Class of 2006
Congratulations on your Graduation
from Des Moines Christian School!
May God lead you, guide you and bless you
on your life journey.
That your roots will go deep into God’s Word
That you will be filled with the Holy Spirit
And that you will blossom and bear much fruit in Jesus’ Name
And that NOTHING will be able to separate you from the Love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39
We look forward to hearing from you when you celebrate milestones or have good news to share…
College news/graduations – Engagements – Weddings – Babies – Promotions – Missions -
You can contact the Alumni Association at dmcsalumni@dmcs.org
Welcome to the DMCS Alumni Association!
P.S. Don’t forget to sprinkle a little salt wherever you go! Matthew 5:13
Valedictorian Address
By Chelsea Lorey
5-27-06
Dr. Stouffer…Mr. Steddom…Mr. Goeldner…faculty and staff…friends…family…and classmates.
I have attended Des Moines Christian for eight years. During this time, I have been amazed with how all of you have shown your love for each other. I’ve seen you give each other hugs when they are hurting most. I’ve seen you give encouragement when the recipient least expected it. And throughout all of this, I stand in wonder of how much love each of you has for your friends. But then I wonder, is this really it? Or does God’s love encompass more than the tiny environment which we call our comfort zone? I believe it is made clear that it does in John 13:35, in which Jesus says, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
In this verse, Jesus speaks of a love that directs people towards Him without words. What is this love? I cannot explain it, but I can tell you how it made Jesus act. He made friends with those very people who would be shunned by the church today. He wasn’t afraid to reach out to those who weren’t popular. Is this the kind of love that we, His followers, should be exhibiting? I believe so. While this is something that I struggle with myself, please bear with me, as this is a message that is dear to my heart.
Our faith is more than words; it is demonstrated by how we love and accept others. In a radio interview, Donald Miller, a Christian author, refused to defend “Christianity” when asked to. When the interviewer questioned him as to why he wouldn’t do this, he responded by saying that so many Christians today have misrepresented Christ by their actions. These Christians would rather condemn sinners than reach out to them and show them Christ’s love. Because of this, many have been turned away from Christ. This story always forces me to consider what I would do if I were to run into one of these alleged sinners. What kind of Christ would I represent? Would it be Jesus Christ, the Son of God, or my own false made-up god?
And what about the people that we run into day-to-day, the people at work, class, or elsewhere? Although we may act friendly towards them, that is generally not the attitude of our hearts. Frequently we all adhere to what has been called the “lifeboat theory.” This theory suggests that we all are on a lifeboat in which one person must be thrown overboard in order for the others to survive, and so we are constantly trying to prove ourselves to be better than others so that we won’t be the person kicked off. And so we all avoid the people with a lower status, a feeble attempt to prove our worth. But yet, while looking at this, I can’t help but wonder why we must follow this system. What about God’s love that isn’t limited by a person’s popularity? What kind of Christ am I being to these people?
I realize that it is impossible to be every single person’s best friend, but I have also come to realize that what we, the body of Christ, do doesn’t exactly represent the God that loves each person on this planet. And so I urge each of you today to care. To care for the lonely and brokenhearted. To care for those Christ calls you to, but the church may not encourage you to. To care for friends, enemies, and even people you may never know. As we leave this building today, each of us heads towards a different world and a different life. This is our chance to change our world, to make a lasting difference. God has called each of us to make this difference by showing His love to all of the people that we meet. And so I challenge you all to impact your world, wherever you may find yourself, with the love that God has placed in your hearts. Thank you.
Valedictorian Address
By Angela Stieff
5-27-06
Four years ago, at our 8th grade graduation here at DMCS, I gave a speech. It was long and boring. I want to avoid both of those today.
And so… in conclusion… congratulations to the class of 2006.
Seriously, I do want to make this short and sweet. I have just two things to say.
First off, I am thankful for my 12 years here at Des Moines Christian. I am thankful for…
Teachers who taught me phonics and candy bar sales.
Walk a thons, spelling bees, and the math Olympics.
That we’re finally in Timberline and for the new, improved hot lunches.
The senior lounge.
My coaches and all the memories I made with friends.
So thanks to the family, friends, and faculty who make DMCS work.
The second and final thing I want to say is a word of encouragement from the apostle Paul:
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
So, let’s leave the past behind and press on in our faith to the great things God wants to do in our lives.
But don’t forget the past too much. Pretty soon the Development office will be giving you a call asking for your contribution… Because after today, we are all alumni of Des Moines Christian School.
So Congratulations and God Bless!
Salutatorian Address
By Daniel Wright
5-27-06
Dr. Stouffer… Mr. Steddom… Mr. Goeldner… faculty & staff… friends… family… and class mates.
It is an honor to be a part of the first Des Moines Christian School graduating class to have attended classes at the Timberline campus as well as the twentieth graduating class.
Now that we are graduating it is time to think about what we will have to face when we step out into the unsheltered world. What kind of problems will we face? What situations will arise? Will we continue to seek after God?
According to a ten year study done by the Assemblies of God denomination 75 percent of their students fell away from God within one year of graduation from high school. Another study put on by Southern Baptists found that 88 percent of their students fell away within that first year as well. Finally the Josh McDowell Ministries reports that overall 94 percent of students fall away within two years of graduation.
I know that this may all sound doom and gloom right now, but I think it is something that we need to carefully consider. Our beliefs will be put to the test wherever we go. So what do I propose we do?
Suggestion 1: find refuge in God
A band by the name of Stavesacre wrote a song called Gold and Silver that I think has an important message for us. A portion of it says:
Do I see God in all of this, maybe all along
It’s just that we’re so small, and simply not as strong
Strong like wings of silver, and feathers made of gold
To carry heavy hearts, to cover all our helpless souls
To cover all of us
Under wings of Gold and silver sometimes we have to hide
For shelter from this bitter winter at least tonight
Under God’s wing of gold and silver is where we need to be when our faith is being shaken. In Ruth 2:12 it says, “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wing you have come to take refuge.”
Suggestion 2: have a group of peer supporters
Rodney L. Cooper once told this story
After Mike (a buddy from the Houston Oilers) had been out of football for a while, I asked him what he missed most about pro ball. I was surprised by his answer. He said it was when they got in the huddle on the field. I asked him why. He replied that in the huddle you felt safe. It was a place where you could come and get encouragement, direction, support, and correction. It was also a place where you could regroup for the next phase of the battle and know that you had ten other guys with you to help you win...
Like Mike, every man needs a huddle. He needs a safe place where he can go and get what he needs to enter into the next phase of life’s conflict. If a man’s going to survive - no, win - the battles of his life, he must have a huddle of good men around him to cheer him on and bandage his wounds in the midst of the fight. He needs to know that he has men around him who will celebrate with him in the good times and do whatever it takes to bring help and healing in the bad times.
As we go off to college we will be losing the huddle that we have known for so long here at school. It’s important that we find somewhere on campus or at church where we can get plugged in. To find a place of service, to find those who will keep us accountable and challenge us in our walk with Christ, and to find someone to just have fun with. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up.”
Fellow seniors I am challenging us to take refuge in God as well as seek refuge in others. Now, as we begin our new journey are we going to continue to seek after God or let ourselves become just another statistic?
Class of 2006 Harbor Cruise
May 2006