Chaplains in northeast colorado

Chaplain Jared Sonnenberg has been in First Responder Chaplaincy for the past 16 years - since 2010. Jared serves with the Sterling Fire Department, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Sterling Police Department, and the ATF (Denver Field Division - which includes the states of CO, MT, WY & UT).

Jared is an ordained minister with specialized training for providing care in the high-powered and dangerous world of law enforcement and all emergency services. He is a member of 'Serving the Shield Police & Fire Chaplains' (StS) and serves as the Northeast Colorado Regional Coordinator for 'StS'. He is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Jared is the Lead Pastor of the LeRoy Community Church. He is a Board Certified Mental Health Coaching Counselor (AACC), and is part of 'StS's' Chaplain Training Team. He is also a partner at Sonnenberg Agency, LLC. 

Jared and his wife, Rita, live in Sterling and have been together for 22 years. He is a proud girl-dad to three daughters and several 'bonus daughters, and 'Papa' to two beautiful granddaughters! It is one of his great honors to coach the Sterling Comets Adult Special Olympics soccer and basketball teams.

Chaplain Jason Santomaso serves with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. He is a speaker, podcast host, and advocate dedicated to breaking the silence surrounding mental health in rural America, and among First Responders. Through his work with the Hard Land Honest Minds podcast and community events, Jason shares honest conversations about anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and resilience with a straightforward, relatable approach that connects with people from all walks of life.

Raised in the agricultural community and deeply connected to the realities of hard-working families, Jason understands some of the pressure that many First Responders carry — stress, isolation, and expectation to always stay strong. After facing his own personal struggles with mental health and alcohol abuse earlier in life, he became passionate about helping others realize they are not alone and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Today, Jason speaks across communities, schools, and events focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and emotional wellness. His mission is simple: create honest conversations that give people hope, encourage connection, and remind people that their lives matter, their stories matter, and help is always available. Silence doesn't solve struggle....It buries it.

Chaplain Kelly Heunink serves with the New Raymer Volunteer Fire Department. She was born and raised on a ranch in Western Colorado. Kelly was immersed in a life revolving around ranching and agriculture from an early age. Her upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for the land, the importance of agriculture, and the values of hard work and responsibility. This foundation led her to pursue a career in agricultural education, where she dedicated herself to teaching for over 20 years – a majority of that time at Northeastern Junior College.

In 2010, a pivotal moment changed the course of her life when she sensed a divine calling to missions in East Africa. This call inspired her to step beyond her comfort zone and serve those in need. During her time in East Africa, she has engaged in various ministries, focusing particularly on evangelism, but also agriculture, pastoral training, women’s ministry and medical missions. Two medical clinics have opened under her supervision in the sixteen years she has been serving in Uganda. She continues to go twice each year for approximately a month on each trip, but is in daily contact with the national teams who are on the ground.

Over time, Kelly has transitioned into full-time ministry in NECO. She began with a women’s ministry and for the last four years has been called to serve full-time as the pastor of a small rural church. This role allowed her to merge her passion for ministry with her love of rural life. In addition to her pastoral duties, her chaplaincy ministry provides support and spiritual guidance to those who serve NECO in times of crisis.

 Throughout her journey, she remains committed to serving both her local community and the broader world, helping to bridge the gap between agriculture, faith, and community service.