casX 2016: Called & Chosen – A Transformative Week for 42 Children
casX 2016 was an extraordinary success, welcoming 42 children for six days of music, worship, discipleship and personal growth. Under the theme “Called & Chosen,” the week focused on helping every child understand their God‑given value, far beyond their ability to sing, play an instrument, or write a song.
Many who were there would say this was one of our most impactful conferences to date.
As part of our partnership with the London School of Theology (LST), several LST students joined the casX team to assist in teaching and mentoring. Below, Jemimah – one of our 2016 volunteers—shares her experience.
Jemimah’s Experience
“In the summer of 2016, I volunteered at CASX: Called and Chosen, and it was an incredible experience – one I would gladly repeat. I taught singing to children aged 7 to 17 and shadowed Carl and Diana Stanbridge in the band clinic, where children formed bands and prepared worship songs for the final showcase.
I also had the privilege of discipling the children throughout the week. Even simple moments, like teaching table manners at mealtimes, became meaningful opportunities to encourage and guide them.”
Jemimah served alongside a team of around ten volunteers:
“The team was supportive, spiritually mature, and genuinely encouraging. We communicated well and worked beautifully together.”
She recalls many moments of growth, but one story stands out:
“A young girl was too afraid to sing the song her group had written. She began to cry at the thought of performing alone, so I offered to sing with her. We held hands and sang together. By the end of the week, she was confident enough to perform a solo in the showcase. Journeying with her through that fear was incredibly special.”
Throughout the week, the children blossomed in musicality, spiritual maturity, friendship, and care for one another. With classes ranging from singing to art in worship, they were encouraged to try new things, stretch themselves, and encounter God in fresh ways. The lecturers were deeply invested and inspiring to learn from.
Jemimah also experienced her own growth:
“Teaching singing for the first time stretched me as a leader and confirmed that I’d love to teach children after I graduate. I also learned from the children to be free in worship, one evening a child started a conga line, and all the adults joined in!
I spent time supporting some of the older girls, who often felt self‑conscious in worship. It reminded me of how I felt at their age and encouraged me to invest in them more intentionally. One evening, I was able to talk through some ‘boy issues’ with a young girl and share part of my own story.
Most of all, I learned that God loves when we come to Him like children – open, honest, expectant, and unreserved. I felt God equipping me to be a young role model for the girls, which was a blessing and a privilege.”
