I have been working my way through the New Testament and found myself this week in 2 Corinthians. Thursday, I made it to the third chapter which opens with these first three verses,

“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

This was so cool for me, as just the night before I’d sat with my friend Debbie at her dining room table till 11pm hashing out our very own letter. She has been working on my sponsor team with me for three years now, and each year the Senior Sponsors write a letter to the senior class to be published in the yearbook. I loved, having just written them a letter, to consider that even as we were writing a letter to them, they are OUR letter we’re sending out into the world, the result of our ministry, in hopes that others might come to know Christ because of their interactions with them. Even as they are our letter, I thought I’d share the letter we wrote to them, a beautiful summary of who the class of 2026 was, and who they have become in these past four years of walking closely with them, loving them, mentoring them, discipling them, training them, teaching them and generally doing life alongside them:

To the Class of 2026:

No matter how we begin, words could never fully capture the love we, as your sponsors, have for your class. It has been an honor to watch you grow, thanks for letting us journey with you!

You have grown so much in your time here at RVA. Each year has brought its own challenges, and you have faced those with intentionality and determination. A significant moment for change and growth began during your Sophomore year with the selection of your class verse:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

It is obvious that this became a real goal for you as a class and it is apparent now in how you interact and care for one another.

The idea of sitting by the other gender, or crossing pre-determined friendship lines caused pause in your younger years. Now various groups can be found around campus in the gym, in hammocks, or at the Hupps spending your time playing “imposter” or “code names,” laughing together over silly connections or goofy games of telephone. Other times, you’re deep in thought caring for one another as you listen to the heart of what is going on in one another’s lives.

Many of you have been purposeful in how you live out your faith. You model sincerity in your walks with the Lord to underclassmen on campus through baptism, leading early morning worship on the art porch, assisting with Titchie Sunday school, and participating in community partnerships down in the valley. God has been moving and working in your lives, not as spectators to His work on this campus but as active participants.

After learning to work together in 9th grade sales, you executed an incredible sophomore restaurant, serving the staff well even in the midst of a little Kung-Fu Panda-monium. From that process, you learned to work together, to problem solve together, to serve together, and to respect each other’s gifts and talents, which served you well as you crafted an incredible banquet. Having chosen one of the most difficult themes to execute, you plowed ahead with an unearthly determination to make sure your evening glowed, bringing joy to all those that attended. Simultaneously, you applied for Sr. Store manager positions, filling the need for the next phase of leadership in your class. As a class you successfully achieved your goal through diligently and cheerfully showing up to each Store and Teddy’s shift.

The growth your class has displayed is indescribable. You’ve come to a place of maturity, kindness, compassion, and joy. You are stepping forward into this next phase of life, ready to transition into the ADULTS God has called you to be. Throughout your high school years, our prayer for you was to grow in restoration, encouragement, unity and peace. As you graduate we continue to pray for you, asking God:

“that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9–11

With ALL of our love,

Your sponsors