Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Amy Hunt - "It has been an honor to watch the Class of 2026 grow from our days in Elevate 6! What amazing young men and women you are! Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). Trust in the Lord with all of your heart (Proverbs 3:5), and remember that you are Iron (Prov 27:17), you are Salt, and you are Light (Matt 5:13-16)."

John Bakelaar - “God has some AMAZING things planned for you. Just look at what he said in Jeremiah 29:11. As I have said to you many times, do not let people tell you that you cannot be successful and achieve your goals and dreams. I have so much confidence in your ability to achieve your goals. Go for it!!! Just remember, God is always there to hear your prayers.

Bless you guys. You will be in my prayers daily.”

Ben Jeanfreau - “In this world you will have trouble...you will find strength to endure all things to the degree that you walk in your eternal value.  Seek divine approval over human applause.  Seek to develop your character over material accumulation.  Being rooted in Christ will be your true source of contentment. I do pray that you have learned some Chemistry from me.  Mostly I pray that God's grace will be upon you.  Love God.  Love others.”

Leslie Lee - “Be the one. Remember the story in Luke when Jesus heals 10 lepers, but only one comes back to thank him.  (Luke 17:11-19).  Be the one who is grateful.  Gratitude is so very important in life, especially during the bad times.  Give thanks always.  Be the one.”

Mr. DeLaughter - “This group is special. They are so talented in so many ways, in the classroom, on the stage, on the ball field or courts. Their academic and extracurricular successes speak for themselves but that isn’t what is special. Their love for the Lord and each other makes them different. Couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Amy Thornton - “You are graduating into a world that changes fast, asks a lot, and rarely gives perfect timing. Even so, you’ve already proven something important: you can adapt, learn, and keep moving forward when things are uncertain.

Some of you know exactly what comes next. Some of you are still figuring it out. Both are completely normal.

Your value is not measured by one acceptance letter, one job title, one salary, or one moment of success. The people who build meaningful lives are usually the ones who stay curious, keep showing up, and are willing to begin again when plans change.

As you move into this next chapter, remember to keep God at the center of your life. A Christian life is not about being perfect — it’s about walking in faith, showing grace to others, and trusting God even when you cannot see the whole path ahead. Let your character speak louder than your accomplishments, and let kindness, humility, and integrity guide the way you treat people.

Take your ambition seriously, but don’t lose your sense of humor. Work hard, but protect your peace. Stay open to opportunities that don’t look like the original plan. A lot of the best chapters start that way.

You do not need to have your entire future mapped out right now. You only need the courage to take the next step and faith that God will guide you where you are meant to be.

The Class of 2026 will bring new ideas, new leadership, and new energy into the world. The future is not waiting for someone else to build it, it’s waiting for you.

Congratulations, God bless you, and keep going.”