Different Gifts, Different Service | Rev Sally Yabsley-Bell

Ever wondered how your unique gifts could be a blessing to others in mission and ministry? In our new series we feature the many faces across our Church who are serving where they are, with what God has given them. We hope that it will be a blessing and an inspiration. 

Meet Rev Sally Yabsley-Bell 

I'm the School Chaplain For Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange where I teach, speak and model the Love of God to all people involved in the school and the wider community.

What you love about being involved in this ministry?

I love finding ways for people to connect their faith life with who they are as they grow into who they want to be. Working in a school, the diversity of people and ages I speak to daily keeps me on my toes. I work across pre- K to year 12 and with the staff at the school. I love not knowing what someone is going to ask about. The lessons where the students are so connected and invested in what we are learning that they don’t want to move on to the next part, they want to stay questioning and exploring the topic or story. I love seeing the moment people are challenged in who they are and watching them grow and use the new understandings we have been learning about. There is no more humbling place to work then in a school where the students can see if you are not fully present with them and they will call you out on it. They inspire me to make sure I am ready and switched on every chance I get with them.

What do you find most challenging?

Because I work across both the senior school and the junior school, I can be in all places at once. I get FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when I can’t make it to an event to support the students. Some of the best conversations I have with staff and students are in the spaces between classes or at break times. I love being available to go on camps and excursions to make these important connections. But it can be challenging to get everything done and to be everywhere.

What you are looking forward to in your ministry/church in the year ahead?

I feel so privileged to see children grow and mature each year. Being able to see students who previously might have struggled with confidence then step up and take leadership positions or find their confidence backstage helping out on a school musical. I get to be a part of their lives and I am challenged to breathe the love of God and the blessing of the gospel into their school life and see how that forms them as they grow up. The blessings in school chaplaincy are far too many to count, and I am grateful for every day I get to hold this role.

Anything else you might want to share?

I am an Ordained Deacon in the Uniting Church of Australia, and as such when I run a chapel service at school, I wear my deacon sash or stole. When I am tacking a class for religious studies I don’t wear my sash. One of my favorite moments this year was when a student in year 2 student called me over to whisper to me that he knew it was still me, just with out my “little disguise”. He said, ‘Rev Sally, I still know its you even without your little disguise’, as he was gesturing across his body indicating he meant the deacon Sash I were at chapel. Now every time I get ready for chapel, I feel a little bit like superman putting on his glasses to become Clark Kent. I was able to talk about what my sash was and why I wear it and the students all like to comment on when I change its color and what that means. Schools’ ministry is filled with amazing moments just like this.

We'd love to tell your story

We would love to tell the story of your ministry in your Congregation. Simply get in touch and we'll send you some questions.

If you are interested in telling us your story, simply send an email to contactus@nswact.uca.org.au.