half-Jewish on her mother’s side but does not actively practice any religion.
Gina Kirschenheiter
Newer O.C. housewife Gina Kirschenheiter has not shared much about her religious orientation or beliefs either.
So among her current and former Real Housewives peers and co-stars, Shannon Beador stands out as the one who has been shown to be the most consistently dedicated to Christianity and her faith practice over the years.
Could Faith Play a Bigger Role in Shannon’s Life Now?
Given that Shannon’s divorce only finalized within the past couple years, she is likely still in a period of transition and re-building her new life as a single mom. Some speculate that rediscovering her faith community at Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel or finding a supportive new church to attend could be helpful for Shannon during this adjustment phase.
Having a network of people to socialize with, gain counsel from, lean on in times of stress or need encouragement is valuable for most anyone going through major life changes. But the unique dynamic of spiritual fellowship and guidance offered by churches and house of worship can be especially powerful.
So there is certainly potential that Shannon’s Christian beliefs and religious participation could start occupying a larger role in her life. Both she and her children may appreciate and benefit from that source of spiritual support.
Only time will tell what is in store for the next chapter of Shannon Beador’s life, including what part her faith practice might play. Fans and viewers are sure to keep an eye out for any updates or more details related to Shannon’s current religious affiliation and involvement.
For now, the best document facts indicate she was raised in Christianity, became a dedicated evangelical Christian while married and raising children, and likely continues to embrace some measure of her Christian beliefs still today.
When Did Shannon First Join RHOC Cast?
Shannon was one of the few “Real Housewives” to join during the ninth season of the Bravo hit show “The Real Housewives of Orange County”, which aired in 2014.
She shared that she was very reluctant to join the show at first, but viewers were immediately drawn to Shannon for her honesty and openness about showing the realities of her crumbling marriage to David Beador amid his affair and issues with their children. Fans admired her strength and vulnerability in coping with very traumatic personal issues in the public eye.
Background on RHOC Debut
Initially turning down offers to join RHOC several times over the years, what finally motivated Shannon was a desire to bring more “realness” back to the show. She had watched past seasons that focused heavily on depicting lavish lifestyles. Shannon wanted an opportunity to share a more authentic view into the constant work of maintaining family relationships and coping with inevitable ups and downs of life.
From the minute she first appeared on RHOC in 2014 for Season 9, Shannon’s storyline did exactly that. Viewers felt they were getting a raw, uncensored look into how she handled discovering her husband’s infidelity, their attempts to save the marriage, and Shannon’s emotional struggles with her daughters during this process.
Almost immediately, fans gravitated towards this kind of honest portrayal of the “reality” behind the “reality TV” façade. And Shannon has remained a central RHOC housewife ever since.
Shannon’s Religious Background Before Joining Show
As covered earlier, Shannon Beador was raised by a devout Christian family and also became deeply involved with David at the Calvary Chapel church during her marriage.
So prior to ever becoming part of the Real Housewives television franchise, Shannon had already spent about four decades as a dedicated evangelical Christian. Her Christian faith was an engrained part of her identity and daily life even before fans got to know her on TV.
That background and long history with Christianity then appeared to help anchor and support Shannon when she began opening up her personal life to television audiences in 2014. Viewers witnessed first-hand how much courage and resilience Shannon’s faith seemed to give her during intensely difficult times with her marriage, divorce, and family issues.
Many fans commented on how she frequently gave God the credit for giving her strength to get through painful situations unfolding on camera. Her continued reliance on her religious beliefs through it all made clear that Christianity plays a huge foundational role behind-the-scenes in Shannon’s life.
That underscoring faith system served as Shannon’s spiritual bedrock then when she embarked on the scary journey of reality television vulnerability in 2014 at age 50. And it still seems to nurture and uplift Shannon today through all of life’s ongoing ups and downs.
What Churches Has Shannon Attended?
Based on scenes shown across Shannon’s eight seasons and counting on RHOC, the only church she has been depicted as actively attending is Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel in Mission Viejo, CA.
Shannon had already been a member along with then-husband David Beador and their daughters for some time before becoming part of RHOC. The show then simply documented Shannon continuing her weekly worship services, women’s fellowship meetings, and holiday celebrations at the church.
Calvary Chapel represented a foundational piece of Shannon’s social network and support system while filming the tumultuous unraveling of her 25-year marriage. So it is perhaps unsurprising that producers chose to capture footage of Shannon leaning on her church community during that excruciating life chapter.
Churches Has Shannon Attended
Calvary Chapel represented a foundational piece of Shannon’s social network and support system while filming the tumultuous unraveling of her 25-year marriage. So it is perhaps unsurprising that producers chose to capture footage of Shannon leaning on her church community during that excruciating life chapter.
No other churches or houses of worship have been shown or referenced as part of Shannon’s religious life before or since joining RHOC. But there are still opportunities ahead to perhaps see Shannon attend or try other denominations or congregations besides her longtime Calvary Chapel home.
For the past eight years at least, Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel does seem to be the only visible and specifically identified church playing a role in Shannon Beador’s Christian faith walk.
Shannon Meet First Husband David
Shannon and David Beador have known one another since meeting as freshmen at the University of Southern California in the 1980s. However, they did not begin dating until several years later.
In 1987, David asked a friend for Shannon’s phone number after reconnecting at a USC football game they both attended. The friend, who was Shannon’s old roommate, warned David that Shannon was not interested in casual dating and was “looking for a husband.”
Luckily David took that as encouragement rather than a warning. He asked Shannon on a date, she said yes, and the rest is history. They dated for three years before David proposed at the restaurant where they shared their first date.
After marrying in 2000, they went on to have three daughters together and remained married for 17 years before separating in 2017 and finalizing their divorce in 2019.
How Faith Played a Role From the Start
Religion and spiritual connection were bonding forces as Shannon and David’s relationship deepened. Coming from similar evangelical Christian backgrounds, their shared faith served as a cornerstone of the marriage and family they created.
In Shannon’s 2017 memoir titled “It’s Hard to Be the Diamond in a Rhinestone World,” she shared:
“David and I had a shared belief system and moral code that was intrinsically linked to our faith. That formed the foundation we built our marriage and family on from day one. Religion helped us stay aligned on so many important fronts as life got more complicated.”
So while college sweethearts at first, Shannon also credits that jointly embraced belief system rooted in Christianity as a key factor allowing their connection to go the distance into marriage and beyond.
Divorce Impacted Shannon’s Faith or Church Involvement
Shannon Beador memorably once proclaimed an intention to make her cheating ex-husband David’s life a “living hell” after their split. Understandably, walking through divorce after 17 years involves immense grief, anger and frustration.
However when reflecting on that raw time of breaking ties in the public eye, Shannon has shared how prayer and faith proved vital for self-preservation:
“Honestly sometimes my conversations with God were me screaming, crying, asking why…but calm clarity set in after those chats where I could take steps forward.”
Rather than turning her back on the religion also shared with her ex-spouse, Shannon seems to have leaned harder into her Christian spirituality throughout separation and divorce proceedings.
Whether to maintain normalcy for her daughters, cling to communities that support unconditional love, or simply to process devastating betrayal on her own terms, Shannon did not cut ties with Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel along with cutting ties with David. If anything, rediscovering love and identity by way of God likely empowered Shannon’s capability to dissolve a marriage with someone else who once filled those roles.
And today several years into new chapters post-divorce, inner peace clearly shines from a mended Shannon as her faith still anchors retaking the reins in her life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, reality star and RHOC ‘wife Shannon Beador, at her core, is a devout Christian clearly nourished by genuine spiritual connection cultivated over decades.
From childhood roots to a 25-year marriage centered around church community, biblical values permeate Shannon’s essence. And even the muddiest life passages have ultimately polished Shannon’s ability to shine her light as an testament to overcoming hardship with faith as a guide.
FAQs Related to Shannon Beador’s Religion
What church does Shannon Beador go to?
Shannon attended Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel for many years during her marriage to David Beador. It is unknown if she currently actively attends there or elsewhere.
Was Shannon Beador raised religious?
Shannon has shared she grew up with her family regularly attending Christian church services and events.
Is Shannon still religious?
It appears religion is likely still important to Shannon based on her social media posts containing inspirational faith-based messages. But she hasn’t openly discussed specifics recently related to practicing Christianity.
What faith are the Real Housewives typically?
Faiths and denominations vary widely among members of Real Housewives franchises. As a whole, Christianity seems to be the most commonly practiced religion but Jewish, New Age, secular, and personal spiritual beliefs are also represented by many cast members.
Do viewers know Shannon’s sisters’ or parents’ religious affiliations?
Shannon’s family members have never been featured on RHOC. Only Shannon’s storylines get developed on the show, so background details on the rest of Shannon’s family remain unclear. Their faith practices and beliefs have not come up in Shannon’s limited references to her parents and siblings over the years on RHOC.