Our schools today are filled with confusion and lies. Nevertheless, these two valedictorians took a courageous stand for the gospel!

From Fox News. A high school valedictorian in upstate South Carolina has gone viral for her graduation speech explaining how she has learned to find her value in her Christian faith.

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Lydia Owens, valedictorian and senior class president at Woodmont High School in Greenville, told those who attended her graduation how her faith has sustained her amid recent hardships in her life, according to FOX Carolina. …

Owens went on to explain in the three-minute speech how her perspective changed two years ago after the death of her mother, who she said was her biggest inspiration.

“I had that reality check almost two years ago when my mom passed away,” Owens said. “When tragedy struck my life, it wasn’t my grades nor my success that helped me navigate through that loss. When everything else in my life felt uncertain, the only person I could depend on was Jesus.” …

Owens told her graduating class that they “don’t have to worry about whether or not you will be successful.”

“Because God promises that his grace is sufficient for us, and his power is made perfect in our weaknesses,” she added to applause.

From Baptist Press. Before Friday, May 26, the largest group Campbell Lino had spoken to about Jesus was the 75 or so at her church during a prayer meeting.

Ascending the stage as valedictorian for Atascocita High School, she was going to once again talk about the Gospel. This time, it would be to a graduating class of 905 from a high school of almost 4,000 in front of a crowd of 10,000 in the building where the Houston Texans play on Sundays. …

Her speech (1:34:00 mark) began with an ever-so-Texan “Hi, ya’ll” and congratulations to the salutatorian and rest of the top 10 graduates in her class.

“Now I want to talk to you all about the most important person in my life – Jesus Christ – and how He has changed my life,” she said. …

Lino found out in early May she was valedictorian. With the opportunity to share the Gospel with her entire class before her, she turned in her planned speech (as required) a few weeks later. It brought an invitation to the principal’s office.

“He told me I could not give that speech and there were certain things he didn’t want me to say,” Lino told Baptist Press. “We spent about 30 minutes combing through my speech and talking about phrases.

“The idea was that I shouldn’t offend people with what I said. But the parts he wanted to cut out were very important parts of the Gospel presentation.”

She went to her parents to talk it all over. …

Eyes on the goal

Wanting to honor her desire to share the Gospel while respecting authority, Lino and her parents worked through a rewrite of the speech.

“We talked about different ways to give the Gospel presentation,” she said. “A week after that, the speech was approved.” …

Upon her saying, “… Jesus Christ, and how He has changed my life” the crowd responded with cheers.

“I didn’t know how they would react,” Lino said. “I just assumed it would not be warm. Walking up to the podium, I was very nervous and praying like crazy. …

Life was confusing before she really understood what Jesus meant to her, she shared. …

“But then I learned that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the true king of the human race,” she said into the microphone, followed by clapping and growing cheers.

Where Jesus and His Lordship are acknowledged, she said, thriving follows. Where He isn’t, there is brokenness. But His love for all mankind is exemplified in His death on the cross and resurrection three days later. …

Her testimony concluded with an explanation and invitation to all who would welcome such a change. She and others at Northeast Houston Baptist Church would be happy to have those discussions. …

Are you encouraged by these valedictorians? If so, share this article with your friends and family to encourage them!

(Excerpts from Fox News and Baptist Press. Photo Credit: Canva)