A Humbling Generational Loop of Impact - 120 years on

Sunshine Gospel Ministries turned 120 years in 2025 and from generation to generations, we have seen God’s faithfulness in transforming lives of the people who have passed through the ministry either as students who participate in our programs, as mentors and coaches who facilitates the programs, as staff who lead our programs, or as directors. The loop of generational impacts that we have seen humbles us and fuels our resolve to keep the torch shining. A few of the lives who have been touched by our mission share their stories with us.

78-year-old Dale Lock shares with us. He interfaced regularly with Sunshine from 1966 to 1969 spring while a student at Emmaus Bible College.

Students went into Cabrini Green apartments for clubs and came back on Friday nights for outings and impromptu trips to sporting events. Summers involved work at Camp Sun Chi Win. Then in 1969, I moved into the mission as a youth worker. One sunny day, waiting for a bus to a Cubs game, four young teenagers thanked me for being their mentors and just being myself with no pretense. Most memorable day, 50 years later a young man moving into a role of worship leader thanked me for being his mentor,” Dale said.

“Another memory that has never left is two days after first arriving in Chicago, seeing Jackie Salley holding two-week old Christoper in her arms in their new home. Time moves on and my body grows weak but my love for God allowing me to have the Sunshine experience, shines in my heart.” Dale shares.

59 years later, the two week old Christopher Salley, that Dale Lock saw in the arm of Jackie Salley when he visited her and her husband, Columbus Salley in their new home shares his own Sunshine experience with a larger crowd during the Gala event that celebrated Sunshine at 120 on on Saturday, December 6 2025.

“I am Christopher Salley, I was the two week old that was mentioned by Dale Lock. My parents, Columbus and Jackie Salley grew up in Cabrini Greene and became a part of the Ministry of Sunshine Gospel Mission when it was located at 604 N. Clark street, on the near North side of Chicago.  

I actually brought tonight a monthly publication of Sunshine Gospel Ministry from August 1964.  It was mailed to Gwendetta Albright. The tagline in the publication says, "Ministering in Chicago Worse Half Mile."

It contains a picture on the cover page, of Dale Howard and my dad, Columbus Salley who were then directors of the summer camp at Sunshine I went to. I was born in 1966 and my earliest memory was going to Sunshine mission at 604 N. Clark, but more significantly, was attending Sun-Chi-Win camp in Union Michigan every summer where both of our parents volunteered, led and contributed.

I have seen how the kingdom was supposed to look and what is possible when we connect based on our commonality in Christ and his calling for our lives. Sunshine did that for me and I will be eternally grateful for that,” Christopher shared with us.

You may call it a loop of fate or destiny, Christopher Salley is the husband of Kimberly Salley, the Executive Director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries at present and he has continued to be a part of Sunshine Family.

When Christopher was sharing his Sunshine experience at the Gala, he had in his hand a copy of a more than 60-year-old Sunshine publication mailed to Gwendetta Albright. We are pleased to introduce to you, 82-year-old Gwendetta Albright, a once Sunshine kid and mentor as she shares her Sunshine experiences.

“When we would go, we took a train to camp. My mother would take us downtown through Union Station or some place and a train would take us about nine hours to the camp where we go on hikes, go down to the lake to swim, go fishing, go bowling. I remember this lady in particular, her name was Dorothy Ferrett, she was really nice. We called her Dotty,” Gwendetta shares with us with all cheers in her home.

“When I became a teenager,” she continued, "I got the chance to become a junior leader and now, clubs. Dotty was the director of the DADS - that was what they called the girls who were 6th, 7th and 8th grade and she was in charge of that group and I worked as a junior leader of that group. When I got older, I became the director of the DADS. I am still in touch with some of the people who were there till today, and they mean so much to me,” Gwendetta said, beaming with nostalgia.
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For the likes of Christopher, Sunshine’s summer camps (Sun-Chi-Win Camp) located at Michigan was a place of formation. For the likes of Gwendetta, it was a place to grow and give back, and for many more, it was a place that ignited a fire for ministry that has continued to burn generation after generation.

David Dillon, a faithful partner (25 years in a row and counting) and former director at Sunshine for several years, shares how Sunshine lit a fire for full-time gospel ministry in the heart of his father when he was only 12 years old.

“I first learned about Sunshine Gospel Ministries through a friend of mine back in the early 1980s’ and we were invited to the camp a couple of times, and then, I ended up on the board of Sunshine and served on the board for seven years,” David shares. He continued, “Sunshine is important to Michelle and me. We really believe in community-based organisations that are in the community, doing things in the community,  and Sunshine is a classic case, and has been doing that for a very long time. It's also Gospel-based on the power of the truth of Jesus Christ, which we believe in, and we want to see the gospel go forth in this community.

I didn't even know this for a long time, but my dad shared with me that, back when he was a boy, he grew up in Lenawee County in Michigan. When he was 12 years old, the then executive director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries came to Michigan and gave a talk that he was part of, and that was the day he decided he wanted to become a full-time Christian minister. My parents were missionaries to Japan for 30 years. They heard about Sunshine at that time, and it played a big role in my dad's life. I didn't even know that. I was on the board of Sunshine for a very long time,e and I didn't even know that. I learned it much later. Sunshine played a big role in my dad's life and in my life as well,” David said.

This can only be destiny,y seeing how Sunshine is connecting and transforming generations in a loop of humbling impact. A ministry that began originally as a mission for single mothers led by Moody Church on Chicago’s northside on Illinois Street in 1905 has now evolved to encompass the whole family, and we have continued to seek the renewal of the city through ministries of discipleship, mercy, and justice.