For some time, Charles Allen, Lakeside President & CEO, has had the vision of using the cottage at 537 Vine Avenue, owned by Lakeside, as a “Self-Care/Soul Care” place where pastors and other nonprofit workers can come and spend a week free of charge.
Allen asked Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, former Lakeside Director of Religious Life, to head up this initiative with the help of Steve Koening, Director of Guest Services, and Amy Jones, Director of Cottage Rentals.
Allen’s idea is to expand on the success of Vern and Dianne Hartenburg’s project of providing a week for pastors during the summer at Lakeside. For several years, Vern has refinished furniture and sold it on the lawn of Hoover Auditorium. This project help funds the weeks that he and Dianne provide for pastors free of charge in Lakeside.
The Hartenburgs also provide admission and parking passes for their guests. Clergy salaries are notoriously low in the Ohio area, and many clergy families cannot afford a week at Lakeside, especially the younger folks. Everyone can benefit from a week of rest and relaxation, but oftentimes such a respite is not possible financially.
Lakesiders can help in these ways:
• Make a donation to the “Self-Care/Soul Care Fund” with the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation. The cost to Lakeside to sponsor a pastor and family for the week is approximately $ 3,500 (admission and parking).
• Offer your Lakeside home for this purpose for a week or more to a clergy or other family, either through Lakeside or on your own.
• Make a suggestion to Yoost cy****@**********io.com of a pastor for whom this ministry would be especially beneficial.
As this ministry expands, the team envisions making this cottage (which is winterized) available to pastors and others in the off-season for relaxation, retreat and renewal.
“I wish every Lakesider could experience the response I have felt as I contact pastors inviting them to Lakeside for a week of rest and relaxation,” Yoost said. “When I share Charles Allen’s vision, in every case, they have replied to my email within hours and are thrilled beyond words to be given this opportunity. Lakeside is the ideal place for young families to vacation, and the ripple effect that this ministry will have can hardly be overstated. To provide this time and place of respite for pastors and their families will have a lasting impact, not only on their ministry, but upon the entire Lakeside community.”
The cottage has been recently upgraded and refreshed by a hardworking group of Lakesiders: Char Wilkerson, Len Forinash, Ginger Leonard, Jerry Leonard, Molly Adams, Steve Adams, Marco Farlow, Barb Hoffman, Sally Lenhart, Kathy Venema, Barbara Browning and Carol Raber
For questions or more information about this ministry, contact Rev. Yoost at cy****@**********io.com.
