GOOD HOPE, Ala. — Good Hope High School’s Anna-Grace Pemberton is preparing to start her senior year in August, and in this interview, she discusses her relationship with God, starting with a couple of Bible verses have completely changed her life.
“God means a lot to me. I make sure that I spend time with Him by doing Bible studies and seeking His will in prayer every day,” Pemberton said. “Psalms 34:4 is one of my favorite Bible verses. During 2019, I lost a lot of family members, my mom found out she had cancer for the second time, and my brother was struggling with drug abuse. That’s when I sought the Lord and He most definitely answered. Another verse that I love is Matthew 7:24-27, because it talks about the foundation of your life. Jesus is saying that merely hearing His words isn’t enough; you have to live by them. Your values, your choices, your relationships, how you respond to pressure or pain; all of it is part of what you’re building, and life will bring storms. When things are going well, both houses might look the same, but when the storms come (loss, crisis, temptation, grief), that’s when the foundation is revealed, whether you’re built on the rock of Jesus’s teachings and obedience, or on the sand of destruction.”
Anna-Grace has made it her mission to help people of all ages find God and being that role model for so many kids is one of her top priorities as well.
“It’s very important to me. Helping people find God is one of the most important and transformative journeys a person can undertake. For many believers, it’s not just a goal, it’s a calling. I always want to be the light for someone to see God through me and help guide them to the Lord,” Pemberton said. “It’s very important when it comes to being a positive role model to younger kids and showing them love and grace like God has shown to me while being involved. I do understand how profoundly important it is to serve as a positive, trustworthy role model for kids. In today’s world of constant noise and shifting values, having someone they can look up to, trust, and learn from can shape their lives in powerful ways. It’s important to me to be a reliable, honest, and uplifting guide whenever kids or teens are looking for help, encouragement, wisdom, or direction.”
Anna-Grace has had so many great role models in her life that she looks up to. She talked about her favorite mission that she’s participated in and shared what that experience has been like for her.
“My biggest Godly role models would be my late grandparents, Junior and Shirley Quick, my mom, Nancy, and my cousin Amber. They are grounded in God’s truth. My papaw Quick always said, ‘Smile. God loves you’. Family means so much to me, spending valuable time with each of them, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Life is fragile, and time with family is one of the most precious gifts we have,” she said. “I have participated in Saturday Serve with my church, giving back to people without expecting anything in return. Being able to give back to people without expecting anything in return, I feel blessed and thankful to have been a part of that.”
She went through a really tough time in 2019, and that’s when she knew that she needed God to help her out in a big way. She gave advice to those people who might be either struggling or are new when it comes to having a relationship with God.
“My grandmother fell and broke her ankle, and that would eventually lead to amputation. My uncle passed away in July, and my mom’s cancer had metastasized to her brain. That would eventually lead to her having surgery. In November of 2019, my papaw passed away unexpectedly. Through all of that, I knew that I needed God more than ever in my life,” she said. “First, I would invite them to come to church with me. I would also encourage them to plug into Bible studies or small groups. Read your Bible daily and talk to God through prayer and remember that God wants a relationship with you as well. Never give up.”
Anna-Grace wants to do all that she can to help people find God, and she has taken away so much from her journey so far.
“Live the life before them, because they notice that more than words. Love people where they are in their life without judgment. Pray for them earnestly. Invite them to church without pressure. Be patient in God’s timing. Live and love deeply. Speak gently. Pray often. Serve humbly, and trust God completely,” she said. “I’ve learned that God is a merciful-loving God that will never give up on me. He wants us to be bigger than any of my mistakes. When I make a mistake, I carry it to God in prayer.”
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