A summer school chaplain leading a group devotion.
In summer 2025, a partnership between A City For God and the Center for Urban Teaching (CfUT) brought chaplaincy into a busy season of learning. Over five weeks of summer school, following two weeks of preparation, chaplain interns shared the gospel with more than 1,500 students, staff members, and family members.
The program's theme was “Sweet 16,” marking CfUT's sixteenth summer school year. Proverbs 16:24 helped shape the message: kind words can offer encouragement in the middle of demanding days. Across 19 school days, chaplains connected that theme with Bible stories and opportunities for personal conversation.
More than a daily devotion
A school chaplain's work includes teaching Scripture, but the ministry also happens outside a scheduled presentation. In their reflections, the 2025 interns described comforting students, praying with exhausted teachers, responding to family concerns, and helping school staff understand lessons they could share in the classroom.
Chaplain Lawrence explained that arriving with a willingness to listen mattered more than arriving with every answer. Some days called for prayer with a teacher carrying a heavy burden. Other days called for sitting beside a student through a difficult moment. That consistent, relational presence was part of the program's purpose.
Supporting teachers as well as students
School ministry serves the entire community. One chaplain described leading staff devotions and Bible studies while also checking in with teachers individually. Another spoke about prayers and encouraging conversations with teachers who felt pressure from the demands of the profession.
These observations are not a formal study of employee retention. They do, however, show what staff-centered spiritual support looked like within this particular Christian school partnership.
A summer with lasting connections
A City For God believes that relationships formed in a classroom can extend into families, congregations, and the wider Milwaukee community. We are grateful for the chaplain interns, educational partners, and supporters who made the summer possible.
To learn how our chaplaincy ministry partners with schools, explore our Programs page or start a conversation about a potential partnership.
