When summer hits, professors practice what they preach—leaning into areas of interest that oftentimes go beyond their immediate field of study. 

This summer, Ashley Woldman, a lecturer in the nursing department at Calvin, had the opportunity to serve as a background extra on The Chosen—a film series about the life and ministry of Jesus while on Earth.

“I road tripped down to Texas (where the filming took place) in August to film for three days. While I can't share everything that I took part on during filming (due to spoilers), I can share that the majority of my filming involved the sentencing of Jesus to die on the cross,” said Woldman.

How did this opportunity come about?

I have been a loyal fan of The Chosen for a few years now, and I'm part of various email and text notifications from The Chosen. Earlier this spring, a message was sent out that the team needed background extras for season 6, which is mainly centered around Jesus' death. I followed all the appropriate steps to sign up as a background extra, and a few days after signing up, I was notified that I was officially accepted.

What was your favorite aspect of the experience?

My favorite aspect of the experience was being surrounded by so many loyal and enthusiastic Christ followers. It was humbling to hear their stories of faith and see how joyful they were about their opportunity to help spread the gospel in a very unique way.

How did you develop this interest outside of Calvin?

I initially heard about The Chosen through a woman from my small group at church. After I started watching the first season, I fell in love. I love The Chosen because it truly makes the gospel come to life in a way that can really foster great understanding and relatability. It's a form of spiritual self-care for me, as I find a lot of comfort and peace from watching it.

Any way to apply what you learned during your summer adventures to your work with students at Calvin?

I have used clips from The Chosen in many of my classroom teachings. With being in the nursing field, I particularly gravitate towards one part of The Chosen that talks about pain and suffering. This part goes into detail on how people can view their suffering as part of God's plan and as purposeful in their lives. It really allows students to see how there can be hope in suffering.