Grateful goodbye
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on May 22, 2016 1:45 AM
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Sarah Denlinger, left, Raleigh Anderson, Madison Coker, Patrick Riley and Madeline Clark celebrate their graduation from Faith Christian Academy Friday night. There were 19 seniors that graduated from Faith Christian Academy this year.
Kenneth Matthews has a lot of good memories of his five years at Faith Christian Academy. But the one that he will cherish the most is as a new student at orientation.
"My classmates accepted me when I first came here," he said. "I didn't know anybody when I first came. On orientation night, they gave me high fives and shook my hand. They welcomed me with warm arms. They treated me like their own brother. And I'm an only child."
Matthews was one of 19 seniors to graduate from Faith Christian Academy Friday night. Not even the rain could dampen the spirits of the graduates.
Matthews came to the school when his grandmother and grandfather found it on a website and decided it was for their grandson. Matthews said at the school he learned a lot Biblically and academically.
But math proved a bit challenging for him.
"I never was a strong person in math," he said. "It was terrible, terrible, terrible."
Going into the next phase of life, Matthews will enlist in the United States Army. But he plans on taking college classes while in the Army to become an officer.
"I believe that God will help me through it," he said.
Joseph Phaneuf was also surprised by how accepting his classmates were when he first came to Faith Christian Academy three years ago.
"I was surprised by the heart and care given by all the teachers," he said.
"And I'll always remember an inside joke by my class that became known as 'The Rapunzel Incident.' I accidentally said something inappropriate in front of the entire class when reciting the Rapunzel fairy tale. I got a detention because of it."
Phaneuf said the school has definitely helped prepare him for a future as a counselor, helping troubled teens and recovering addicts.
"It's something I've always been interested in and something I think the Lord is calling me for," he said.
Jacob Wallace knows that the future will be a battle, but knows he's ready, with God's help.
"They've poured so much into me here and helped my Christian walk," he said. "It's amazing. It's an impact that I'll never forget. It has changed me forever."
Wallace will attend James Sprunt Community College for nursing.
"I just feel like that's where God's pulling me," he said. "And I also plan to serve my local church in the music department."
During commencement, valedictorian Olivia Pierce thanked all the parents for placing their child at Faith Christian Academy. She said without that decision, the class of 2016 would be incomplete.
"Tonight marks not only the end of one chapter, but also the beginning of the next," she said. "I look forward to seeing that the Lord has in store for all of us as we go our separate ways. If we seek God's will, I know he can do great things with each of our lives."
Salutatorian Madeline Clark called the parents "backbones."
"You have sacrificed more than any other group of people in this room," she said. "We cannot say thank you enough for all the time, money, late nights, tears and sacrifices you made for us."
To her classmates, she said, "I ask all of you to see tonight as a beginning, not an end. Whether you are going to be a teacher, preacher, secret agent or a singer, you will face challenges, but God has equipped you to be ready for the obstacles ahead."
Ms. Clark ended with a quote: "It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end."
Senior pastor Christian Powell talked about the difference that the graduates can make in the world for God.
"Jesus has always demanded and deserved absolute commitment; there's no turning back," he said. "There are things in life that will call out to you to settle for less than 100 percent commitment to Jesus. There will be times when you need to reassess what will hold you back from 100 percent commitment to Jesus."
Powell challenged the graduates to "leave behind what will hold you back from Jesus' clam of absolute lordship in your life."
He told them that the next four or five years of their life is very critical and very important to their future.