It’s the end of the beginning

Erick Kalenga
Published: June 14, 2008

High school graduation symbolizes the end of one long chapter and the beginning of a new one.

Most of the young people graduating have turned 18 years old. In other words, they are stepping into adulthood. Most of them are not prepared for this sudden change. I believe we need to be intentional in preparing the youth intellectually, emotionally, physically and most importantly, spiritually. I truly believe that with God they will go through anything and come out strong.

On June 8, I sat on the front row at the baccalaureate service held at Culpeper County High School. I was so blessed to see Erin Cooper, Kyle Majors, Ashleigh Peters, Ryan Mack and Ian Burk share their life stories.

These young people talked about the struggles they faced throughout their high school years. All of them recognized the need for family support and, most importantly, the need for God in they lives. The five graduates who gave their testimony also talked about the role that the local church played in their lives.
I believe it is very important to be part of a local church.

Olin Froid said this about the meaning of church: “The word comes from the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which means a group of people called out for a special purpose. Not a building, not a structure or an establishment, but people! The early believers gathered at the temple courts to worship and preach and teach the Word left to them through Jesus and His apostles and also meet in private homes for fellowship and worship.

Public gatherings in the temple complex became difficult as persecution of early believers got worse and the home became even more important. Christianity received formal recognition within the Roman Empire during the 4th century, and modern worship centers and buildings began being built. This gives us the current showcase to what we call a ‘church.’”

Here’s part of what Erin Cooper shared about the meaning of church to her: “Four years ago when I moved to Culpeper, I wasn’t close to God in a way that I wanted to please Him in everything that I did. 

“Right now, as a graduating senior, I want Him to use my life for His will. I started my first year of high school excited and ready to meet new people. I began going to youth group at Culpeper United Methodist Church every Wednesday evening. 

“I began to grow in the youth group, and I was gaining better friendships with people in the church than I already had with friends at school. I originally started attending this youth group to be closer to the person that introduced me to the church. We’ve grown apart since then, but I could never thank him enough for bringing me to this church that is like a home to me. 

“As I grew in youth group, I also began to grow in the church as a whole. I participated in multiple church activities, went on several trips with the group, joined the choir, and eventually joined the worship team. This church gave me a sense of belonging that I had never felt before.

“Things got incredibly worse after my freshman year. I continued to attend youth group, but I felt like all the sin was closing in around me and I had nowhere to go. 
“At this point I didn’t even acknowledge that God was still there.

“Prayer just didn’t seem to work anymore. I didn’t know what to do in this situation. 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.

“After my sophomore year I went on my first mission trip.  I had the amazing opportunity to help others physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“ I started my junior year strong and ready to work. I had given my whole self to God and I wanted Him to use me in any way that He needed that year. I went on a three-day trip to the mountains, where you’re surrounded by others that are your age that are walking their paths with God.

“That experience has held me together with God for my entire senior year.”
                             
Let’s pray for these precious souls as they are trusting God for this new phase of their lives.

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