CCHS baccalaureate service

Erick Kalenga
Published: June 7, 2008

Today is the baccalaureate service at the Culpeper County High School. At 3 p.m. this afternoon seniors will be gather together to celebrate their accomplishments with their families and friends. Most importantly, they will be thanking God for His provision and support throughout their high school careers.

Erin Cooper, one the seniors, who attends Culpeper United Methodist Church said: “Things got incredibly worse after my freshman year. I started losing friends and a very important relationship ended, never to be the same again no matter how hard we tried.

“I continued to attend youth group but I didn’t have the feelings as I had the previous year. I felt like all the sin was closing in around me and I had nowhere to go.

“I didn’t open my heart back to Christ until April of 2006, when I attended ‘Awakening’ at King’s Dominion. God really spoke to me through a skit. The skit revealed the way that God sacrificed His son to die for our sins on the cross.

“I realized then that sin wasn’t closing in on me because God wasn’t there. It was closing in on me because I let it do so. This wonderful realization brought about my favorite Bible verse, Psalm 55:22. It says, “Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustaining you, He will never let the righteous fall.”
“I focused on this verse con-stantly, always when I was having a difficult time. It helped me pull through many of the times I faced during my sophomore year. Getting back on track with God and continuing to be involved with church activities almost filled my heart to the brim.”

One of the seniors who will be giving his testimony said: “I had found a way to have no negative emotion or thought. I gave up having a conscience and accountability. I went to church and faked my relationship with God.

“This went on for another year where I affected so many lives in the wrong way and felt so dark and alone. With my attitude still expressing a carefree and non-caring view, I began using drugs. I loved doing it because it was fun and I was around people that loved doing it too.

“I was involved in relationships that were too free and I kept spiraling downward. Then God spoke to me. All He said was “you’re not gonna do this anymore, this is as far as I will let you hurt yourself.”
“I was so freaked out, but surprisingly open to this revelation and I stopped everything that I was doing wrong. God began to heal me and show me all the times He had been there even when I denied Him. Though this testimony is far from complete, it is the first time in my life where God made Himself completely evident that He was for me, He’s my Savior as well as everyone else’s who claims His blood.”

Another senior who will be giving his testimony said: “My senior year has been full of ups and downs. When I started first semester, I felt lonely because I wasn’t with my closest friends. Even at lunch, sometimes I felt alone.

“Second semester became somewhat of a relief because I was with my closest friends again, but still I felt a sense of emptiness. I can remember coming home a couple of days feeling like all hope was gone.

“I went to Bible Study one Wednesday and tears flowed out of my eyes as I tried my best to explain to my mom what was wrong. What I did know was that the enemy the devil was trying to get in my head. I thought I would never get out of this stage of my life.  I figured out that while God was making me stronger, the enemy was trying to tear me down and break my faith.”

I’m so grateful to be a part of this year’s baccalaureate services and to have the opportunity serve with my fellow Christians in making this event a success.

My appreciation to Mr. Dietz, Culpeper County High School principal and to Mrs. Kelley Pearson, assistant principal. for her support and commitment to the baccalaureate service.
I would like to encourage family members of the Class of 2008 to attend this great and memorable service. There will be praise music and more testimony from various seniors. Congratulations, class of 2008, and remember with God you will do great things.

Erick Kalenga is an independent columnist who appears Sundays in the Star-Exponent. He lives in Madison County. E-mail