Serving Side by Side

There are times when God reminds us that the relationships built inside our Cornerstone classrooms are about so much more than academics.

This summer, He did just that! 

Cornerstone first-grade teacher Brooke Calabrese and the Cooley family traveled together to Jamaica to serve with Starfish Jamaica, a ministry that cares for families with children and adults who have special needs. While serving alongside one another was special enough, what made this trip even more meaningful was watching first grader Barrett Cooley serve on mission with his first-grade teacher! 

A Connection Only God Could Orchestrate

Starfish Jamaica is led by Brooke's cousins, Larry and Debbie Boling, whose own story is one of God's redemption. After each lost their spouses, the Lord brought them together through ministry connections, and today they faithfully serve nearly 70 families across Jamaica. Their love for these families is unmistakable, and the joy with which they are welcomed into each home is a beautiful picture of Christ's love.   

For years, Larry had encouraged Brooke to come serve alongside them.

"My cousin Larry has been asking me to come down for years," Brooke shared. "We both share a special love for international missions."

As God began stirring Brooke's heart to lead a team, He had already been preparing another Cornerstone family.

When Brooke first met Emily Cooley during a parent-teacher conference, the two quickly realized they shared much more than a student-teacher relationship. They bonded over adoption, missions, and a shared heart for the nations. Looking back, it's easy to see how God was already weaving together a plan neither of them could fully see.

"When the stirring got stronger to lead a team, I asked Emily to meet up," Brooke said. "The conversation went something like, 'I'm thinking about taking a team to Jamaica...' The next thing I knew, Emily had signed up her whole crew."

That "whole crew" included Barrett.

When the Classroom Became the Mission Field

There's something incredibly special about a student getting to serve alongside his teacher.

Mrs. Calabrese had already helped Barrett navigate his very first year at Cornerstone. Now, instead of classroom lessons and morning routines, they found themselves adjusting to life in Jamaica together, serving families, praying over children, and sharing the love of Christ.

For Emily, watching that relationship continue beyond the classroom was unforgettable.

"How cool was it that Barrett got to have this experience with his teacher?" she shared. "Mrs. Calabrese helped Barrett adjust to his first year at Cornerstone so well, and now they both adjusted to life overseas so beautifully. She has been such a blessing in our lives."

It's a beautiful reminder that Christian education doesn't end when the school day is over. Sometimes the greatest lessons are lived out together.

Serving the Least of These

Throughout the week, the team delivered food, prayed with families, led worship during Vacation Bible School, shared stories with children, and brought encouragement into homes that often face overwhelming challenges.

One of Brooke's favorite memories was watching her cousins interact so naturally with the adults and children with special needs.  "Many of them could not speak," Brooke said, "but their physical response to Larry and Debbie was a glimpse of heaven."

She also treasured watching her own daughter, Bella, step boldly into ministry.

At just 10 years old, Bella embraced long, hot nights without air conditioning, limited showers, and unfamiliar conditions with incredible joy. She led worship during VBS, loved on children and adults with special needs without hesitation, and confidently prayed over children in front of groups of adults.

"I loved hearing my daughter pray for kids in a foreign place with such confidence," Brooke shared.

For Emily, the trip reinforced one of her greatest desires as a parent. "To invite our children into serving, especially cross-culturally, has been one of my greatest joys," she said. "The kids handled loss of power, no running water, and some pretty intense heat like champs. They navigated cross-cultural work so well and found so much beauty and joy in simplicity. What a blessing to watch their little hands and feet be the hands and feet of Jesus around the world."

A Backpack Filled with More Than Supplies

Before the team ever boarded the plane, the Cornerstone community had already become part of the mission. 

Families generously donated backpacks for Starfish Jamaica's annual school supply outreach. Thanks to their incredible generosity, there were enough backpacks for every one of the 70 families the ministry serves.

What may have seemed like a simple backpack became something much greater. It became a reminder that someone across the ocean sees them. That someone cares. That they are loved, not only by a school community in Georgia, but by a God who never forgets His children.

A Mission That Continues

While the trip may be over, the work certainly isn't.

Brooke left Jamaica with a list of every family they visited, committed to continuing to pray for each one by name. She also hopes more churches and mission teams will answer the call to serve alongside Starfish Jamaica.

"Larry and Debbie need people willing to come and be the hands and feet of Jesus," Brooke said. "I hope this leads to more prayer for families with special needs and encourages more churches to send teams."

At Cornerstone, we often talk about partnering with families to disciple the next generation. This summer, we saw exactly what that can look like.

A teacher investing beyond the classroom. Parents inviting their children into Kingdom work. And a school community giving generously. Because sometimes the greatest lessons aren't found in textbooks.
Sometimes they're found carrying backpacks, praying in unfamiliar places, and discovering that wherever God calls us, He faithfully goes before us!

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Stories like this remind us that God can use willing hearts anywhere, from Jamaica to our own community. That's exactly the heart behind Cornerstone Cares Day, and this year, we're excited to introduce a fresh new vision for this special tradition. Stay tuned... we can't wait to share what's in store!