CULLMAN, Ala. – Good Hope’s Kaleigh Williams will be a junior at the start of the 2026-27 school year, and in an interview with the Tribune, she discussed her faith, how she has helped others find God and being a role model.
“God means everything and more to me. I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for His love. God has showed me what it’s like to find out who I am in Him and not who the enemy was trying to make me believe I was,” Williams said. “My favorite Bible verses are Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 11:28, and my favorite worship song is, ‘God I’m Just Grateful.’ They remind me of the plan He has for me, that despite the battles I face, He has a plan to carry me out of them with Him by my side.”
Kaleigh wants to help people have that same kind of relationship with Jesus Christ, and being that kind of role model for younger kids is at the top of her list as well.
“Helping others experience the love of God is my number one goal. One thing I have learned is that we can all teach each other something, younger or older. We all can carry the wisdom gifted to us by the Spirit. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.'” Williams said. “Growing up in church, I always looked up to my leaders and learned from them. They helped me find ways to show my fruits through all circumstances, so I strive to do the same to the ones who may look up to me as well.”
A pair of Godly role models has changed Kaleigh’s life, and she has attended several church camps and has helped change countless lives in the process.
“My Godly role models are my nana and sister. They have become such a big part of my faith journey and are always there to remind me of my identity in Christ. Their fruits and love isn’t something someone has to question. Instead, it’s the first thing people notice about them,” she said. “My favorite church missions are the church camps. There have been several church camps that I’ve gotten the opportunity to attend. It’s overwhelming to be able to worship together and be united. I always describe it as ‘a touch of Heaven’: A room full of believers who are hungry for the love of God and to be used as a vessel. I have made so many lifelong friends and memories that I still think about daily. It’s a time that we can escape from the chaos of the world, and be in solitude to really hear the Lord.”
Kaleigh added, “My favorite memories from the church camps is definitely worship. There have been times I step back and watch my brothers and sisters minster to each other. It’s truly amazing. There are also times that God calls me to minister to others as well. It’s definitely scary sometimes to let our pride down and trust God to deliver the message through us, because we feel as if we will ‘butchering it’. What helps me be bold in my faith is to remember that it is the Spirit within me that wants to reach someone who may have been praying for a sign for so long, and I don’t want to ever miss the opportunity of that sign coming from me.”
She went through rough patches early in high school, but God was there for her through every stage of her life.
“A life-changing event for me would be my freshman year of high school. I struggled with anxiety and body issues. Although I had a relationship with God, I felt embarrassed to admit that I struggled with those things. Finally, I hit rock bottom and just cried out to God about everything that was weighing me down. Instead of God making me feel shame, he helped me heal, because that’s the kind of Father He is. From then to now, it doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t obsess over what people think of me. Instead, I go to God to remind me that I was made perfectly in His image.” she said.
Kaleigh gave some Godly advice to those people who want a relationship with the Lord but might be either struggling or are new, and she has taken away much during her walk with the Lord.
“My advice to new believers is to trust in His plan, read your Word, and surround yourself with people who bring you closer to Him. My advice to someone who is struggling is to do it all anyway. Keep praying, go to church, and staying in your Word. The enemy wants you to fail, because you are a threat to him and his people,” she said. “What I have learned the most during my walk with God is to love Him first, so I can love others around me. I love to make friends and love onto people. The power of God and the Spirit is what makes me who I am.”
