By Josh Bergeron
josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — With their graduation on Friday, 16 new North Hills Christian School alumni entered into a new realm of freedom, but commencement speaker and pastor Kenneth Lance encouraged them not to abandon the “ohana of faith.”

Lance spoke to the 16 graduates and a crowd of friends and family members while stressing the importance of faith into adulthood and staying involved in a church community.

“One of the most important things you can do is to find a church. They are here and they are there where you are going, if you are open to it,” Lance said. “Find a church that has a high view of scripture, that not only loves students and newcomers but wants them and allows them to contribute to their community, even if it’s only for a season. You see, you’re going to need that community to balance and counterbalance all the ideas and perception you will be exposed to.”

Ohana is an idea in Hawaiian culture that means family in an extended sense. And that idea is one that’s needed in modern-day America, Lance said.

On Friday, North Hills students launched into a world facing new challenges, he said. And Lance said he and others hope that the new graduates would “reject the old path of rebellion for rebellion’s sake and follow the path that leads society … to cherish the importance of community.”

Students graduating Friday included Derick Aguilera, Bailey Birkhead, Colby Edmonds, Shelby Kennerly, Chandler Mays, Blake McAlister, Audrey McGrail, Parker Moody, Klara Ogg, Zoey Park, Madison Rollins, Charity Sassano, Anthony Schnitzer, Amaya Valladares, Cristina Velazquez and Lindsey White.

Colby Edmonds was the class of 2019 valedictorian. And, in a short speech Friday, Edmonds said North Hills graduates needed to move forward confidently into the future.

North Hills on Friday also presented its prestigious Timothian Award to Klara Ogg. The award is presented to a student who exemplifies the values of 1 Timothy 4:12.

Contact editor Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4248.