Cookies & Christ: A study in faith with food

Sara Cheesman has finally found her voice and that voice has led her to start an after-school Bible study club at MacArthur High School (MHS) this year.

The club had its beginnings when Cheesman attended Falls Creek youth camp this summer.

“God told me I was going to start a club. I hold Him that He was crazy. I don’t like to speak in front of people,” Chessman said during an interview after a recent Bible study meeting.

Cheesman said she told God that if she was meant to start the club, then He would have to provide. Cheesman shared her thoughts with a classmate, who encouraged her to talk with Amber Hughes, a counselor at MHS.

“As soon as I stepped out in front, God provided,” Cheesman said.

From that conversation with Hughes, Cookies and Christ was born. The club meets every Thursday after school and features a testimony from a student, a Bible lesson from Chessman and cookies. The cookies serve a two-fold purpose — they feed hungry students and they get others involved. Community members have volunteered to make cookies as have other club members.

The main purpose of Cookies and Christ, Cheesman said, is to encourage students to live out their faith not only at school, but in the community. Cheesman selects a Bible passage each week, shares it at the club meetings where members discuss it, and then she asks questions about the passage.

One recent Scripture was 1 John 3:3-6, which refers to Jesus coming to take away our sins.

“We talk about Jesus and not to Jesus,” Cheesman said in her remarks as she talked about sin and repentance.

Cheesman asked the students what the passage meant to them.

“You say you are a Christian not with your lips but with your heart,” one student replied.

After the Bible study, Cheesman explained how starting the study was a step of faith for her.

“The thing that changed my faith is that I was with God daily,” Cheesman said. “I was quiet in class. God did what he did with Moses. He did it because I met God daily.”

John Wheeler, MHS office accountant, can attest to the change in Cheesman, who was always quiet in class and never spoke up. Until now.

“God called her to found this club,” he said after a recent meeting.

Cheesman has been surprised by the number of students who attend. She started by putting up posters and by word of mouth. Twenty-two students attended the first meeting and numbers have continued to increase.

“I should have known God would take small things and turn them into something big,” she said. “I was really nervous at first. But God equipped me with what to say. I think God just needed someone to get this started in school and He called me to get this started.”

At least two students are glad Cheesman heeded God’s call.

“I like that it’s a student-led Bible study,” said Oscar Rodriquez. “It’s helpful because you are learning from another student in a more relatable way. I get a lot more out of it. I feel like here I am free to talk more. I still learn from Sara. She goes to a different church, but it’s the same God.”

Jesse Lopez said the Bible study helps him to cope with everyday life.

“It strengthens my faith to share the gospel,” he said. “I’ve always been praying about the struggle with depression and anxiety. It strengthens my faith and I’m not afraid to share the gospel.”

Lopez said Cheesman sends him quotes every day to encourage him, and he tries to apply the Bible teachings to his life.

While Cheesman wants those in the Bible study group to “become strong in their faith and to share that with other people,” she doesn’t want the club to be insular. She wants club members to reach out to the community and is making plans for some outreach activities.

“I want the club to be something where we can share the love of Christ with the community. They (students) learn the love of Christ and learn to give back,” she said.

Cheesman grew up in church. She attends First Baptist West, where she sings in the choir with her mother, Carrie Scales, who teaches at MacArthur Middle School. Scales also is a former Children’s Director at a local church. Cheesman participates in Operation Christmas Child, where church members send boxes of items to needy children around the world.

She isn’t sure yet what the future holds.

“I want to do something that glorifies God. I have always loved music. I went to State last year for singing. God gave me that gift. I want to do whatever I can to glorify God and help people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from or where you’ve been, God can use you right where you’re at.”