Vineyard Boise honors high school graduates

Story by Holly Brower

Photos by Jason Echeverria

I am what I have become
But I am becoming what I want to be
And as we go on with the rest of our lives
Don’t forget from where you came

- Taken from O.C. Supertones song Forward to the Future

Friday night May 4th, 2001, eight graduates and their families were escorted into a candle lit room with a table reserved for each family. The tables were exquisitely set with china, a centerpiece, sparkling cider, and a menu of the evening's dinner. Childhood and senior pictures of each graduate were displayed on another table while music from a guitar and djimbe floated in the background. This was the scene of the first Vineyard Junior/Senior Banquet, planned by the juniors for the seniors in our youth group. It was a night to honor, thank, bless, and pray for the outgoing seniors. 

“We want to recognize the significance of this time in the lives of our seniors- to look back and celebrate their incredible accomplishment, and also look forward to the exciting things God has for each of their lives” said Youth Pastor Trevor Estes.

After the meal Trevor asked a father and two of the graduates to speak to the seniors and their families. John Kennedy Sr. advised the graduates to listen to God and obey Him. He said that when he asked God how to know if it was Him speaking, God said "Spend more time with me, spend more time with me." He told the story of Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22. The point John made with this story is that God used a donkey so he can most definitely use us- take advantage of that opportunity. John also told them to "Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and mind and you will win the prize!" 

"God is the only ingredient that will make you completely successful. Bread won’t rise with out yeast, and we can’t live with out God." Hilary Dotters articulated. She encouraged her fellow graduates to daily lay down their lives for God and to pick up their cross and carry it. 

"When I think of my future I see a great hall with thousands of doors and if I go through a door it is another hall with more doors," expressed Nich Brower. He told the story of his parents as children, and went on to tell of their marriage and life and how God provided for them while they were jobless, in college, and missionaries. At the end he emphasized that if you completely trust in God that He will provide for you and will change your life. 

Senior Pastor Tri Robinson shared his wisdom with the graduates and told of his high school and college days. Tri shared that his plans were different than Gods and that the Vineyard was the last place he would have expected to end up. He agreed with John that you need to spend time with God to hear Him. In closing Tri told the seniors to spend time with God, be open to Him and to follow Him.

After the speakers each graduate came up and received a gift from Trevor while he related to the audience some of the special things he had seen in each senior’s life. The seniors then shared their plans for the future; 

Each proud family then surrounded their graduate and prayed for them and their futures. As not all of the high school seniors were able to come to the banquet we extend our prayers and congratulations to them as well. 

"What a waste of an education if after all these years they don’t have the good sense to say ‘no’ when told to wear what looks like a pizza box on their head." 

- humorist Dave Berry