ALA Staff
Abundant Life Academy Staff"To be called to raise up young people for Christ, tomorrow's future leaders, is the ultimate honor. God has called us to be a living sacrifice, to lay down our lives, and to lead others to the Excellency that God has preordained before the foundation of the world..." -Craig Rogers Called to Serve Troubled Teenage Boys and Girls and their FamiliesCraig & Wendy Rogers
Donna Zetts
Rod Quarnberg
Rod and his wife, Kim, have lived in Kanab Utah for the past 22 years where they have enjoyed raising four wonderful children that range in age from 24 to 16. His family and his faith are two of his greatest passions in life. During his time teaching at Kanab High School, Rod earned his master degree in education with an administration endorsement. This opened the door for him to go full time into administration at Abundant Life Academy.Rod now enjoys an opportunity to affect young people as never before. He also enjoys all sports but is most passionate about golf. He enjoys his position at ALA very much.
Bill Sorbe
Due to health issues, the time came when I had to choose between my public school of 35 years and my new found home at ALA. I troubled over it, but not for very long. I felt the Holy Spirit had led me to this place and these kids and this wonderful staff and I knew the decision was made for me long before I arrived on the scene.
A personal profile is just that: very personal. However, there are a couple of things I will share about my feelings toward my work at Abundant Life Academy. I love my work as a counselor, teacher, assistant administrator and academic director. I enjoy the challenge of helping these young people achieve some of what God has planned for them. I look at my experience at ALA not just as a job. It is that, and it is a good job. I have entrusted into my care, these wonderful young people who have needs that I can help them resolve; there are goals I can help them attain. They have been entrusted to me to care for them and I feel I have been provided the wisdom to know what to do to help this small group of God’s choicest spirits. This is not just a job to me, this is a sacred trust. I feel that I am in the right place at the right time to help these young people. I feel that the experiences I have had through the years have helped prepare me to assume this position of trust – this Sacred Trust. To this, I dedicate myself to help as many as I can for as long as I can in any way that I can.
Susan Maehre
I am not like those who can point to a specific moment in time when they experienced a dramatic conversion. For me it has been an on-going work in progress as I get to know God through Bible study, prayer and sharing. Through various life experiences God has been teaching me to trust Him more fully. But like most of us, I am a slow learner, so he has had to use trials to help me grow. In the changing and uncertain times in which we live, I take comfort in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. One of my favorite Bible promises taken from Psalm 23 is, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This helps me live for today with hope and courage.
As a counselor, who is also a Christian, the purpose of my work encompasses more than simply helping people grow so that life on this earth can be improved. As opportunity presents itself I like to cast a vision for the unseen realities. I like to think I am creating a link in the connection between my clients and God. For various reasons many struggle with trusting others and are reluctant to explore spiritual resources. Obviously, how can they trust God if they have never trusted people? I am passionate about providing a healing environment that fosters trust in the fearful, hope in the hopeless, and the achievement of worthwhile goals and achievements. Last, but certainly not least, my work will include the fostering of open lines of communication between teens and adults. In a time when just the opposite is promoted by the culture around us, this is not a small task. But with God and teamwork, I believe this is possible.
My husband, Bob, and I currently reside in Hurricane, Utah. We have three adult children, and two grandchildren. Most of our extended family live approximately 2000 miles away, as I am originally from New Jersey, and my husband is a Michigander.
Wendy L. Riddle-Henderson
As you can see God has gifted me with a tremendous heart and passion for working with struggling (I do not like the term 'troubled') teens and their families! About 5 years ago I was sitting in the same position that you are now. With all my years of training and experience in the court system, churches, and various organizations, I was unable to help my own daughter. Her life was spiraling out of control and I was searching for help. I discovered Abundant Life Academy (ALA) the same way that you did. I sat down at my computer, cried out to God for help and ALA popped up on the screen! It was abundantly clear within the first four months of my daughter's enrollment at ALA that God was definitely calling me to this powerful and life changing ministry! I have now been with ALA for five years and it has been an amazing, life altering experience. I have served as Program Director/Mexico, Lead Life Coach, Director of Admissions, Assistant Program Director/Utah, Family Representative, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, Janitor, and surrogate mother! No matter what role God places me in at ALA His sweet spirit continues to flow through my life and the lives of our Staff, Students and Parents. Working as the Program Director & Family Rep for ALA allows me to work directly with all of our Staff, Students, and Parents. Working with our students and their parents to truly reach family restoration is my true calling. This powerful ministry has drastically changed the landscape of my life as the Holy Spirit moves through me to powerfully change the lives of others. The journey has not always been easy as God has allowed me to be stretched to the point of almost breaking, however, the growth in my personal, professional, and spiritual life as made it all worth it.
Jeanine Johnson
I married young, not having attended college, and moved to Kanab in 1974. Within the next six years I had four beautiful daughters. They were all actually born in the building that now houses Abundant Life Academy! When my youngest child, Stefani, entered elementary school, I took the opportunity to take some college classes that were offered in Kanab by Southern Utah University. I had begun to realize that my life and freedoms were profoundly limited by lack of higher education, and so college was the obvious answer. Within the next two years, I had earned a scholarship and earned my teaching certificate, as well. God blessed my life incredibly, and because of his merciful guidance, I graduated summa cum laude. The local middle school hired me before I had finished my last quarter of school. After teaching for several years, I decided to begin school again, and worked toward my Masters Degree in Psychology for the next couple of years, while also teaching at Kanab Middle School. I received my degree and became licensed to do school counseling. I was later hired by my school as the part-time school counselor, part-time teacher, which is my status at this time. My four daughters and one stepson grew up, married, and have blessed me with fifteen grandchildren, the highlights of my life. I am most happy when with them-and sometimes their parents! They are scattered throughout Utah and some in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I began working at Aboundant Life Academy only a few months after it opened. I remember there being twelve boys and perhap six girls. I was a tutor for a few years, with my daily direction and help coming from Pastor Sandy, who became a great friend with whom I still stay in touch. I now do some individual counseling and teach an English class for the second and third phase students. I love my job and enjoy working with the incredible students at Abundant Life Academy. Kathy Reese
Many of the staff at ALA have had teens in our program, and I’m no exception. I had been raising my grandson, Austin, since he was seven, and like all the other ALA parents; I got to the place where I wasn’t able to discipline him effectively at home. I turned to ALA for help, and I placed Austin in the standard nine-month program. After he had been in the program for a few months, I asked Austin what he thought would have happened to him if he didn’t go to ALA. He said, “I’d probably be dead”. I then understood the depths of his problems and was more convinced than ever that I made the right choice to ask for ALA’s help. In my opinion, they saved Austin’s life, and I wanted to repay them in any way that I could. I understood that the parent-coaching position might be coming available, so I interviewed for it and became the new parent-coach. I could really feel God’s hand in this decision. The position of Parent Coach was right down my alley since I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I’ve always taken a special interest in couples. I am able to work from my home, located in the mountains of Southern California, which is a wonderful benefit for me. I do my parent-coaching sessions by phone, calling the parents for five hour-long sessions spaced a about week apart. These parents read some very informative books and literature, and I help them understand the concepts. I attend the special parent workshops that we hold in Kanab every other month, and this time at the Academy helps me connect with both the kids and the staff, as well as to meet in person the parents I’ve been working with by phone. I also lead the Love and Logic portion of the workshop.
Kevin Johnson
I have had many other jobs including mining, drilling, auto mechanics and various others, I say jobs because they were just that “jobs” but not true careers or life callings. I have worked with other organizations dealing with young people who are in need of new outlook on life. ALA is the only one of these that has focused on restoring the family as well as teaching the students life skills. Glorifying God and family restoration is the key to helping these young people progress. I started my career at ALA as a life coach then progressed to lead life coach. I am now working as Assistant Program Director in the boys’ academy. There are many aspects of my position working with teens that are very fulfilling. I have to say though that when, years later, after a student has graduated, to hear from them. The pride and excitement they share with me about a new job, an acceptance to college, or a wonderful experience with their family gives me a sense of fulfillment that cannot be replaced. I look forward to many more years mentoring and helping young people learning the skills necessary to be leaders in life.
Britney Judd
Lori Ferguson
Realizing that early retirement, semi or not, is not all that it’s cracked up to be, Lori launched a job search. She prayerfully booted up her laptop and tried a local job search site. An advertisement for Life Coach at Abundant Life Academy was posted just 1 hour before. The description of the position sounded like home and Lori felt almost a near panic in responding to the ad, even though she had not done this type of work before. Lori felt uniquely qualified due to her own poor choices as a teen that carried a ripple affect of life challenges into her early thirties. Free from the bonds of drugs for 20 years and sober from alcohol for 12 years, Lori felt she may be able to share her experience, strength and hope to ALA students who struggle from the same. Abundant Life Academy Administration agreed and gave Lori the job as Life Coach in September of 2009. Since Lori’s sobriety, her Christian upbringing experienced a rebirth in her life and she realized the unlikely chain of events that brought Lori to ALA was no doubt spirit lead. Lori has stated, “Never before have I had a job or career that has brought me more joy and satisfaction than my work at ALA.” She truly loves her work and is personally invested in the lives and challenges of our ALA students and parents. Currently, Lori holds the position of Family Restoration Representative/Assistant Program Director. She also is working on bringing 12 step recovery programs to the ALA campus and has been accused of bringing her work home with her from time to time! Lori is committed to serving our Lord Jesus Christ with this ministry for as long as she is called. Shawn Breeden
Shawn grew up in the valley of Arizona and received his calling to ministry while in the ninth grade. Throughout high school, Shawn worked as summer camp counselors, lead worship and taught classes for younger students. While at Harding, Shawn was involved in student leadership, performing arts and was the starting goalie for the soccer team. Shawn and Autumn met during his first ministry internship during the summer of 1997. Upon graduation from college, Shawn took his first full time ministry position with the Northeast church of Christ in Eastpointe, MI. Their first son, Troy, was born in May of 2004. Shawn and Autumn’s lives were impacted significantly in the fall of 2007 when their second child, Cadee, passed away at the age of 3 months to SIDS. By the grace of God and with the support of their friends and family, Shawn and Autumn have answered the new calling on their life: to minister to hurting people. A year later Dasha Sinclair (whose name means “gift of God through prayer”) was born. God’s call to Utah came at a most unexpected time, yet through prayer and other evidence, it was clear that God was moving the Breeden’s to Kanab. While working in student ministry, Shawn has been on mission trips to Mexico, Tennessee, Canada, New Orleans, and part of the upper peninsula in Michigan. Additionally, Shawn has spoken at various conferences to audiences ranging from several hundred to several thousand. He has coordinated several student and family conferences. Shawn most enjoys spending time one on one, or with small groups of students talking with them about their faith journey. He enjoys talking about “hard” questions. One of Shawn’s core beliefs is that the truth has nothing to hide, and as such, we as believers and followers of the Truth should be willing to answer the questions about our faith. Shawn’s personal faith commitment is driven mainly from two scriptures: Joy White
Joy has lived in multiple U.S. states and spent three years living overseas in England. Her father was also a Pentecostal preacher with very strict moral standards. Joy became quite rebellious of her parent’s ideals and tried to live life on her own standards. Though she never gave up her belief in God, she simply wanted to do things her own way, regardless of the consequences or what she had learned of right and wrong from her religious background. Eventually this led to her becoming pregnant at age 17 and a single mom at age 18. She decided to raise her son on her own as she attended college on scholarships full-time and worked part-time at a daycare, taking advantage of reduced tuition for Jordan. She rededicated her life to God as she came to the realization that she was no longer living for herself, but now had the added responsibility of raising a child. She was determined that he would be raised in a Christian home. Joy went to the University of South Florida and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She then started a career in teaching in Florida Public Schools. She has taught Kindergarten, 1st grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade. She also volunteered as an Assistant Youth Pastor, Bible Quiz Official, Fine Arts Choreographer, and Missions’ Trip Coordinator and Leader.
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God gave Craig Rogers a vision over 30 years ago. The vision was about ministering and leading others out of the wilderness, a vision of healing and wellness. This vision shaped and molded Craig's personality and character over the course of his life. For a long time it did not seem that the vision would ever materialize. Craig was a troubled teen, lost, and on a pathway of total destruction. Craig was wrapped up in the ways of the world, and the epitome of the unmotivated gifted individual. Even though Craig possessed great potential and incredible leadership qualities, he was leading himself and others in the wrong direction. Then God did a mighty work, stretching out His hand and touched Craig's heart. Craig's transformation was on the same level as was Paul's as he walked along the road to Damascus. Craig carries a God-ordained call to reach the hearts of teens with the love of God.
Donna Zetts is a former parent of Abundant Life Academy, and intimately aware of what parents go through when faced with a troubled teen. Donna’s experience with her troubled son sent her to her knees in search of God’s plan for his life. In the process, Donna got reacquainted with her Lord and Savior, and her relationship deepened and enriched her life in every way. Additionally, Donna became so involved in the experience of her son’s restoration she ended up joining the Abundant Life Academy ministry and is currently ALA’s President, Student Loan Director, as well as a board member.
Rod Quarnberg has been a part of the ALA team since August of 2005. Rod came to ALA as the principal after serving for 19 years as a teacher, coach and administrator in the public school system. Rod was raised on a cattle ranch in central Utah and completed his bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University. He then taught math for 19 years, 18 of which were in Kanab Utah. He was an assistant football coach for 10 of those years and a head football coach for 8 years, was an assistant basketball coach also for 10 of those years and athletic administrator for 6 years.
Leaving the public school after 35 years of teaching, counseling and administration was very difficult. It was, however made much easier by my having been introduced to another avenue of education: teaching in a private Christian school. I taught part time at Abundant Life Academy in Kanab, Utah for the last two years I counseled in my public school. The experience changed my life. I was working with students form all over the country, mostly “entitled” by having been given too much without the expectation of the natural reciprocal responsibilities. I soon found they were no different than any other students with whom I had ever worked. They had needs too. And, part of what they needed, I could give them. I’m an educator by trade but I am also a dedicated Christian. I love the scriptures and feel that some of the best lessons of life are contained therein. I love being able to hold a kid accountable for his school work but also can feel very comfortable discussing how a particular life’s lesson is contained in scripture. The Gospel is a very important part of my everyday life and I truly delight in being able to discuss the age-old concepts with kids without fear of complaint or recrimination. I also encourage students to read the scriptures every day and say their prayers every day. I let them know that there is untold strength in being humble before God.
I am grateful to have been raised in a Christian home from my earliest years. My father, who was a minister, and my mother, a homemaker, were dedicated to the Lord and taught my older brother, sister and me valuable life principles. It was through their words and example that I learned I have a loving Heavenly Father who is concerned about me and intimately involved with all the details of my life. I believed that God had a special purpose for my life, utilizing my particular gifts and talents for Him. At the age of 11, I had the privilege of being baptized by my father. By the age of 12, I was sharing my musical talents in the church, playing the piano for services, and several years later, through my singing. Through the years I have had many opportunities to share my faith through music, including marketing over 60 compact discs through our family-owned and operated home record company. In addition to music, I have been able to help others through the simple act of “listening,” empathizing, and facilitating growth and healing.
I am the Program Director/Family Rep for Abundant Life Academy. My background includes facilitating and teaching court ordered parenting classes for at risk families, being a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children, working with at risk teens in local churches and schools, serving as a Youth Director, and teen mission trips coordinator.
Born in St. George, Utah, I have lived in the state for all but seven years of my fifty-three. I have three younger siblings and one parent still living. I spent much of my teenage era on a dairy farm northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada and went to school in Moapa Valley in Overton Nevada. It was hot, dry, ugly and I loved it there. Then my parents moved us back to Glendale, Utah where my mother was born. I was very unhappy about the move and was not very easy to live with for a while! Life at home was rather difficult for many reasons.
I am the Parent Coach at Abundant Life Academy. Here at ALA, we believe that it’s important to not only work with the teens but also to work with the parents. We want to help provide new tools for the parents so that when their teen graduates from our program, these parents are better equipped to work with their child at home. We believe that if a teen graduates from our program and goes home, if there have been no changes in the home, he or she is apt to slip back into old negative patterns, since their environment has remained the same. In addition to helping equip the parents with new tools, I also serve as the liaison between the parents and the Academy, helping the new parents adjust to the Academy and its rules and guidelines. I’m always a listening ear if a parent has questions or concerns, and I’m usually able to help them find the right path to receiving the help they need from the staff at the ALA facility.
I grew up in Southern Utah and have lived with my wife Stacy in the Kanab area for the past 27 years. Together we have raise 2 children and have 2 beautiful grand daughters. The educational literature we use for ongoing training at ALA would have been very beneficial in raising my own family.
Britney was born and raised in Kanab, Utah and am the oldest of three girls. My parents, myself, and two younger sisters worked a family ranch where we raised and trained horses. As a teenager I was very active in 4H and High School Rodeo where I competed in Barrel racing and Pole Bending. I was married in 1996 and have two daughters. My hobbies include camping, hiking, wakeboarding, four-wheeling, hunting, and of course training horses. My husband is a General Contractor and we also own and operate a horse boarding facility Sand Creek Stables. Myself and my two daughters train and race Barrel Horses in which we have won many state titles. My most recent accomplishment is being Eagala certified as an equine specialist ( equine assisted psychotherapy). I am currently working with ALA in doing a Horsemanship program with teens.
Lori Ferguson moved to Kanab, Utah shortly after her husband Dave’s retirement from CAL Fire in 2006. Lori also worked for CAL Fire as Administrator of the Injured Worker Protection Program. They vacationed regularly in Southern Utah and planned to make the area their eventual retirement destination. Lori decided to pull the plug on her career at CAL Fire in order to allow her husband to enjoy retirement life with all that Southern Utah had to offer. Both Lori and Dave were also concerned with raising their, then, pre teen daughters in a more positive community, free of smog and traffic.
Shawn Breeden currently serves as our Director of Ministry and has been with Abundant Life Academy since November of 2009. Shawn has been involved in student ministry for over a decade. Prior to joining the ALA team, Shawn served as the Youth and Family Minister at two churches in Michigan. He also has worked with students in Arkansas and Arizona. Shawn holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Youth and Family Ministry and Christian Education from Harding University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership. Shawn has been married to his wife Autumn for 10 years and they have two children, Troy and Dasha.
Joy White moved from Tampa, Florida to Kanab, Utah in early January 2010 to join the ALA family as a Girl’s Weekend Life Coach and Weekend School Tutor. Her son had attended ALA’s boarding school for 11 months, graduated from the program and came home to Tampa for a month, then returned to Kanab to finish up his high school credits at ALA. Joy lived most of her life in Florida, but was looking forward to moving to a state with all four seasons again. Her son was less enthusiastic, having been born and raised solely in Florida. However, he is adjusting and taking it all in stride.