This Sunday, during both worship services, we will have the privilege of recognizing and praying over our 2026 graduates—both high school and college—as we commission them into the next season of life.

As a youth pastor, this is always one of the most meaningful and emotional moments of the year.

Over the years, I’ve had the joy of watching many of these students grow from middle schoolers into young men and women who genuinely love the Lord. I’ve seen them ask hard questions, wrestle with their faith, serve others, lead their peers, and take important steps of spiritual growth. I’ve watched them laugh, worship, confess sin, persevere through challenges, and begin to make their faith their own. To say I’m proud of them would be an understatement. At the same time, moments like this are bittersweet.

For parents, graduation represents years of faithful investment—thousands of prayers, countless conversations, and innumerable sacrifices. For our church family, it marks the sending out of students we have loved, taught, and prayed for. And for our graduates, it is the beginning of a brand-new season filled with both excitement and uncertainty. That is why we want to do more than simply congratulate them. We want to commission them.

At our Senior Commissioning Dinner last Thursday, we reflected on Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:35–38: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” These words have become a defining prayer for our student ministry.

My goal has never been merely to help students make it through high school. My prayer has always been that they would become lifelong followers of Jesus—young men and women who love Christ deeply, are anchored in His Word, and see themselves as laborers in His harvest.

The world they are stepping into is filled with people who are searching for hope, truth, and purpose. College campuses, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities are full of people who, in the words of Jesus, are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

And Jesus is still sending laborers.

Some of these graduates will attend colleges here in Indiana. Others will move farther away. Some are stepping into careers, apprenticeships, or other opportunities. Wherever they go, our prayer is the same: that they would walk closely with Jesus and boldly live for His glory.



We are praying that they would:

• Love Jesus more than comfort or success.
• Build their lives on God’s Word.
• Find a faithful local church and get deeply connected.
• Cultivate habits of prayer and worship.
• Surround themselves with godly friendships.
• Stand firm when their faith is tested.
• Share the hope of the gospel with others.

As I think about this group of graduates, I am filled with gratitude.

Gratitude for parents who have faithfully discipled their children and modeled perseverance.

Gratitude for small group leaders, mentors, and volunteers who have shown up week after week to invest in the next generation.

Gratitude for a church family that values students and believes they are not merely the future of the church—they are an important part of the church right now.

And gratitude to the Lord, who has been faithful every step of the way.

Church family, would you join us in praying for these graduates? Pray that they would remain rooted in Christ. Pray that their faith would deepen in the years ahead. Pray that the Lord would protect them from temptation and draw them near to Himself. Pray that they would become courageous, compassionate laborers in the harvest.

And please join us this Sunday during either service as we celebrate these graduates and pray over them together.

The harvest is plentiful.

May the Lord continue to raise up laborers from among our students—here on the southside of Indianapolis, on campuses across the state and country, and to the ends of the earth.

For His glory,

Pastor AJ

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