CHS Blog

CHS encourages service to the community and particularly to the most vulnerable.

In the spirit of James 1:26-27 “look after orphans and widows in their distress” and Philippians 2:3-4 “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

We work to reinforce in our students' servant leadership and a desire to think of, serve and help others.

CHS has been sending students out on projects for many years in groups as large as 40 and as small as 5.  Projects have included a wide range of work; those as simple as yard clean-ups and assisting a non-profit with organizing supplies etc., to a full “mini-home makeover,” including construction of a handicap ramp, roof repair, painting and landscaping.  

The Lord has allowed us to participate in the lives of several special and sweet families over the last 15 years with this program.  Beginning with Donna in Lake Wales, Florida, who was a single mom raising her severely handicapped daughter, Laurie, 20 yrs old, was in a wheelchair and non-verbal, requiring full 24-hr care.  Our senior class could not relieve this care burden. However, they were able to take care of the many things around the house that Donna had been forced to let go.  The seniors painted, landscaped and in 10 hrs completed a beautiful makeover.  At the end of the day, we took a photo of the class with Donna and her daughter in front of the newly beautified house. We presented a copy to Donna before we left, just as a little reminder of the kids who wanted to bless her.  I needed to stop back at the house a few days later to finish some minor details.  Donna invited me into the house for some water, at which time I saw the 8 x 10 photo of our seniors with Donna on the living room wall in the center of many family photos on display. Donna had immediately added our photo to her wall of special family photos. We had become “family.”

Leaving Donna’s home, I was struck by the impact our kids could have on someone’s life with even a small investment of care and love in action through tangible work that they would likely not be able to do or afford to have done.

This began a 15-year-running investment in families' lives.  I’ve been so grateful to the families that the Lord has brought onto our path and the manner in which our students have answered the call and challenge.  

All of our projects have been special and meaningful, but possibly the most impacting project came when we had the chance to meet a relatively young family in Florida.  Garrett and his wife were in the midst of life raising two teenage children when illness struck Garrett, leaving him blind and wheelchair-bound.  This illness causes significant hardship and financial strain, as we can only imagine.  When I met this couple, their small house was in major disrepair and the yard had been severely neglected.  I found out later that they had been praying for help and were at a point of heavy depression and not having any idea of how to take care of their home.  As I began to let them know what we wanted to do, Christine just began to weep and thank us even before a paintbrush had been applied or a shovel put on the ground.  The idea that they were remembered and thought of was overwhelming to her. At the end of a long day of work, on a variety of levels throughout the yard and house, we finished and wanted to say a quick goodbye.  When offered some encouragement to the family, Garrett grabbed me to say, “Of course, you know that I’m blind, and I cannot see the work that your group has done. However, I can feel the joy it has brought my wife and children and I want to say thank you to your kids.”  Naturally, I brought the class over, assembled them in front of him while he sat in his wheelchair on the deck that we had just built, let him know they were there so he could say whatever he had in mind.  He touched my arm and said no, “Please have them come to me one at a time so that I can hold their hand and thank them individually”. Well, you can only imagine that as the 35 of us went through this heartfelt act of appreciation there was not a dry eye in the group.  A special day and moment in time that I’m sure none of us will forget!

This spring we had the blessing of being able to send multiple groups out to encourage and provide support.  We had a group go to the Hopeline Pregnancy Center, provide clean-up work at Twin Brooks Park, worked on prep for an historic school house project, sent a small group to Mrs. Simon’s (our Marketing Director) mom's house to help with work on her porch, returned to a widow in Stratford who we helped last year for follow-up work and sent two large groups of kids to two local families in Seymour, both of whom are facing very difficult challenges.

For the first family, we did a mini-home makeover for an 87 yr.old widow who lost her husband 6 months ago and is living in a house that they had built together 60 years ago.  The kids were able to paint, landscape, restore a small garden fountain area and provide her with a renewed pride in her home and property.  She kept walking around the house saying “I can’t believe this, nothing like this ever happens for me”. The neighbors came out to admire the work and express their support. Just a great day!

In the case of the second family, the mom is facing chemotherapy and sadly lost her husband two years ago to cancer and is now raising their teenage twins on her own.  When I met with her, she could not have been more positive and sweet in spite of the overwhelming challenges she's facing.  In our discussion she mentioned she loved to garden and really enjoyed flowers.  She believed we were just coming to help clean up her yard and cut back brush, but while she was away (she was actually getting chemotherapy treatment) the kids with a few adults built a beautiful garden with a sitting and potting spot for her.  Her daughter arrived home first and sent her a text, “Mom, you are going to love what they have done.” She texted me after she got home to express her overwhelming joy at what was created…she could not believe it. She kept saying, “it’s so beautiful”. We pray that as she and her kids sit out there and enjoy this space that it not only brings them joy but that it reminds them of the love of the Lord and His care of them.

John Naeher is the Director of Student Life & Operations.  He started at CHS in the fall of 1981 and began his 43rd yr in the fall of 2023.  His daughters, Amanda 06', Alyssa 06' and Abigail 10' attended CHS from K-12.  John has had the privilege of coaching several teams, sponsoring many Senior Classes and been a part of building community at CHS throughout his career.  “CHS has been a rich part of my family for which I will always be grateful.”

When I first stepped into the Café at Christian Heritage School, it was not yet a café.  It was 1981; I was a CHS student and Mrs. Wahlberg was the librarian and that space was her domain.  She had it neatly arranged with posters on the wall encouraging us to read just for fun. The books were all in their place on the shelving, and the tables were in clusters, allowing us to sit with large groups of friends. Mrs. Wahlberg knew that the small school I had just transferred from did not have a library, so she greeted me warmly and took extra time to show me how to find books and sign them out.  I spent the next five years creating many of my favorite memories in that room; some of them actually involved studying. Though if you know me, you would know that the memories I cherish the most are the ones where I was sitting beside my friends, talking, giggling, and sharing in one another’s lives. Ultimately, building relationships, some that would last for generations.

When I came to the end of my senior year, I stood in that library, wearing my blue cap and gown.  I had anticipated the excitement that my graduation would bring, but I was surprised that it was woven with hints of sadness.  Christian Heritage had become my home away from home and my heart hurt at the thought of leaving it.  That was forty-four years ago.  Since then, three of my daughters have attended and graduated from Christian Heritage, and although I spent some time away, I never quite left entirely.  That’s the way it is with “home”, isn’t it?

Our world has seen many changes in the last forty-four years, among them is a very different way of enjoying a cup of coffee.  Coffee shops have become a place to hang out with friends, a safe place to meet acquaintances. They’re a quiet place to study or write papers; a common ground to hash out relational issues or just to get to know someone better.  People go there to unwind after work, treating themselves to their favorite drink as a means of celebration or consolation.   In short, it has become less about the caffeine and more about community.   The Kingsmen Café is much the same, with one major difference: the community that we are striving to cultivate is a Christ-centered one.

The world’s view of community is often me-centered.  “How can you improve my life? Make me feel better? Bring me more income? Further my career?”  But throughout scripture Jesus commands us to love one another. He calls us to do life together, not for the good of ourselves, but for the good of our neighbors; ultimately to bring glory to our Father. I Peter 4: 8-11 says: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  

This verse is the heart of what we hope to emulate when encouraging community in the cafe.  

If you were to wander into the Kingsmen Café at any given time you would be able to witness tables of students with a warm cup of coffee and open books, studying side by side.  Or you may see students huddled in the corner quizzing one another on their bible verse for an upcoming test.  If you are truly fortunate, you may be treated to the harmonizing sounds of the boy’s ensemble, practicing in the loft, their voices low and barely detectable, but beautiful nonetheless.  After school is another story; the excitement of the day's end is palpable and sometimes deafening.  This is the time that the younger students are given access to the café and are able to enjoy picking out their treat. They choose their snack, then count out their money and hand it over the counter to one of the women who work here.  You can see their faces light up in the process, delighted by their newly acquired independence.  Sometimes the older children in line will step in to help, much to the joy of the star-struck little ones. The laughter at that time of day is contagious.  The conversation is fluid; creating a continuous hum from 2:30 to 3:30.   Every thought that the students have had to hold in throughout the day seems to overflow once they reach their friends in the café.  In this room, it doesn’t matter if you’re five or one hundred and five; you’re welcome and you belong. 

I’m going to use this opportunity to make a pitch to all who are reading this.  Come check out our little café.  Stop in when you drop your student off and witness the beauty of our children gathered together around the tables.  Or bring a friend during the day and sit down for a cup of tea or coffee, letting them see for themselves the value of the God-centered community that you are investing in for the sake of your children.  It doesn’t matter how many years go by, that is one fundamental thing that has not, nor will ever change in our school.   

It is my prayer that one day, when your student has completed their time at CHS, they too will stand in the room that was once my library but is now their café, and think to themselves: “there’s no place like home.”

Lorna Tyrrell is the Kingsmen Café Manager.  She graduated from Christian Heritage in 1986 and went on to major in Early Childhood Education.  She taught preschool for many years before becoming a stay-at-home mom to daughters: Olivia, Rebekah, Mary and Naomi.  Lorna began a career in baking in 2013, learning her new craft of cake art at a local bakery.  She has continued this passion while helping at the Kingsmen Café; stepping into the Manager position 2 years ago.  When she's not baking or creating coffee, she can be found soaking up the joy that her six grandchildren bring.