Metro Christian Living is pleased to present the two scholarship winners for 2013 Christian Leaders of the Future. Over 125 high school seniors from more than 40 different schools submitted essay applications, answering questions about their faith and leadership experiences. The applications were reviewed and scored by a diverse panel of judges working independently. Scores were tabulated, and the two winners are featured here.
Max Bloomingburg
Oak Grove High School
Heritage United Methodist
Favorite Bible Passage
My favorite Bible passage is Romans 12. The entire book of Romans is great, but Chapter 12 specifically tells us how to live as Christians. Verse 1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” This is one of my favorite verses, because this tells us that our lives should give glory to God. Not only our words, but our actions have to glorify God. It says that the true way to worship Him is if we offer our lives to God. This means that everything we do should be pleasing to the Lord so others will give glory to Him. Then it goes into spiritual gifts and how we should use them to strengthen the Church. I really like the latter part also because we as humans tend to seek revenge, but it says that the wrath of God will take this revenge for us. We should do well to those who oppose us to show them the light. If we live our life by this chapter then we will be living sacrifices for God.
Activities and Service to Others
I am the Co-President of First Priority, a Christian club that meets to strengthen people’s relationships with God and further his Kingdom throughout the school. I also am a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I play varsity baseball. I feel that I definitely try to be a light for our team. For our community, I have volunteered for our local ARC organization to help special needs children focus on having fun rather than the difficult challenges they face. At church we go on many trips. This past summer we went on a trip for Service Over Self—a foundation that hosts churches all over the southeast to help a very poverty-stricken area of Memphis. We reconstructed houses and supplied many
Future Plansother needs to the people we helped. I am involved in disciple-group with some other guys from my church and meet to further our knowledge in the Word, and do many service projects to help out locally in Hattiesburg. Missions Hattiesburg was something we did this summer where we just did many jobs to help out locally and spread the Gospel. I also lead Sunday school for the boys in middle school in the youth group. We also have Bible study and I try to offer guidance with what God has shown me.
I believe that the Lord has blessed me with many talents and resources. I feel that the Lord has called me to the medical field. And not just to make a lot of money, but to use it and go overseas and open up a free clinic in Algeria or Haiti. I heard a statistic that said over 90% of people in Algeria have not heard the Good News. That blew me away. So if I opened up a clinic and provided a physical need for them, I feel they would be more receptive for a spiritual need.
Amanda Covington
Madison Central High School
Colonial Heights Baptist Church
Favorite Bible Passage
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer,” (Romans 12:12). First of all, this verse reminds me that I can always be joyful because of the eternal hope that I have in Christ. Joy is not just a happiness that goes and comes. It is a peace of heart. The verse also reminds me that I need to be patient during hardships and focus on God and what He wants to teach me. Lastly, this verse tells me that I always need to pray no matter where I am, what I am doing, or in what situations I find myself. Being a Christian is not about accepting a religion, it is about having a relationship with the Creator.
Activities and Service to Others
At Madison Central High School, I have been a member of the Reveille Show Choir for three years, and I am honored to currently serve as a captain of the 64-member group. I have been a member of the varsity power lifting team for five years where I received third place in my weight class at the Mississippi State Championships and was named the Region 2 Lightweight Flight Outstanding Lifter as a sophomore. I have also been a member of my school cheerleading squads for four years. I even pole vaulted for the track team for three years until there became too many scheduling conflicts. I am currently a student leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, secretary of the Thespian Troupe, secretary of the Drama Club, and a member of the Interact Club. At church, I currently serve as a small group leader on Sunday nights for girls in seventh through tenth grades. I have enjoyed getting to serve as a mentor to them and form close relationships that I know will continue long after I leave the youth group. I have also performed as part of the Solid Ground Drama Team, served as a chaperone on various middle school trips, and worked as a Bible story teacher and recreation leader at Vacation Bible School. I enjoy volunteering with my youth group at We Will Go Ministries and Mission First in downtown Jackson.
Living My Faith Intentionally in a World That Is Becoming Increasingly Antagonistic Toward Christianity
John Stonestreet once said, “Whether the world spirals up or down, we still need good Christian leaders.” During the Summit Ministries conference, we specifically talked about the need to intentionally live out our faith. In order to do that, I realize that I will have to not mind being different. I plan to continue to have a daily quiet time, become actively involved in the Baptist Student Union on campus, and find a local church to attend while away at college. I will continue to pray at meals and make time to actually stop and pray with someone when they ask me to pray for them. I will be willing to miss certain parties and dress modestly even when that is not the popular thing to do. I want to be so full of Christ that I overflow with His love. I want to share God’s word with everyone I come in contact with and stand up for what I believe no matter the cost. I plan to intentionally live unashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
