I’m an open book.

I enjoy sharing hope for everyday life to others – from the mundane to the messy.  I am a Christian that is sensitive to those who don’t believe as I do, but are open to conversations about faith. I have many family members and friends that I care deeply about and yet we have different views. I enjoy prayerfully listening to those that want to grow spiritually or would like support as they lead others.    

I am an Army Veteran with military and law enforcement people in my family. My mother is Korean and Chinese; my dad is African-American raised in the South; and my step-mother is Filipina and Hawaiian. So that makes me bi-racial and multicultural as I’ve also lived in a few countries around the world from my time in the military and as a military spouse. 

I also identify as a happily married person (18+ years of working together to get to where we are today) to the only person on Earth who sometimes knows me better than I know myself. I am proud to be a mom to two wonderful people, one of whom just moved away to complete college out of state! I miss him more than I expected and am proud of how he is growing into himself.

I am a listener of stories and a lover of people. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t love ALL the things that people do, but I enjoy seeing people thrive and using all their gifts and talents. I think that’s why I’ve done so much learning, education, and personal work in areas that take advantage of and continue to develop my listening & interpersonal skills, resource-giving (empowering and advocacy) skills, and other soft skills. Currently, I am in the Transforming Communities 2026 cohort with Shalem Institute and participating in the “Full Communion Sacred Ground” program under the Episcopal Church.

I work as a Board Certified Chaplain as a new supervisor and am currently in the pre-admissions phase of becoming a Chaplain Educator Candidate and future Certified Educator. I am a trained Spiritual Director and have a Spiritual Director. I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015 and graduated with my Masters in Divinity with a concentration on Spiritual Formation and Discipleship in 2024. 

I have done a lot of things in my past- good and bad. I won’t detail it all out here (I’m really talking to myself here) because that’d be too long and probably boring to you- unless you’re a person like me!! Anyway, what I’m most excited about is probably whatever is happening right now. Check out my Events & Resources page if you want to join me. Or sign up for Spiritual Direction with me if you’d like to experience what working with me would be like. I am also very interested in working with groups/organizations to aid in collaborating together to discern transformative change. Finally, I am available for pulpit supply preaching (aka substitute preacher) if you’d like me to prepare and deliver a Word to your church body. 

I like having deep/honest conversations in person and online. I also enjoy art, live music, watching movies with popcorn, and being outside in nature (minus the mosquitoes). I love eating good food and am known to ‘talk smack’ when playing games.

I leave digital footprints on social media (IG, YT, & FB) as “@SejanaShines” and via my blog here on SejanaShines, on Substack (more candid thoughts) or LinkedIn.