Rebekah Smith is graduating from Buchanan High School. She is going to Clovis Community in the fall majoring in Kinesiology. A few highlights from Rebekah’s youth ministry experience was when the leaders shared their testimonies as well when we went to Mount Hermon in 8th grade. One of her favorite verses is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rebekah likes this verse because it gives her hope for what's to come. God is working in all times good and bad. Her faith has grown in the last few years through the act of intentionality. She has learned that it takes intentionality to have a relationship with God for her life to be fruitful. Some advice Rebekah has for current high school students: "It is important to serve but it is also necessary to be poured into. Without an older adult 'spiritually filling' you up there will be nothing left for you to give. Be intentional about loving new people and making them feel welcome and loved, but make sure there is also an older wiser person in your life who is investing in your journey.” Rebekah asks for people to pray for her to have boldness in Christ and learn to trust his plan even when it doesn’t match her own.

 

 


Emily Joy Hartsell is graduating from Sanger High School. She will be attending Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ in the fall as a part of a 5 year program to pursue a major of Theology with an emphasis in Global Missions and Masters of Divinity. A highlight from her time in the Rooted Ministry is traveling in SCOTT’S CAR! Over Spring Break one year the youth group attended Break Away at People’s Church. Everyone learned that Scott’s car is the best one to be in. From McDonalds to Starbucks to Lolas, his car made all the stops and definitely made everyone else jealous! A verse that Emily has written “senior year” next to in her Bible is Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Making so many huge decisions senior year gave her great anxiety but God was there right beside her the whole time; even in hardships she can know comfort and joy through him. Emily’s faith has grown from setting aside time each morning to spend with God and reading his word. Reading through the entire Bible in a year and giving up sleep each morning was not easy but she has come to know her Savior more because of it. The best piece of advice she has ever received is: “If you want to know God’s will you have to read his word.” You have to cultivate your garden in the winter time if you want to see fruit in the spring. When times are hard, when you don’t feel like praying/reading your Bible, then that is the most important time to do so. If you want to know God, read his word, no matter what season you are in, and you will see abundant fruit. No matter what hardships you face, struggle well. Emily is a planner and likes to be in control. She always will appreciate prayer for her to trust God and not have anxiety about what will happen next and take it day by day and be completely abandoned to God.

 


Kyana Grunberg is graduating from Sanger High School and plans to attend Azusa Pacific University in the fall to pursue a degree in Allied Health with a Business emphasis. Highlights of youth ministry this year were participating in the annual Santa Cruz Retreat and having Meagan come speak at Sanger’s FCA. Kyana’s favorite verse is Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” This reminds her that there is more to life than the “physical” actions of living in her faith. Kyana has grown in her personal relationship with Christ and is learning what faith looks like for her as an individual apart from her family. A word of encouragement to current high school students: “High school is a great time to test and explore what faith means to you, while still being in the security of your friends and family.” Please pray for her to continue to learn and grow while attending APU. 


Kate Hancock is graduating from Bullard High School. She plans to attend Fresno City College in the fall and pursue a degree in Kinesiology. One of her highlights of youth ministry is being able to go to Guatemala for a mission trip, both in the summer of 2018 and the summer of 2019. Kate’s favorite scripture is Psalm 71:1-5, “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.” This is her favorite because when she starts to feel alone she can read this and feel the love God has for her and that he has and will always be here with her. Over the years Kate has definitely learned to put ALL of her trust in God that it will all turn out the way it’s supposed to be. She sometimes tries to take control and only trusts in herself but then she has to be reminded the hard way that her way isn’t the right way. Something that Kate would love to tell the other students is: to find a small group of people at church that you trust. Finding those people to help you and walk through life with you will make it a lot easier to grow in faith. She encourages them to not be scared to ask questions. Asking questions is how we grow in our faith. Kaye would love prayer for her to continue to trust God even though it seems risky. Just knowing that he is always with her.

 


Joshua Perkins is graduating from Clovis North High School. He plans to attend Concordia University Irvine majoring in Music Education in the fall. A highlight from his high school experience would be going to a spring Joni and Friends retreat where he became friends with people who have special needs. His favorite verse is Joshua 1:9, because anytime he feels anxious (which happens a lot) he remembers this verse, and it calms any uncertainties or worries that he experiences. Joshua’s faith has grown in the last few years by how he treats other people. He is much more thoughtful in what he says, and cares more about others. A word of wisdom to current high school students would be: to care less about what others think about you. Their opinions don't come close to God’s opinion about who he created you to be. Please pray for Joshua that he will adjust to college life easily and experience peace as he leaves home.

 


Katherine Radke is graduating from Clovis West High School. She plans to attend Fresno State University in the fall and major in liberal studies in hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher! She really enjoyed the Jr. High Spring Break trip where we served around Fresno because it was so fun! Her favorite verse is Psalm 92:4, “For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.” Katherine’s faith has grown in different ways over her high school career. A word of advice for other high school students: is to not lose sight of what is important in life and what matters to you, but, even if you do God will always be there no matter what mistakes you make!

 


Caroline Radke is graduating from Clovis West High School. She plans to attend Fresno State University in the fall pursuing the Pre-Health program. Her highlight in youth ministry at FPC was participating in Hume winter camp as a senior. Caroline’s favorite verse is Nehemiah 8:10, “Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'” You can pray that she would be strong throughout college and know God is with her.


Will Dau is graduating from Edison High School. He will be attending Fresno City College in the Fall. He plans on playing tennis at FCC.

 


Esther “Mimi” Dolan is graduating through CHEFA: Christian Home Educators of the Fresno Area. She plans on working and attending Clovis Community in the fall. Her favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 4:6-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Esther’s word of advice for current high school students: “Don’t let what other people think affect your decisions.” Please pray for Esther’s relationships and include God in every part of her life.


Abbie Jo Tacchino is graduating from Roosevelt High School. She is planning to attend Fresno City College majoring in Theatre in the fall. A couple highlights of Abbie’s youth ministry experience are participating in High School summer camp at Hartland and serving on the Jr. High Mt. Hermon Spring Break trip. Her favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” These verses are special to Abbie because they help her stay grounded in the fact that God is not of the world. His love for her and the rest of his creation can not be compared to the love of earthly people. Verse 5 in particular has encouraged her when she was anxious or afraid. A word of wisdom to current high school students is to: “Make sure your relationship with the Lord is only about you and Him. It’s not about what everyone else sees. You don’t need to prove anything to Him to be loved, so you have nothing to prove to other people." She asks that you join her in praying for God to make clear the paths and choices to make in this season of transition and for her to find rest in God’s plan for her life.