CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman’s Addison Vogelaar will be a senior next month, and God has been for her every step of the way. A mission trip to Guatemala completely changed her perspective on life.
“God means so much to me. He has been such a constant presence in my life. He gives me peace when I step on the racing line, and He gives me the strength to cross the finish line. No matter the outcome of the race or the challenges I face, I know He’s always with me, guiding me, giving me confidence, and reminding me to trust His plan for my life,” Vogelaar said. “God has changed my life in tremendous ways. I just came back from a mission trip to Guatemala not too long ago, and in just one week, He has changed my perspective on life. I met children who were little, yet they were some of the happiest and most joyful people I’ve ever seen. They were incredibly thankful for something as small as a piece of candy, while we often get caught up in wanting more and focusing on what we don’t have. Many of these families lived in mud homes with bamboo roofs, and some children went home not knowing if they would have food to eat, yet they still had joy and gratitude. That experience opened my eyes to how blessed I truly am. God used that trip to teach me to be more grateful, less focused on material things, and more about serving others.”
Addison added, “The people there have so little, yet they are huge in their faith. Experiencing what a third-world country is like and then coming back home with all the luxuries is eye-opening. It was sad to leave the kids behind knowing what they go through every day. While we go there to serve, they truly impact us more than what they think.”
A certain Bible verse and song has had a huge impact on Addison’s life, and she wants to use that experience as motivation to help people of all ages find God.
“My favorite Bible verse is, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23). This verse has had a huge impact on my life, because it reminds me to give my best effort in everything I do, whether it’s school, sports, serving others, or every day tasks. It teaches me that my worth is not found in the approval of other people but in honoring God. When I become discouraged or feel like my efforts go unnoticed, this verse reminds me that I am ultimately working for Him. It encourages me to work with purpose and integrity, knowing that even the smallest things I do can glorify God. My favorite song would have to be ‘At The Altar.’ This song is about coming to Jesus as you are and surrendering everything. You don’t have to clean yourself up to go to Him, but He invites you in, so He can change you. I think this song has changed my life, because I know I’m not perfect, and I can go to Him at any point in my life, whether I’m in a deep hole or the happiest part of my life.” Vogelaar said.
Addison added, “Helping people of all ages find God is important to me, because I truly believe it’s never too late to seek Him. God meets people wherever they are in life, and no one is ever too old or young to experience His love. I want others to know that no matter their age or past, they can still find hope, purpose, and a relationship with Him.”
Addison wants to be that kind of role model for younger kids, and two role models have played a huge part in helping her become the person that she is today.
“I believe it is very important to share the love of Christ, because we are called to do so. I feel like as time goes on, many people, especially the younger generation, seem to drift farther from God, and become influenced by the world’s culture. By showing them the goodness and love of God, I hope it creates an impact on their life,” she said. “My two role models are definitely my cross-country/track coach, Trent Dean, and my youth pastor, BJ Shelton. They have had a huge impact on my life. I have been running for coach Dean for six years. He doesn’t only teach us how to become better runners; he teaches us how to become better people. Many times during practice, he connects what we are doing to lessons from the Bible. Whether it’s perseverance, discipline, or trusting God’s plan, he constantly reminds us that our character matters more than our accomplishments. At first, they seemed like simple lessons, but over the years, I realized they were shaping the way I view life, faith, and hard work.”
Addison added, “BJ has had a huge impact on my life as well. I have been going to Wednesday nights at First Baptist for over a year, and during that time, he has shown me what it truly means to live out your faith. From the moment I started attending, he made me feel welcomed and loved, and he does the same for everyone who walks through the doors. His lessons have challenged me to grow closer to God and think differently about how I live my life. Watching the way he loves everyone so intentionally has taught me the importance of showing Christ’s love to others and making everyone feel valued.”
She gave people some advice when it comes to having that kind of relationship with Jesus Christ, and faith has played a huge part in helping the cross-country/track team get even closer on and off the track.
“My advice would be to keep seeking, and don’t give up. A relationship with God grows over time, and if you surround yourself with Godly people, it will have an impact. Just focus on Him and His plan,” she said. “My teammates are truly amazing. We go through some very difficult workouts together. We stay determined and disciplined, so that each one of us can become successful. We like to use the quote from the Bible, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ because if we are all out there suffering, we only get stronger. At the same time, though, we go through the ‘runners high’ runs, so we experience all the highs and lows together.”
Addison added, “I started attending First Baptist, because my teammate’s dad is the pastor, and two of my other teammates went there as well. After going for a while, we decided to invite the rest of my team. Almost our entire team was showing up every Wednesday night. We got to worship together and grow in faith. Being in church together, we all became incredibly close, and we still continue to attend.”
She has taken away a very important thing during her walk with Christ.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned during my walk with God is to trust Him. Even when I don’t understand what happening, He always has a plan, He is always faithful, and I know I can trust in it.”
