Weston Edmonds, a 2008 graduate of Bushnell University (formerly Northwest Christian College), has dedicated his life to serving others through both ministry and community outreach. As the Communications Manager at Weld Food Bank and Executive Minister at Saint Patrick Presbyterian Church, Edmonds is pivotal in connecting people to vital resources and spiritual support. His journey, deeply influenced by his time at Bushnell, shaped his leadership and communication approach. In this Q&A, Edmonds shares insights into his dual roles, the challenges he’s faced, and the persistence that has guided his career path.
Can you tell us about your current job and what a typical day looks like for you?
I am the Communications Manager full-time at Weld Food Bank and Executive Minister quarter-time at Saint Patrick Presbyterian Church. At the food bank, my main responsibility is to inform the community about our work through a number of avenues including website, social media, radio, television, and print media. For donors and volunteers, I ensure they know how their generosity feeds their neighbors. For potential supports, I build a case for why they should consider joining our cause. And for anyone needing food assistance, I present all the resources we have available to them. At Saint Patrick, I am in charge of all administrative and volunteer responsibilities at the church. Additionally, I am a ruling elder on the session and a member of the preaching team.
How did your education at Bushnell University prepare you for your career path?
I received a degree in Pastoral Ministry from Bushnell University. Many of the classes I took prepared me just as much for my communications role as it did for my church role. Classes I took on public speaking, writing sermons, lesson planning, and the like all helped provide me with skills to easily translate to fit my role. Those same skills became crucial when I was asked to join the preaching team at Saint Patrick, before I was on a leadership team or even working on staff. It helped me to find my place at the church which eventually lead to deeper roles in leadership and eventually to be on staff.
What experiences or opportunities at Bushnell University were most influential in shaping your career?
Being a part of student leadership while at Bushnell and serving with [Campus Pastor] Steve Poetzl gave me a deeper insight into being a part of a service team that was larger than myself. The same truths apply to my role at the food bank. I pursued this job 10 years ago with the understanding that it was still a ministry role, even if it wasn’t at a church or Christian organization.
Can you share a significant challenge you’ve faced in your career and how you overcame it?
I wouldn’t say this is a one and done challenge, but an on-going one. Burn out is always knocking at the door, especially these past 4+ years. Covid and the following inflation has pushed the need to historical heights. We are serving 4 times as many people compared to 2019 and there was no real downtime for myself or our staff to fully recover from a pandemic before the need grew with a struggling economy. I have had to become a lot more intentional with my time and what I can give myself to. The biggest help has been to set boundaries, learning to say no, and being okay with both.
What advice would you give to current Bushnell University students who are interested in pursuing a similar career?
My advice would be to be persistent and don’t give up hope. I was persistent in applying for the food bank. I had applied two times before they called me for an interview on the third attempt. And I did give up hope on ever working at a church. Nothing was working out when I moved back to Colorado and I ended up getting a job at a bank. Fast forward 8 years, I was working at the food bank and attending Saint Patrick as a member and deacon when the opportunity arose for me to join the staff. It was a very unexpected offer that caught me completely off guard.