Gò0dNews for Teens
Advice to Graduates
A
by Abdiel Medina
fter 1 year of preschool, 5 years of elementary school,
what you need to hear. Our Father knows what we need
3 years of middle school, and 4 years of high school,
to be uplifted spiritually and emotionally, so let God work
I have finally graduated. It feels like time has flown
through you to encourage others.
by fast, but a lot has happened in the process—especially
Here is an example of how God has worked through
surviving a pandemic! When I reflect upon my journey in
others to encourage me. I was recently recognized as the
high school, something I take away is that we need to seek
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Athlete of the Year
opportunities to encourage people daily. Every day there are
from a group of 7 schools. I also had the honor of receiving
people struggling and hurting around us. Even in Cleveland,
the Chris Leggett Memorial Scholarship. What people may
the “Bible Belt,” there are a lot of teens struggling with adult-
not know is that throughout the school year, there were
sized problems. We cannot afford to wait until we start seeing
many times I almost gave up on the FCA Ministry.
red flags in a person to intervene—it could be too late. The encouragement of others needs to start today. You do not need a fancy sermon or any special words to
I was passionate about the FCA—a calling God had placed on my heart. However, it was a big challenge because I had stepped up as president and had to learn how to lead
encourage someone. The key is to be genuine and let God
the FCA amidst a pandemic and Covid protocols from the
speak through you. If you are fake with the words you use,
school. I am grateful that God placed Coach Eric Phillips
it could actually hurt the person instead of helping them.
in my life. He served as my FCA sponsor and would
Furthermore, our Holy Father knows the words a person
constantly encourage and believe in me. My family was
needs to hear.
also a big encouragement to me throughout the FCA, they
Hebrews 4:12 declares, “For the word of God is living and
helped carry the burden of stress from the overwhelming
active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division
times I experienced. Due to the encouragement they
of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the
gave me, I was motivated to keep on going with the FCA
thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Ministry. I had many opportunities to share Christ with
God knows all of the thoughts of our heart and how to connect with us on a personal level. When you pray to Him to give you the words of encouragement to share, it
people at my school and help Christians grow as leaders and in their walk with Christ. After reflecting upon my journey in high school and the FCA, I have come to recognize the great need for us to
everyone has experienced moments when someone has
encourage others and to be around people that encourage
wrote you a letter, sent you a text, or maybe you are just
us. By doing so, we are demonstrating God’s love and
listening to worship music on the radio and it is exactly
helping fight the good fight.
24 // July 2021
About The Author
is amazing the impact it can have on a person. I am sure
Abdiel Medina is an energetic nerd, CHS Alumni, and college bound for Lee University! He desires to pursue Christ, and help others grow as leaders and in their walk of Christ!
