“I have loved every minute of all of the off season retreat groups, the conferences and every single moment of every single summer. It was an incredible blessing to be able to be a part of this incredible ministry.”
Thanks Chelsea!
Sonlight’s motto is “Be With Kids, and Show Them God.” Through a ministry of presence, sharing meals at the same table, playing games together, and holy conversations, the staff of Sonlight seeks to help kids know what God is doing in their lives. Once that’s discovered, we can encourage youth on that journey of discipleship to Jesus Christ.
But to be with kids, especially in the strangeness of adolescence and the twists and turns of these complicated lives, one must love kids. One has to see in youth humor, potential, and persons worth loving through the growing pains that come with the struggle for adulthood. As a staff, then, God’s love for kids must shine from our hearts. And we must be led by someone with an uncommon love for the next generation.
Chelsea Poest, who served as Sonlight’s Program Director for the last four years—and as counselor and Program Assistant the four years before—led with that kind of uncommon love. She did an excellent job of planning the many complicated details of summer camp, producing the zany games and camp activities, and leading a team of counselors through the joys and challenges of our intense 10-week marathon.
What remained always at the forefront of her ministry, though, was God’s love for the kids. She kept the benefits for our youth as the top priority, all the time. If that meant donning crazy hair, so be it. If that meant sitting through tough conversations, she was ready for it. If that meant asking the rest of the staff to step up for a day of extra hard work, she was willing. If that meant saying No to something unwise, she stepped up. Wild glow-stick dancing? Check. And if that meant putting in extra-long hours with paltry sleep in order to make it happen, Chelsea made it happen.
This will be the legacy I remember as Chelsea leaves Sonlight for God’s next adventure: She loved kids. She enjoyed them, she served them, she gave her all for them. Kids return to Sonlight year after year, certainly, because the Spirit is at work doing wonderful things. But I remember that the Spirit chooses to work through people, and Chelsea is a beautiful conduit of God’s love for kids. In what she did for our campers, Chelsea reflected Christ’s self-giving. We will miss her, even as we pray for the wonders and joys coming through her next calling.
Thanks, Chelsea, for sharing God’s love, and for being with kids and showing them God. Well done!
~ emrys tyler
Co-Director