Author to speak at church fundraiser

West Ridge Community Church is hosting "SonTea," a benefit to raise funds for missionaries traveling to Haiti in October. The event will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday.

It features author and speaker Pam Gillaspie. SonTea includes a tea service, sandwiches, scones and refreshments. The program will be followed by a gift raffle.

Gillaspie has written two books, including "Ablaze: Igniting Spiritual Passion for Life Through Reading God's Word." Her most recent work is endorsed by such authors as Kay Arthur, Becky Pippert, and Liz Curtis Higgs.

Gillaspie speaks regularly at women's events throughout the Chicago area and is co-founder of Deep & Wide Ministries, an online Bible reading accountability group.

Fourteen West Ridge Community Church missionaries will be traveling to Port-de-Paix, Haiti, to serve SonLight Ministries for one week. The missionary group will provide labor and needed school supplies for the mission's ongoing operations. SonLight Ministries was established in 1983 and now includes a school for 300 Haitian children, college, church and outreach services.

SonTea will take place at West Ridge Community Church, 3300 Encounter Lane, Elgin. The new church is on Route 20 west of Randall Road. Tickets for SonTea are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Melissa Tamraz at melissa@tamrazfamily.com or (847) 531-6020.