Esteban Shedd
Community Outreach Coordinator, Creative Arts and Music Producer
Esteban Shedd was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Since his birth, Esteban has seen his family radically live-out the example of Christ in their everyday lives. Struggling between “the temptation he saw on the streets” and the strong example of Christ in the lives of his parents, Esteban finally made a choice to surrender his life to Jesus one night at the age of fifteen. Ever since that evening, Esteban has been utilizing his God-given gifts - within the creative arts and music - to passionately advance the Gospel message and disciple young men.
Prior to joining the GRIP team in July of 2009, God has been shaping and molding Esteban through his years of service at the Safeplace After School Program and his three years of teaching the What’s Good Program (Lydia Home Association) within the Chicago Public Schools on Chicago’s West Side. In addition, Esteban served as a key member of a band called Berto Ramon within the Hip-Hop music ministry. At the 2006 Emergenza competition, Berto Ramon won the accolades of being the “#1 Unsigned Band” within the entire country, an amazing feat for a Christian band competing in a nation-wide secular music competition. At GRIP, Esteban will continue to apply his bachelor’s degree in radio communications and Bible from Moody Bible Institute (2005).
Esteban is currently an active member of Armitage Church, and he and his wife Iris serve together as leaders within the Armitage Church’s youth ministry. In addition, Esteban is looking to blaze forward with a new arts endeavor called ALERT - a combination of live music performance, recording and production, and discipleship. In Esteban’s words, “Whether rocking a show that points to salvation or leading a ‘GRIP the School’ arts class inside the Chicago Public Schools, I prays to see eternal fruit that will transform the desperate neighborhoods of this city and beyond.”
Getting to know Esteban Shedd
Role at GRIP: GRIP the School, Community Outreach, Giving Hugs
Email: esteban@gripyouth.com
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Family: Wife Iris, and an amazing immediate family – 3 siblings, Incredible parents
Church: Armitage Church, Chicago, IL
Fondest Memory: Concert in Germany, Day Camp with friends and family, & marrying my beautiful wife
Proudest Moment: The completion of first album
Wildest Dream: Proclaiming Christ world wide through the Arts and seeing future generations do the same
Biggest Challenge: to myself and letting the Spirit take over
Perfect Day: Coffee in the morning with my wife, producing with DJ MRL ONE, and connecting with new people through the arts
First Job: Janitor at my mom’s school…ha
Favorite Food: Puerto Rican and Thai
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite Song: The Next Movement – The Roots
Inspiration: selfless Savior Jesus, King David, Os Gemos, Ruben Blades
Favorite Scripture: Psalm 73