VCA Jr High Commencement

Intro

Congratulations to the class

You have completed the most academically rigorous Jr High program on the Central Coast

That is something to be proud of

Proud of Kaycie Van Horn

Tonight I want to ask you the question: What will you take from here?

Besides a good education what will remain with you as you move on next year?

It won’t be your friends because most of you will have new friend groups in high school

It won’t be your grades, they don’t transfer

I want to show you two things you will take from VCA

The Apostle Paul lays them out to the Thessalonians

1 Thess 2:8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well

The two things that you will take from this school is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Model of love the staff showed you

The Gospel of Jesus

Paul traveled the Mediterranean telling people about the Good News of Jesus Christ

From the first day you arrived on campus the Gospel has been shared with you

I have seen Mr Mason squeeze it into prayers at football games and directly share it at open houses

Everyone who works here knows how the Gospel changes lives

They are passionate about it

They want everyone to know that once man sinned God enacted a plan to send his only son to earth to pay the price for our sins on the cross. If you recognize that you are sinner and that Jesus offers forgiveness you will be saved from eternal death and spend eternity in heaven.

That is the Good News or Gospel

How many of you started here in preschool?

I bet its safe to say you’ve heard the gospel 1,000 X’s

Do you believe it?

You will always have that

The Model of Love

The second thing that you will take from here is the model of love

The Apostle Paul didn’t come into cities and just preach, he gave his life to the people

You will never find a group of people that love and care for you as much as this group of teachers have while you are here

Fail a test? Come to my class afterwards and fix the wrong answer while I help you

Play a sport here? Most of your teachers are in the stands

Going through a hard time outside class? They are there to pray with you

Heck, Mr Dueck had a health issue with put him in the hospital and he still taught his Bible class the next morning while telling the nurse to back off till he was done.

The staff here models the love of Jesus everyday