Joshua Award recipient delivers powerful commencement challenge

Good afternoon! On behalf of Worthington Christian's Class of 2013, thank you for joining us for our commencement ceremony.

 So... We're finally here. It's pretty unbelievable, honestly. For some of us, including me, it's been 13 or 14 years of Worthington Christian education, depending on how many years of preschool we had. For others, it's been maybe a 6 or 7 year stay here at WC. A few people have jumped in just during high school - I think of people like Andrew, Alyssa, Seth, and even one of my newest friends, Stephen Becker, who was new to WC just this year. You guys feel like you've been a part of the family for much longer than that.

But for however long we've been at WC, I'm sure that we can all still agree that we're very grateful to so many people who have been involved in our lives thus far. Mr. O for teaching us that history is all just HIS Story. Mr. Clutz, who is no longer a bachelor to the rapture, for teaching us through his example that what other people think of you and your pursuit of God doesn't matter. Mrs. Fischer for teaching us that you really can't ever pray "too much..." - even if it's multiple times in one class period. Mrs. White for showing grace to my friends and I as we hid each others' textbooks around the room and as Jason and I relentlessly air-drummed all our favorite metal songs. Miss Bell, who faces obstacles doing everyday things and who I've never once heard complaining. Mrs. Klapheke for bringing the hammer down in Music Theory, and for teaching the choir about excellence in musical worship. Dr. Buzz for teaching us that laughter is good medicine. Mr. Anglea and the Anglea family, for the encouragement their journey of faith has been to all of us. We have so many people to be thankful for here at WC.

 Because the Joshua Award is an award about leadership, I'd like to thank those who have poured into my life and also those who have given me opportunities to lead. Mr. Heath, Jeff Mason, Dan Hermiz, Randy Kettering to name a few... Thank you for placing me in positions of leadership at school and church. Thank you for celebrating with me when I have done well, and encouraging me when I've messed up. I'm so thankful for you.

 Thank you mom and dad for loving me unconditionally, encouraging me, and for carrying my electric guitar gear around all over the place. Thank you for trusting Jesus and allowing your little boy to go so far away as he pursues God's calling for his life.

 Thanks to the Worthington Christian Bible Department for passionately teaching us God's Word, and about what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

 I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have known Jonathan Blusiewicz, and for how God used his life to bring the Class of 2013 closer. Likewise, I'm so very thankful for our trip to the Dominican Republic. I'm thankful for getting to catch just a glimpse of the Kingdom of God, and for how the Lord used it to bring our class even closer.

 And that brings me to my challenge for you guys, my peers of the Worthington Christian Class of 2013.

 We know all this "stuff" now, right? That's what we call it at WC. The "head-knowledge" of the Bible. Well I would love it if that was enough. But you know as well as I do that it's not enough. As we go off to college, some of us will probably experience Jesus in a fresh, exciting way. Maybe the Worthington Christian education won't mean anything to us until we experience Jesus outside of our teen life, away from WC. But for others... Others of us will run away from Jesus, looking to anything and everything to satisfy us, before realizing that the only thing that truly satisfies was right in front of us at Worthington Christian.

 Let's go, Class of 2013. Let's not be men and women who have to go looking for satisfaction everywhere else and hit rock bottom before we decide to love Jesus. Let's not wait for the "A-Ha!" moment we think is coming. If you haven't already - let's start now. Let's chase after Jesus now with a passion that is insatiable. Let's allow Jesus to shine through us in a world that is filled with darkness. Let's remember what we've learned at Worthington Christian and apply it to our lives. It's not going to be easy in a world full of sin.

 But that's my charge to you, Class of 2013. Let's proclaim our faith boldly and without shame. Let's be leaders wherever God puts us. In a world full of people who are looking for answers, God has equipped us with a Worthington Christian education to lead. Just as Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land... Let's go and do the same. Thank you.

 by Josh Beatty