I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down to open up his or her book. Today, I’m excited to interview author Chelsea Sobolik about her new book, Called to Cultivate: A Gospel Vision for Women and Work. After navigating a challenging season in her own vocation, Chelsea was inspired to create a resource for women that faithfully engages their questions and provides practical rhythms that they can incorporate into their lives to flourish in their work.
Called to Cultivate was released earlier this month and you can pick up a copy here! I’m looking forward to reading more of Chelsea’s insights on the vital role that women play in the kingdom of God through their work.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m Chelsea Sobolik. I’ve lived and worked in Washington, D.C. for over a decade. I’m currently the Director of Government Relations for World Relief. Previously, I worked for the leading evangelical child welfare organization in the country, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and on Capitol Hill. My focus has primarily been focused on public policy and vulnerable populations.
I’m the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, where I share my personal story of childlessness, and my latest book is Called to Cultivate – A Gospel Vision for Women and Work.
My husband and I just returned home from India, finalizing our son’s adoption. Adoption is near and dear to my heart, because I was adopted internationally, as were my five siblings. (I’m Romanian.) I care deeply about vulnerable children, both in the U.S. and around the world.
When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I began journaling at twelve years old, and began blogging during college. In my mid-twenties, I began writing for outside publications, and was honored to share some of my personal story in my first book.
I love that words have the power to stir our souls, change our mindset, deepen our faith, and give us shared experiences. My life has been marked so deeply by the writing of others, and it’s truly such a privilege to write words that others connect with!
Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?
Absolutely! Sitting down to a blank page is one of the most intimidating feelings. Sometimes, more often than I’d like, the words just don’t seem to flow, or I can’t quite say what I want to say, how I want to say it. I’ve found that good writing takes a lot of time, practice and dedication.
What led you to write Called to Cultivate?
This book was born out of a deeply challenging season in my professional life. I’d lost my dream job on Capitol Hill because the member of Congress I was working for resigned in the middle of his term, in the middle of the #MeToo movement, resulting in the entire staff losing their jobs. As I processed an unexpected job loss, I found a job that paid my bills, but didn’t bring me much satisfaction.
Our worth and value don’t come from our work, but in being created in the image of God.
During that season, I began to read copious amounts of books on work, calling and vocation. And while there are some incredible books on work, most of them didn’t answer some of the persisting questions I had about work from the perspective of being a Christian woman. The reality is, the considerations for work are different for women, because our seasons of life change, and so does our work.
So, I wrote the book I wish I’d seen on the shelves years ago!
What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?
All women have a vital role to play in the flourishing of the church, their communities, and the kingdom of God through their work. My desire for this book is to honor women in many different seasons of life, serving in different roles and capacities.
Work predates the fall, and even though we’re living in a fallen world, our work still has meaning and is one of the primary ways through which we love our neighbors and glorify the Lord!
How has writing this book made you think or act differently about your own work?
One of the central themes I write about in the book is the concept of seasons, and how life and our roles go through many different seasons of life. As I finished writing this book, I changed jobs, and released the book while I was in India. While I’ve certainly lived through many different seasons in my personal/professional life, this concept is one that I’ve constantly been reminding myself to faithfully live into. While our seasons of life fluctuate, the roles we step into and out of change, what doesn’t change is that each of us is valuable in the kingdom of God. Our worth and value don’t come from our work, but in being created in the image of God.
For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:
“While God chose for His image to be reflected by both men and women, we are also called to reflect Him in our gendered humanity. Women uniquely resemble God to the world as we steward our authority and callings. Our womanhood, properly understood, is a vital part of who we are as image-bearers.
Women are a vital part of the flourishing of the church, the flourishing of society, and the flourishing of the family.
While we know the names and stories of some of the women who impacted their communities and society, there are countless women whose work history has not remembered.
But the Lord saw and knew.
Our work doesn’t have to be flashy, in the public eye, or even remembered to have an impact on the world around us. Our quiet acts of love and service, done for God’s glory, will have reverberations throughout eternity.”
Here are some endorsements:
“In Called to Cultivate, Chelsea zooms in on some of the most relatable (yet rarely well-articulated) issues that Christian women face navigating the world of work. In the warm voice of a friend, she guides the reader with practical wisdom and advice for navigating the personal, physical, and spiritual aspects of our lives as working women. This was the book I didn’t even realize I needed.” – Erica Andersen, author of The Reason to Return
“Chelsea Sobolik is a seasoned professional and a faithful believer whose insights and experience in the work world will help prepare and guide those starting out as well as those already facing challenges and questions in their working lives. This book is a gift to those who want to work well, serve well, and live well.” — Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well, Finding the Good Life through Great Books
If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?
Cozied up at home or a local coffee shop with a good book, going for a long walk in nature, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen.
Chelsea Patterson Sobolik is the author of Longing for Motherhood; Holding Onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, and Called to Cultivate: A Gospel Vision for Women and Work. She works in Washington, D.C. as the Director of Government Relations at World Relief. Previously, she worked for the leading evangelical child welfare organization in the country, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and on Capitol Hill. Chelsea has been published at the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and other outlets. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael and their son, Dev. Follow her on Twitter @Chelspat or on Instagram
