Sligh comforts community

It was cold outside, but by 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening there was a steady stream of people flowing into the Culpeper County High School auditorium. In the lobby, one could barely squeeze through the hallway that leads to the auditorium where “Kelsey’s Concert” would begin at 7 p.m. The crowd was chatty and excited, anticipating the featured performer, American Idol finalist Chris Sligh, and the opening performance by Satellite 29, the band Kelsey Orndorff co-founded with her brother Josh.

An aroma of popcorn lingered over reminiscing conversations, tables lined the hallway with concert memorabilia for sale including CDs, bookmarks, bracelets, raffle tickets and T-shirts. At the far end sat Kelsey’s missions table with information cards about Kelsey Kares and Kelsey’s Big Give. All proceeds from the concert will benefit these ministries.

Meanwhile, the Orndorffs were meeting with Sligh behind the scenes in the green room. Sligh remembered his close friend, also killed in a car wreck, and described how a song he wrote, “Faith Begins,” was a way for him to work through the tragedy. He told the Orndorffs that while it wasn’t his brother, the death of his friend was — and is — very challenging for him.

“I wrote this song trying to figure out what was going on with me and God,” Sligh shared. He further explained that he sent the song to the Orndorffs, after hearing of Kelsey’s accident, in hopes of comforting and helping them.

Sligh, struggling with a severe cold and trying to save his voice, appeared relaxed in his Chuck Taylors and sweatshirt before the show. Sharing his condolences with the family, Sligh explained that they would start the concert a bit slowly, in reverence for this difficult time, but that after a couple of songs he would tell the crowd, “Kelsey would have wanted us to rock, so let’s rock!”

Master of Ceremonies Todd Brown described the concert as a celebration of Kelsey’s life.

The Rev. Michael Gray, of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, thanked the community for their thoughts and prayers on behalf of the Cook family. Gray gave a brief update on Dr. Bryon Cook, who was seriously injured in the Aug. 29 wreck that claimed Kelsey’s life. He said Cook, who attends St. Stephen’s, continues to improve and is back to driving a car. Gray then led in prayer.

Following the prayer, Kelsey’s father, the Rev. Randy Orndorff, spoke briefly about his daughter and invited everyone to visit Kelsey’s Web site at kelseyorndorff.org.

“We want to use this to remember her life, to continue her memory and the wonderful things she was a part of in life,” he said. Thoughtfully, while choking back tears, Orndorff added that in a conversation his family had with Theresa Mills, Sunday morning radio host and office manager at 89.9 WPER, Theresa comforted them by sharing that, “Kelsey is not in our past, she’s in our future. We know we’ll see her again one day.”

Concert organizer Lizza Judd shared a letter from Kelsey’s journal describing how Kelsey asked God to keep her content with the things He’d given her.

You could hear a pin drop as Judd continued to read how Kelsey wondered and worried about death and asked for comfort when the end came.

Satellite 29 brought the crowd to its feet. Drummer Nathan Reza said he was feeling a bit nervous, but good, before the show. The band led the audience in praise songs including “Kelsey’s song,” a song to which Orndorff wrote the words and lyrics. Vocalist Michelle Chapman said the song spoke of how Kelsey desired to totally live her life for Christ.

Kelsey’s younger brother, Jordan, read from Zephaniah 3:17, calling it Kelsey’s favorite Bible verse. It says: “The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. “

Sligh took the stage shortly after 8 p.m. and wooed the crowd with several songs on his guitar before moving to the keyboard near the side of the stage, which was decorated with blue and white balloons in front of a large photo of Kelsey, dimly lit by a row of small candles. The crowd held up battery operated tea lights and waved glowing cell phones while they swayed to song after song. Before intermission Sligh sang “Vessel” saying, “it’s her prayer.”
Sligh’s music after intermission was more upbeat and the large crowd swayed, clapped and sang along, finally calling him back for an encore after he had left the stage.

As the crowd filed out of the auditorium a closing video of Kelsey’s life and the people and missions she believed in was projected on the screen. Sligh met many of his fams at his table in the lobby, talking and signing autographs longer after the music had ended.

Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at