The Rev Michael Hyam - Chaplain and Head of Biblical Studies at Macarthur Anglican School

Being chaplain at Macarthur Anglican School is such a fulfilling ministry. Before I began at Macarthur, I had trained as a primary school teacher, been a youth and children’s minister and, more recently, lectured and been the academic dean at Youthworks College. 

Alongside two assistant chaplains, school ministry involves eight weekly chapel services, teaching Biblical Studies to years 7-9, and Studies of Religion to Year 11. There is also a combination of assemblies, events, meetings to attend with staff and students, and weekly school sports each Tuesday.

Each student attends chapel once a week, giving us an opportunity to share the gospel regularly with about 1200 students and staff. Teaching and administration staff attend devotions each morning and, over the year, attend professional development in their Chistian faith, life and teaching.

Ministry also extends beyond the classroom to the wider school community. Throughout the year we run Hope Explored and Christianity Explored for parents and carers. I also have regular gospel conversations with parents and grandparents in the school community. I’m not a trained counsellor, but there are always opportunities to pray and care for students each day.

God at work 

In God’s kindness, we see students come to a saving faith each year. Recently, I discovered a student had become a Christian at our lunchtime group’s weekend away. Another Year 12 student came to faith through conversations with her science teacher. It’s wonderful to see God at work. 

It’s also a privilege to help students explore Christianity and begin to take it seriously. Seeing students take a stand for Jesus at school and talk publicly about their faith is amazing! Once a term, the student ministry team runs a chapel service and shares their testimonies and how God has worked in their lives.

We don’t hide that we are a Christian school. Students will be challenged with the Christian faith and appropriately invited to respond, but of course there are challenges. As I walk to the pulpit to speak at senior chapel, in front of about 200 students aged 15 to 18,

I feel the weakness and the power of the gospel simultaneously. There’s nothing about me or my personality that will change people’s hearts. It’s only God that can do this.

Another challenge is that a large portion of students are “apatheists”. When I started at Macarthur, I was surprised by how many kids weren’t atheists but, instead, were apathetic towards God. This was evident after I taught a unit to Year 9 on the history of the Bible and the historical Jesus. After the final lesson, one of the students said to me, “Rev, I can see how Christianity is true but I just don’t care”. The challenge of engaging apathetic students… please pray!

Chaplaincy amid deep grief 

As you may be aware from media reports, last year one of our students died in a terrible accident at the end of the school day. Cameron’s death was a tragedy for our school and even more so for his family. For many, the grief continues. 

The two weeks immediately after the accident were particularly hard as the school community dealt with the grief and trauma of the incident. With the help of other schools across Sydney, we managed to ensure that students and staff who needed help received it. There was a lot of hurt and there is still ongoing trauma for many.

This year, on the anniversary of the accident, the school opened a quiet garden area within the grounds called Cameron’s Corner. A plaque has been placed where Cameron used to sit – this is a space in his memory. 

As you can see, the ministry of the school chaplain is diverse. At the heart of the ministry at Macarthur is a desire for students, staff and the school community to know and love Jesus. For all those involved to know the grace and mercy of God, and respond in faith. My prayer is that all Anglican schools would be the “fragrance of life” to many. 

Please pray

• that we would not be ashamed of the gospel, and would proclaim it clearly and in ways that will engage our school community 
• for our chapel services and Biblical Studies classes to help students engage with Jesus and the gospel. Pray for the chaplaincy team as we share the gospel and our lives
• for Cameron’s family and our school community as we continue to grieve the tragedy of his death
• for students to move from apathy and see their need for Jesus 

This is part of a three-part series on school chaplaincy.
This story is part of our Choices: Anglican Education feature in the June-July edition of Southern Cross magazine