Sea Turtle Ministries is an interdenominational group of people who are passionate about ministering to college students. Our goal is to shine the light of Christ and guide people into a growing relationship with God. We are dedicated to helping emerging adults discover their unique gifts, and talents, and help them find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Why Sea Turtles?
The concept of the Sea Turtle Café was hatched on a Charleston beach late one August evening. Sea turtles lay their eggs on several beaches surrounding Charleston. About two months later, the eggs hatch and the sea turtles emerge from the nest. Sea turtles hatch late at night after the sand has cooled, and by God’s design have been hardwired to seek and follow the glow of the moonlight reflecting on the surface of the water. But the sea turtles must make it to the water quickly, as there are many dangers if they remain on land. Birds, crabs, snakes, and the heat of the day all wait to devour them. So the moonlight is critical to leading them to their ocean home.
In the last hundred years or so, baby sea turtles have faced a new hazard. The lights from our modern world appear to outshine the moon and confuse newly hatched turtles about which way to go. Many turtles follow these man-made lights, heading off in the wrong direction and becoming prey for the real dangers lying in wait. They never make it to their ocean home, and never fulfill their true purpose in life.
Here in Charleston, young sea turtles are fortunate. A group of volunteers called “The Turtle Team” find and mark turtle nests. They are committed to standing guard, night after night, waiting for the eggs in each nest to hatch. And when they do, the Turtle Team stands at the edge of the ocean shining a bright spotlight on the water. This light is brighter than the lights coming from shore, and beacons the turtles to follow it to their natural home.
As our own young leave their nests to find their place in the world, they too are presented with many choices. Many man-made “lights” seem attractive, especially to our emerging adults, but are ultimately deceptive. They confuse and disorient, often with disastrous consequences. Only the light of Christ can lead people to their true purpose and real home.
Late one night, while watching a Charleston Turtle Team in action, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “This is what I want you to do with the cafe.” God had already given me a vision for a latenight coffeehouse environment for meeting college kids where they are at, and providing a place of love, fun and hope. He now called me to guide our young people in the same way that the Turtle Team shepherds young turtles: by shining the light of Christ, so they will know which way to go. This was the start of what has become Sea Turtle Ministries and The Sea Turtle Café.…..…Lauren Carruthers