BREMEN, Ala. — Cold Springs High School’s Baylee McKendree will be a senior in August, and in this interview, she discusses her faith and relationship with God, starting with her favorite verse that has helped her during her time in the band.
“He means everything to me. He’s the reason I was born and the reason I continue to live. God changed my life for the better, even if, at the time, I didn’t know I needed change. He’s changed my life drastically. God took me from a teenager who was at my lowest to a striving girl who lives to serve Jesus every day,” McKendree said. “John 8:12 is the reason I started believing in Jesus and that He knew my every thought. God revealed Himself to me through this verse which says, ‘Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’. If it wasn’t for this verse, I wouldn’t be who I am today. If it wasn’t for this verse, I wouldn’t be the new Cold Springs Royal Blue Band Chaplain. It helps me understand and realize that not everyone knows Jesus the way I know Jesus. It also reveals to me that I should be telling people about Jesus, showing them that He is the light, not the darkness. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is not the enemy but the savior of the world.”
Baylee wants to share her love for Jesus with people of all ages and being a role model for younger kids means the world to her.
“I find it very important to help all people find God. Not only is He the only way into heaven, but He gives you an indescribable peace. He makes you feel loves always, because He is love. He will never let you down,” McKendree said. “I find it very important. The reason I even started going to church was because I had an amazing role model. She was my color guard coach at the time, and I look up to her. She showed me so many things about Christ that I never knew before. A lot of younger people aren’t exposed to Jesus and the amazing things He can do for your life. I used to think that Christianity was a set of rules. I think a lot of young teenagers think this too. The reality is, though, that Jesus is not only your kind but your best friend. God is not just the creator of the universe but your father. It’s a blessing to know that the creator of the world wants to know you and wants to hear about your day and your struggles. My coach impacted me tremendously like no one else. She talked to me about Jesus’ never-ending love. She took me to her church. When I had a question, she would answer it. This is so important for young people to have in their life.”
She shared stories about a couple activities she’s really enjoyed during her journey and gave advice to anyone who is either new or struggling when it comes to having a relationship with God.
“We have First Priority at school which I am a part of. I was a helper at a Vacation Bible School one year. It means a lot. I haven’t been a Christian for long, so it felt good to be included,” she said. “I would do one of two things. If they have a history with the Bible, I would tell them about Hebrews chapter three. It talks about how if God is knocking on your heart, answer. Don’t turn away in rebellion. God wants to know you and hear your voice. He created you, and He loves you. If they have very little history with the Bible, I would tell them to just give it a shot. That’s how I started. I told myself I would give prayer a shot, give going to church a shot, and give reading the Bible a shot. I would also never give up on them. If they needed help or they thought their life wasn’t going the right way, I would continue to encourage them through the Bible or through prayer.”
Baylee shared some traditions she follows and talked about what she’s learned during her journey so far.
“I wake up and thank God for another day. I also try to listen to worship music in the car or while I’m taking a shower. At night, I always read my Bible. I pray about my day and the passage I just read. I also always try to end the day with the Lord’s prayer,” she said. “You have to keep the relationship. When I get stressed, I tend to think, ‘Oh, I’m too tired to read my Bible,’ or ‘God really doesn’t care about why I’m so worried’. I have to remember that if I don’t reach out and tell my father what’s wrong, He can’t help me, like a child that scraped their knee. He already knows what’s wrong, but I have to tell Him and invite Him in order for Him to help. It goes along with free will. God is not going to force you to love Him. He loves you unconditionally and will always be there for you. He will never leave you stranded.”
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