Quoting the lyrics of a country song, Kevin McKoy reminded seniors at Newnan High School’s Baccalaureate on Sunday that people live – and die – based on the choices they make.
McKoy, who was among the NHS graduates in the same sanctuary for Baccalaureate 21 years ago, is now pastor of First Baptist Church in Lithia Springs. He was the speaker for Newnan High’s just-before-graduation tradition on Sunday.
“Will I be ethical? Will I be honest? Will I live life my way or God’s way?” McKoy asked the graduates.
“Will I live for myself or others? We want to live for ourselves. You know it’s true. It is the default setting on our lives. It’s all about me, me, me,” he said.
“Following Jesus,” McKoy insisted, “means living for others.”
Northgate High and East Coweta High also held Baccalaureate on Sunday afternoon. East Coweta’s service was held at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. Jeff Chandler, pastor of Southcrest Church, brought the challenge to the ECHS graduates.
Sara Catherine Sykes, 2012 class president at East Coweta, welcomed parents and friends – as well as introduced Chandler.
Prayers were given by Chandler and Meg Marchbanks, class secretary. Reading scriptures were Jenna Heard – class treasurer, Meg Marchbanks, Courtney Glover and Sykes. A group of East Coweta students sang, and special music was also provided by the Southcrest Church Worship Band.
Northgate’s Baccalaureate was held at Crossroads Church. Drew Karschner, high school pastor at Crossroads, presided and brought the message. Marius Cox, a Northgate senior, also spoke.
Seniors in the Northgate chorus – Shannon Ames, Amy Blount, David Higgins, Andrea Jackson, Jordan Lunstead, Jason Price and Jake Slagle – sang “One Moment in Time,” led by Rachel Gordon.
Emily Rollins read from the Old Testament, and a New Testament reading was given by Chad Gardner. Luke Ayers, assistant high school pastor at Crossroads, welcomed those present and led in prayer.
The benediction was given by students Tyler Wallace.
At First Baptist, Mike Emeott, executive pastor, offered a welcome. Julia Huster, the church’s organist, played for the processional and recessional. Brian Morgan, minister to students, introduced McKoy.
Allie Haydon and Mason Brantley gave the Old Testament and New Testament readings, respectively. Prayers were offered by Caroline Wyrick and Maya Crawford.
The Newnan High Senior Ensemble sang “For Good,” directed by Elizabeth Rollins.
McKoy said he is not much of a country music fan, but he related the 1999 accident of country superstar George Jones. Jones was drinking when his vehicle struck a bridge. His next album, Cold Hard Truth, included a song, “Choices,” which featured the lyrics: “I am living and dying by the choices I’ve made.”
“We all live and die by the choices we’ve made,” McKoy stated. “We can all use some help to navigate life better.”
The ability to make intelligent, thoughtful choices is something “that separates us from the rest of creation,” McKoy said. “God gives us the gift of choice.”
While many choices have little significance, others are life-altering. In some cases, McKoy said, the choice is between life and wholeness versus damage and destruction. He outlined “some big ticket choices” for the seniors – what kind of work to do, who to marry, where to live.
Choosing a career is “a huge choice,” McKoy said, impacting not only a job and income but training and school. He also noted that many of the graduates, in contrast with their grandparents’ generation, will likely have several different jobs during their lifetimes.
Deciding on “the person you vow to stay with for the rest of your life” is a major choice. “For a Christian, it’s an even more important one,” McKoy said, referring to biblical instructions about believers marrying other believers.
“The community that you choose will have a huge impact on your lives,” McKoy said. Schools, politics, church, commerce and other facets of life can be quite different from one community to another.
McKoy said for believers there are “decisions we need to make again and again.” Choosing whether to be obedient to God or follow one’s own will is a choice that presents itself regularly.
“To choose to live by self will is a dangerous thing for a believer,” McKoy said. He said Christians also have an obligation to grow spiritually, which means devoting time to reading the Bible, prayer and worshipping and fellowshipping with other believers.
“You need to make an intentional decision to grow,” McKoy said. “Don’t be a fence straddler. Don’t be a pew sitter. Choose to see what God has for you. Choose life.”
Following each of the services, students gathered for photographs with each other and with family members. A reception in honor of Northgate’s students followed the service at Crossroads.
The tradition of Gideons giving orange New Testaments to Coweta graduates at Baccalaureate continued. Northgate’s students also received copies of “Your First 30 Days of College,” courtesy of Impact Ministries.
