Gabriel Lopez

Now that high school is behind him, Gabriel looks ahead as he will enroll in college to become a mechanical engineer! His favorite subjects and activities include conducting experiments in the lab, science, writing essays, P.E. and soccer. Being in a Christian school, Michael enjoyed learning about God, how He created this world we live in, how He works and how He leaves His fingerprint on everything!

Gabriel’s favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 where it reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. This verse gives Gabirel encouragement and hope for the future!

One of his favorite memories include the times spent with family and friends throughout the years. He is ever grateful to his family for their love, support, encouragement and push to help him through life’s rough patches.

Gabriel wants to encourage incoming freshman to never give up, even when it gets hard. Keeping pushing toward that prize because it’s always worth more than the cost!

Colleen Goodroe

Adulting can be tough as it is, but when you balance being a wife, mom, a physician’s assistant working with heart patients at UT Southwestern, and going for your master’s degree, life can get pretty hectic. But that’s exactly what Colleen has been doing and she can now proudly say she’s finished her degree!

Collen discovered that doing research was her favorite academic activity while undergoing graduate studies! Writing papers, for example, required gathering a lot of information from many different sources, but Colleen soon embraced and enjoyed conducting research.

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” served as a reminder to persevere through the many hours devoted to her studies while balancing her many other responsibilities.

Colleen is grateful to her family for supporting her. She’s especially thankful for her children who encouraged and were involved in every step of her academic endeavors. She recalls moments of her daughter Megan reaching out to ensure mom finished her homework!

Colleen’s words of wisdom include the importance of not procrastinating, get the work done as soon as you can. Also, be sure to ask the instructor questions when you need help!

Izaak Gantzer

Being a homeschooler, academic life was a little different for Izaak, nonetheless, he’s happy to call himself a graduate!! Activities for Izaak included training in Tae-Kwon Do but more importantly, volunteering in the media ministry here at Freedom Church as well as helping out during the many events happening throughout the year! Math and physics were his favorite subjects in high school because he’s able to apply those areas into his work.

Now that high school has ended for Izaak, he plans on working as an auto-mechanic while pursuing ASE certifications.

While there are a lot of quotes that inspired him along the way, Izaak leaned heavily on the quote, “You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, meaning to him to that even if the outcome is already pre-defined, you’ll never truly know the outcome unless you try!

Youth camp 2021 was Izaak’s favorite memory while in high school. Getting closer to God and getting crazy with his friends is something he’ll always remember!

Izaak encourages incoming freshman to just apply yourself. Learn to put aside the thoughts and opinions of others and focus on your dreams. The only thing that matters is what God thinks of you and what you think of yourself!

Mallory Embry

Mallory is looking forward to starting her academic career at the University of Oklahoma where she plans to pursue a degree in secondary social studies education, Boomer Sooner! She participated in soccer and cross-country throughout high school! Mallory claims math as her favorite subject because she was good at it!

The verse that comes to mind for her is I Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your confession in the presence of many witnesses”.

She’s ever grateful to her parents for always making sure she followed the right path in life!

Mallory wishes to stress the importance of being yourself to those will be starting their high school careers in the coming Fall. Don’t try to fit in with what everyone else is doing. Stop and think about your decision and how that fits into God’s plan for your life!

Jocelyn Yam

While excited to start her internship at the University of Nebraska as a student ambassador, Jocelyn is first looking forward to creating post-high school memories by traveling around Texas, Nebraska and Colorado with her close friends! As an active student, Jocelyn participated in a number of activities and sports such as soccer, deca, band, and many others! Her proudest sports moment was being a part of the powerlifting team where she boasted a record 290+ pound deadlift! Science and reading were her favorite subjects, and she attributes this to having great teachers that made those classes enjoyable!

Jocelyn claims the verse, Ephesians 4:32 as her guiding principle, where it says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. She believes it is important to treat others in the way one wishes to be treated.

Church was instrumental in helping her through high school by showing her that no matter what season she’s in, the ups and downs, having dealt with Covid in her freshman year, God was with her. She’s equally thankful and blessed for the love and support her family provided. She was grateful especially in the times she wanted to switch sports and leaned heavily on their guidance and words of wisdom!

Her parting words of wisdom to those who are incoming freshman are to get involved and do as much as you can! With Covid affecting many of her friends and fellow classmates, she missed out on a lot of activities. “Live in the moment, do as much as you can”!!!

Brooke Henry

Now that Brooke has graduated, she’s looking forward to attending Harding University in Arkansas where she plans on studying business and marketing. While in high school, she loved being a part of the debate team and served at the school service board. But she especially loved being a volunteer and leading the sewing ministry at the church where they would make cloth diapers! Her favorite subject was math because she liked discovering the same answer, regardless of the how the problem was solved!

Brooke can never thank her family and church friends enough for being a support and encouraging her to find balance and rest. Balancing a myriad of school, church, family and friends, Brooke found comfort in those closest to her and was always grateful in having her parents there along the way.

Something Brooke will always remember and cherish was her senior trip to Mexico. Being able to share that experience one last time with her classmates will always remain memorable to her.

Her go to scripture is Mark 10:43-45 where it reads, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

A parting nugget of wisdom she wishes to convey to the incoming freshman class is to approach high school knowing what you want out of it. She also suggesting applying this to your spiritual walk with God as well. At the beginning of each year, Brooke would think and plan out the things she wished to accomplish that year. She also believes staying plugged into your church and community is also very important!

Ruthie Irrizary

Ruthie is excited for her next adventure that led her to study Kinesiology and business at Texas Women’s University! As an active participant in high school, Ruthie was involved in volleyball, track, choir, and theatre. History was her favorite subject because the teachers made her class enjoyable!

Her inspirational quote is “Fresh wind, fresh fire”. An inspiring quote that encourages us to set aside our own thoughts and agendas and seek God for a fresh renewal of our spirit and faith and a burning desire to know Him more!

Ruthie will always cherish the memories of sharing laughter and happiness in the many class parties throughout high school!

She is thankful to her family her getting her though school. Their love and support fueled her to keep going!

Ruthie wants the incoming freshman class to not take things so seriously!

           

Michael Montes

Michael plans on studying criminal justice at the University of North Texas in the fall. Michael participated in band throughout his high school years and was also a proud member of the National Honor Society. His favorite subject was obviously band because he loved the closeness and comradery he shared with his bandmates throughout the years!

His favorite quote was that of his band teacher who said, “There’s no growth in the comfort zone, and there’s no comfort in the growth zone”! That really encouraged Michael to step out of his own comfort zone.

Something Michael will always remember about his high school years were the many trips he got to share with his bandmates! The bus rides and hotel stays are forever etched in his memory.

Michael credits his family and extended church family for being there during the tough times in his life. Attending youth on Wednesday nights and sharing the daily struggles with other students, Michael found comfort and hope. His family was especially encouraging to him in pushing through and finding the good in every outcome!

His words of wisdom to the freshman class are to get out of your shell, your comfort zone, and go out and meet people and get involved! Even though it may be uncomfortable at first, it will be worth it in the end!

Kendra Liss

Kendra Liss has a heart full of love for children. She first realized just how many kids need homes when she visited an orphanage in Honduras 7 years ago. Since then, Kendra participates in a Freedom Church mission trip to Honduras every summer. She says the kids are so happy to be able to hang out at the campground for a day, and they love to share what they have. Being the hands and feet of Jesus, loving on the children and playing with them for the day makes a huge difference in their lives.

Kendra is dual-licensed to foster and adopt; she has been fostering since 2020. Praise the Lord for her love and love in action for the precious little ones who need homes and families in crisis. She is currently working toward adoption, so let's pray for her during this process.

Friends in high school invited Kendra to church when it wasn’t a priority for her. She declined, but they were persistent and she finally gave in. She remembers how welcoming the youth pastors were and recalls that they were instrumental in her growing walk with Christ.

Besides on the soccer and mission fields, you can also find Kendra working in the preschool class at Freedom and staying involved with Celebrate Freedom. We are so thankful for Kendra’s leadership, commitment, and service to Jesus and people! 

Brendan Malloy

Brendan Malloy talks the talk and walks the walk in regards to his beliefs about community and the importance personal involvement. Brendan has been deeply impacted since being at Freedom Church, and is now committed to volunteering in ministries to impact others!

Friends invited him to Freedom Church two years ago. He had always believed in God but had never understood what it meant to have a true relationship with Jesus. During his first visit, he heard Pastor Kyle preach a sermon on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how walking in these gifts can set us free. Learning how to build a relationship with Christ has completely changed Brendan's life. He is on fire for Christ and is now pursuing his credentials in ministry.

Both Pastor Kelly and Pastor Sterling have been instrumental in Brendan’s life. He is completely FREE of past addictions and strongholds, and he participates in the “I Am Free” recovery ministry, led by Pastor Kelly. Pastor Sterling has been a consistent friend and mentor to Brendan. What a blessing to be surrounded by people who love and lead well — we are so thankful for Brendan doing the same! 

Rachael Clay

Rachael Clay is a woman on fire! She is passionate about building God’s kingdom, creating connection and community, and supporting and encouraging other women.

Rachael has walked through severe trauma, and she now knows that to tell her story is to help others. After experiencing much loss – people that she loved – Rachael turned to drugs and alcohol to escape. She did not feel like she had anyone to count on, and she remembers being unable to receive love as well.

On October 17, 2012 everything shifted when she opened a small red Bible that her granddad had given her. After reading Romans 10:13, she called out to God. Immediately, God let her know that He had so much for her. Her life was forever changed. When Rachael got home she locked herself inside, detoxed, became sober, and now continues to walk in purpose and love.

Freedom Church has given Rachael the opportunity to fulfill her ministry calling by pouring into people in so many capacities… in so many years! Look for her smile in the sanctuary, Student Center, small group or at Celebrate Freedom. We are blessed to know her and so very thankful for her!

Nicole Dickerson

Nicole Dickerson is overflowing with joy and full of trust in the Lord. She describes herself as a recovering “helicopter mom.” She and her husband, Roosevelt, have two teenage daughters, Nalani and Nasya. Fear and anxiety constantly try to sneak in, but Nicole say she is persistently learning to trust God and that He has their girls wherever they are, day to day.

Anxiety is not new to Nicole. She remembers first dealing with it at the age of 12. During especially difficult seasons Nicole learned to fill the space where anxiety wanted to prevail with worship and God’s Word instead. Even while in the deep and messy middle of the difficulty, while she was worshiping and praying, she knew in the depths of her heart that what God was doing was good. She just kept trusting, every step of the way.

We can join with Nicole in prayer for her mom, Eliza. Some big decisions need to be made, and we know and believe that God will lead and provide.

We are so thankful for all that Nicole does to serve her at Freedom Church. She has been attending for eight years and serves on the worship team, the hospitality team, and media team as an online host. We love you, Nicole, and are so grateful for your testimony!