Watch Sara’s Story
In this video, Alumna Sara Chauncey shares her journey to discovering Palm Beach Atlantic University—and how it transformed the course of her life. Through mentorship, community, and a growing understanding of the Gospel, Sara discovered her faith and her calling to ministry.
Highlights of Sara’s Story
Sara Chauncey graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1985 and describes her time at PBA as one of the most transformative seasons of her life. Before arriving on campus, Sara had little exposure to faith. Her parents were not religious, and she had never attended church regularly.
During her senior year of high school, Sara won a business scholarship through the Palm Beach Post Pathfinder program. Shortly after, an admissions counselor from Palm Beach Atlantic contacted the scholarship winners and invited them to consider attending the university. At the time, Sara viewed it simply as an opportunity for college—but she soon realized that God had much bigger plans.
When she arrived at PBA, she encountered something entirely new: a community of people who genuinely cared about her and were willing to invest in her life. One older student began mentoring her, meeting regularly to answer questions about faith and even giving her her first Bible.
It was during this time that Sara first heard the Gospel in a meaningful way. While attending Family Church, she vividly remembers the moment she realized she had never truly understood the message of Christ before. During her sophomore year, Sara made the life-changing decision to give her life to Christ.
Her spiritual growth at PBA eventually led her to take a Youth Ministry course, where she sensed a calling to serve in ministry. After graduating, she continued pursuing that calling by attending seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Today, Sara and her husband serve together in ministry at Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida. Looking back, she believes that the relationships and spiritual foundation she experienced at Palm Beach Atlantic helped shape the direction of her entire life.
Sara now encourages students to make the most of their college years. She believes those four years are a unique time for discovering identity, purpose, and calling—and that PBA provides a community that intentionally supports her journey in ministry.
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