Travis Reish calls himself a kid at heart. As the new director of student ministries at Rainbow's End Youth Services (REYS), he gets to act like a kid every day.
"I love to be goofy," he said. "I want to connect to kids on their level."
Travis assumed his new role in mid-January. He grew up outside Philadelphia and went to college to become a teacher before being called into serving God. "I got saved as an undergrad," he stated, adding that he attended seminary after college to earn a master's degree in Christian counseling. "There were so many people who had an impact on me and my life as a Christian, and I wanted to make an impact on others."
He worked as a chaplain for WellSpan York Hospital and earned a second master's degree in education before becoming a teacher and director of spiritual life at Christian School of York. Although he enjoyed that job, when his wife, April, told him about the opening at REYS, located in Mount Joy, he was ready to try something new.
"I was thinking about how I wanted to grow and challenge myself. I was sort of in this Christian bubble, and I wanted to get outside of that and reach more people," he explained. The position as REYS was appealing because he knew he'd be interacting with students in grades one through 12, some of whom may have limited exposure to Christianity.
Cristina Paden, executive director of REYS, said Travis was the perfect choice for the role. "We liked that he had extensive experience working with youth, and with his background in Bible and theology, we knew he could really engage our students," she stated. "We were very impressed by his heart to reach students."
Travis said his first days on the job will be spent observing operations. "I'm learning about the place and learning about the students who come here," he said. "I want REYS to continue to grow and I want to reach new kids and new families."
When he's not at work, Travis enjoys spending time with his wife and their foster daughters. He's also dad to four dogs and a cat. "It's a full house," he said with a smile.
He enjoys staying active, working out and playing softball with his church in the warmer months. He's also into dock diving with his dogs, traveling across the mid-Atlantic for the pups to compete in jumping for distance or height from a dock into water.
He said he's excited about his new position with REYS and he's eager to continue the mission of the youth center.
"REYS is a great place for the kids not only to socialize, but also to learn about Jesus in a place that's safe," he commented. "We're spreading a message of Christian love. This is a place where they will feel loved, and they are known as soon as they walk in the door."
For more information on REYS, visit https://reys.org or email programs@reys.org.
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