Grace Alumni Makes a World of Difference

Please enjoy this inspiring interview with Grace alumni, Shannon Sergey, class of 2003. 

Shannon, thank you taking the time to provide us with some of your thoughts about your time at Grace School and to give us an update on where the Lord has directed your path today.  Please give us a little history; what year did you graduate, what activities were you involved in and a favorite memeory you have from your years at Grace. I graduated from Grace in 2003 after being part of the elementary, junior high and high school programs. I was a basketball player and loved this sport and my team so much. I was also partof Encore and Jazz Choir with my future husband. So many pivotal moments in my life happened while I was at Grace. It was at Grace that for the first time I felt God prompting me to
share Biblical truth and convictions with my all classmates, and I was given the opportunity to do so during Chapel. This was the first of many times God would call me to do this. I learned how to sing from Christi Ebenhoch and sang my first solo at Grace, which was the moment I knew singing would be a deep part of the rest of my life.

I also met my husband at Grace, in 5th grade, at recess on the football field. And in 10th grade we fell in love. I also will never forget learning about Jesus from Mr. Long and watching him worship in chapel. Or the kind and sweet spirit of
Mrs. Escario, and the way we played practical jokes in her class. Or the history lessons from Mr. Koster. :)

How did Grace prepare you for life today? It was at Grace I learned to be confident in who I am in Christ, and in the person He made me. I was able to be both athletic and artistic, academic, and fun. I built friendships and relationships
that have lasted for decades. I learned from amazing teachers and faculty. I learned to work hard, and to structure my time to achieve success in academics or whatever it was I put my mind to.

After graduating from Grace, I attended Azusa Pacific University where I majored in Communications and Minored in Philosophy. By God’s grace, I currently serve as the Founder and CEO of Forever Found, a Faith based
Gospel focused nonprofit that has become the primary resource for all at risk and trafficked youth in Ventura County and the area around Ongole, India. It was in 2008 that God first opened my eyes to the reality of child trafficking. I knew in that moment it was what God was calling me to. I wrote on a piece of paper a promise to God. I said, “If you use my gifts and passion and skills
powerfully, I will give everything to you.” And He did. I started getting involved with LA based nonprofits combating human trafficking working with rescued youth, and after meeting the kids face to face, and hearing their stories, my heart broke even deeper. God gave me a song called “Daddy,” the story of one of the 13-year-old victims who shared their story with me. He then
brought a team around to produce this song and create an entire album. I then planned to launch the album to raise funds to combat child trafficking, and to create the first ever human trafficking awareness night in Ventura County. This is when Forever Found was born, and by other miracles, 1000 people showed up and I knew right away God had even more in store.

Today we have a staff of over 20 people, two offices in Ventura County, and one in India. We have almost 100 certified and trained Survivor Mentors from all local churches, dozens of volunteers, and contractors and most importantly, since our inception in 2010, we have provided life changing trauma informed care and programming, and shared the gospel, to over 1000 at risk and trafficked youth. We have also trained over 33,000 people on how to prevent, identify and respond to signs of human trafficking. We currently have almost 80 youth in our Direct Service Programs here in Ventura County, and 94 youth living in our rescue home in India. We are also opening the first trafficking-specific rescue home here in Ventura County in the city of Moorpark. It will
be called Freedom Ranch and will house all our Direct Services, including our equine therapy and become a beacon of light showing the love of Christ to the entire community.

Throughout this journey I have had the privilege of being married to Taylor my first Grace crush, we have been married for almost 18 years, and we have four amazing children. I could go on and on about them, three boys and one girl. Raising them is by far my most important job, and the biggest honor of my life. And if I have learned anything it is that my deepest desire and goal for this life is to end it by hearing “well done good and faithful servant, come and share in your
Master’s happiness.” Why? Because Jesus has become my everything. By God’s grace He is who I love most and who I need more than anything in the world. And I have learned more and more how much He loves me and delights in me, not because of anything I’ve done for him but because he chose me before the creation of the world. And if you are a follower of Jesus, he
loves you just the same.

Shannon, if you could pass along one piece of information to a current Grace student, what would you share with them?  Surround yourself with people who are happy and develop friendships with those who know God and want to enjoy
the blessings in this life in His way. Work hard to achieve your goals in academics and athletics as these skills will translate to your adult life. If you feel lonely or out of place, you are not. God loves you and if you know him, you have a purpose and will never be alone.

Is there anything additional you would like to add? Grace is awesome!!