13.1 Miles Away

September 12th is coming very soon and that means one thing for me: The Chicago Half-Marathon!! I've been training hard and I feel like I'm almost ready! For this marathon I registered with Sunshine and our partnership allows donations to come to Sunshine. Along with that, everyone that volunteers under our organization forwards additional donations to Sunshine too!! What a great way to raise money for our ministry.

Our coordinator put this info to gether if youre're interested:

There is also still time to sign up to run either the half marathon or the 5K with us, so I have included that information at the end.

If you are interested in VOLUNTEERING: Please use the link below to sign up early (as soon as you read this message) to volunteer so that I can give an accurate estimate of our numbers to the race sponsor AND so that Sunshine gets paid accurately and on time for our volunteers. Thank you!

Feel free to pass this email on and/or print the info in your church bulletins for the next few weeks.

EXPO AND RACE DAY VOLUNTEERING When you click on the link below, pull down to Sunshine on the list of group names to join. The password is Sunshine (case sensitive). Fill in your info and use the notes section to list when you want to work.

The available shifts are Thursday 9/9 12p-4p (only a few spots available--preparing race packets at Navy Pier), Friday 9/10 10a-2:30p or 2-7 p (handing out race packets to runners--Navy Pier), Saturday 9/11 8a-1:30p or 1-6:30p (handing out race packets to runners--Navy Pier), or Sunday 5a-noon at the race course (Museum of Science and Industry).

We need to provide at least 4 volunteers for Sunday morning based on the number of runners we have, so if you can volunteer for Sunday morning, please do! Here is the link: Share this with your volunteers to sign up: http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer/join-protected-group.tcl?event_id=11962 password: Sunshine (case sensitive)

RUNNING: If you want to run either the half marathon or the 5K with us, there is still time to sign up at www.chicagohalfmarathon.com! If you are doing the half marathon, the discount code to use is CHMSGM10. For either race, please enter Sunshine in the charity field AND email me and tell me that you signed up. Please let me know if you have any questions! Emily (847-917-3659)

Summer Is Over, A New Beginning is Coming

TIME FOR A MAJOR UPDATE!! This summer has so quickly flown by so let me tell you all I can in this short blog post...

FIRST OFF: Summer ministry at Sunshine was amazing. From staff, to kids, to logistics of the programs, all went great! Here's a little glimpse into the life of Brittney these past 2 months:
MONDAY and WEDNESAYS were spent preparing for our junior high ministry on Monday and Wednesday nights called SUMMER S.W.A.G.G. (Students Worshipping a Great God). This program was developed this summer as we saw the need for our previously targeted age group of elementary to grow into a new junior high program. Our Monday nights would be outing nights, which consisted of beach games, skating, photo scavenger hunts, and more. Then on Wednesday nights, we would stay at Sunshine and have game rotations, snacks, a message, and small groups. Our kids seemed to love the kick off of middle school night and were eager to ask what we would be having for them this fall!! We sealed off the summer with a trip to Deep River Waterpark. Pray that these kids would stay involved as the fall rolls around!


TUESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAYS were spent with our Summer Blast kids. This is the day camp for elementary students. These kids always make me smile with their hugs, energy, and excitement for the Lord. On Fridays we took them on day trips to places like the beach and the zoo! They always kept us on our toes but were a complete blessing to us!


Friday Nights Lights were continued on Friday evenings this summer. We lit up 2 different corners throughout the summer in order to make darkness flee. From 9 p.m. to midnight hotdogs and chips were served, the name of Christ proclaimed over loudspeakers on the streets, and the violence was curbed for as long as we could help it! Continue to pray for the conversations and seeds that were planted during these events!

One of our main highlights was our week of camp for both elementary and middle school kids. This fell directly in the middle of the summer as we took the kids up to Sunshine Cove for a hot and humid but blessed week! The theme was LOVE. We shared the love of Christ to them along with how we all can better love those around us. The highlight of this week was Wednesday night. Along with the other female summer staff, we decided that our girls needed a GIRLS NIGHT of facials, nails, and pink decorations! This spa night was a huge hit. We had so much fun as we layed with cucumbers on our eyes and freshly painted nails. To seal off the night we broke into cabin groups and had girl talk. The emphasis was to share with our beauties what it means to shine from within and what being a woman of God truly is versus what the world tells us what being a woman means. Amazing conversations took place and many of the girls' eyes were opened to what true beauty is for the first time.

So here I am at the end of the summer!! What now?! God has lined up the greatest opportunity for me to go on staff at Sunshine. My summer position is now over and I am now in Indiana for one month to raise support to go on staff full time! Through a partnership with Young Life (check out http://www.younglife.org/us) I am going to be a Sunshine staff member with the goal of developing first our middle school outreach, and eventually high school outreach. So to avoid confusion, I am in everyway at Sunshine Gospel doing ministry with the same group of kids in the same neighborhood, but partnering with Young Life to help branch their ministry into the inner-city and benefitting off of one anothers resources. What that means for me now is that I need your help both in prayer and financially. In order to start in September, I must have raised enough support to do so. As I am in Elkhart this month, I will be meeting with people in order to get that pledged support. I am asking for your prayers that this financial aspect will come in quickly and also for your prayerful consideration of partnering with gifts. You all have been such a blessing and encouragement thus far, I pray that my service has been blessing reflecting all that you have poured into me! If this is a time that you could help, you can contact me at brittneyrost@yahoo.com, reply to this post, or call my cell at 574-596-3038. Thank you so much for all you do!

Shining His light,
Britt