Staff Spotlight: Lee Ann Shaum

Library, Yearbook

What’s your favorite Bible verse and why does it speak to you?

The bible verse that speaks to me is Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything…and the peace of God…will guard your hearts..” I have dealt with worry and anxiety my whole life. This verse reminds me that I don’t have to carry those things because God promises to give me peace when I lay those at His feet.

What’s one way you see God’s faithfulness in your everyday life?

The fact that I am still alive is His faithfulness. I came close to dying three times in 2023.

What’s your prayer for your students this year?

I pray that my students encounter God’s love in tangible ways through relationships, reading, and relying on Him.

Staff Spotlight: Tyler Welch

7-8th Grade Bible

How has your faith shaped the way you teach?

My faith has shaped every aspect of my life, teaching just being one of them.  As I teach the Bible, I am very passionate about the way the Bible should be taught.  Bible class is not math class, history class, or English class and I passionately believe that it should never feel that way to our students.  The Word of God is a beautiful love letter that God has gifted us.  I never want it to feel like a stressful, legalistic, rulebook that stresses students out.  At this incredibly moldable age of our students, if they see the Bible and Bible class as a hard, stressful, and not fun class and book, then when they leave CCA they will adopt the mindset that the Bible is hard, stressful, and boring.  This CAN NOT be, because it is not accurate of beauty of the Bible.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the Bible, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I mean obviously Jesus.  But other than that, Daniel.  How were you so faithful in such a hard environment?

What’s one piece of encouragement from Scripture you’d give to CCA parents this year?

As a middle school teacher and someone who spends lots and lots of time with students at this age, middle school is hard.  I have had hundreds of conversations with middle school and high school parents in my near decade of youth ministry and have so many thoughts based on this question.

1) Teach a Biblical Worldview at home. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

2) Model following Jesus. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

3) Model confession and repentance at an age appropriate level. (Proverbs 28:13)

4) Create an open communication environment in the home. (James 1:19)

5) Celebrate your student(s) following Jesus at a higher level than when we celebrate them in sports or arts.  (3 John 1:4)

Parents, you are doing a great job! Teenage years are hard.  And we are not in control.  But the God who created them, loves them, protects them, and died for them is!  And we can find rest in that truth!