Hello from Chulmleigh Connect!
A quick introduction from us:
Mim Cassell: I’m a Connect volunteer at Chulmleigh Academy and moved to the village of Chawleigh in 2022. I am fortunate enough to have retired early but have enjoyed volunteering with the Crediton Foodbank this last year as well as Chulmleigh Academy. Prior to retirement, I was a Mental Health Nurse for many years. Following completion of an MSc in Psychological Therapies in 2007, I worked as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist at the University of Exeter as a researcher and lecturer in the School of Psychology and the student Wellbeing Centre. In my spare time I enjoy getting alongside people in the village, gardening, baking and walking. I also enjoy my grandparent responsibilities for an exuberant 7 year old.
Chris Boyles: I have been running CofE Sunday clubs for the Little Dart Mission for the last 13 years. Somehow, and I forget exactly how, I became a volunteer with the Ringsash Methodist Circuit’s ‘Lighthouse Children’s Holiday Club’. This has led to me becoming their Children, Youth & Families Worker. For Connect I am very fortunate to work in Chulmleigh College helping in a variety of lessons, mentoring and running the CU with my colleague Mim. When I am not working, I love wildlife photography, fishing or spending the winter months flying my hawk Abi.
It has been a very exciting couple of months in Chulmleigh academy, especially with the Christian Union. As well as our stalwart students from the local churches we have been seeing new faces arrive at CU. One student turned up to test us with some particularly outrageous questions only to stay and become a regular member. He is now involved with a local church’s nativity play.
As well as bringing our own topics in for discussion Mim and I have been listening to what the students want and have developed their ideas into interactive sessions. Trying to fit ‘a history of the church’ into 25 minutes was not easy but is a good example of what we have been asked for.
Mim and I have been contacting our Christian friends and relatives around the world to compile a talk on how they prepare for and spend their Christmas day. These have included such countries as Japan, Australia, Chile and most fascinating of all Mongolia. Since 1990 the Christian population of Mongolia has gone from four registered believers to nearly 43,000. Perhaps my favourite CU was one run by our friend John King. John works in Chulmleigh school and often comes along and lends his support to the CU. The topic that day was ‘Sheep in the Bible’ and John took us all to see the flock the school keeps on ground just a short walk away. The day was one of those rare still and sunny days and a good conversation was had with the students on the way to the field. On reaching the flock John gave us a brilliant talk comparing the imagery of sheep and lambs in the Old and New testaments. After the talk we were invited to view the flock of six sheep, unfortunately it appeared the flock was not up to full strength as we could only count five. To help John we all started searching the field for the missing lamb. It was at this point one of the students shouted out “It’s the parable of the Lost Sheep!”. For a moment I thought John had cunningly set this up, but when we found the ram lamb caught up in the briers, we realised it was not his doing. Of course, this then sparked the conversation of Abraham and Isaac, and the sacrificial ram caught in the bushes.
Mim and I are very much looking forward to the new year and the work we have planned at the college. We have a number of guest speakers coming to the CU from all walks of life to talk about their faith and their work. Mim is composing a series of talks on inspirational people of faith including Corrie Ten Boom and Eric Lidl amongst others. I will be answering the student’s questions on such things as ‘Do pets go to Heaven?’ and ‘the relationship between Christians and Jews.’
Working alongside the students and teachers in class is providing opportunities to talk about faith and the Christian life. Even in such lessons as geography and history I have been asked questions on Christian matters. I was very fortunate to be called on to speak in a Religious Studies class to the year 8 students about my faith and why Christians volunteer to help others. It was a very humbling experience as at the end of the talk, during the Q&A, one student asked where she could volunteer in the church, another asked where her nearest church was so she could attend a service, and one young man came along to the CU afterwards.
Both Mim and I have the privilege of mentoring students at Chulmleigh academy, and it is so important for them to be and feel heard. Mentoring takes place during the student’s tutor time at the end of the day. Those Mim and I mentor need a safe place to talk freely, with an adult they see regularly, about how they feel and what is happening in their lives.
We thank you for your support and help in making this work possible. We look forward to what God has in store for us in the college.
Prayers
- For God’s wisdom and guidance when working with the students and staff as we start a new term and new year in the school.
- For the CU to grow in the school. For it to be engaging to the students and for the staff to see its benefits.
- For more students to come to the CU.
- For other opportunities for Mim and I to be of further use in the school.