Indiana

Shaylee Prichard is a soft-spoken, humble, and caring young lady with an ability to listen and give counsel to her friends. By nature, she has a deep belief in God and holds fast to her growing relationship with Him. However, she comes from a difficult background and by God’s grace has overcome many challenging obstacles in her path.

When Shaylee came to Indiana Academy (IA) last year, she remembers being inspired by the first baptism program of the year. Megan Dupont, one of her school friends, had made the ultimate decision to follow Jesus and was baptized. Shaylee visited Luis Beltre Jr., IA chaplain, at his office, and strongly requested to begin a Bible study program to prepare for baptism. He was excited because he had never seen a student with more desire for baptism than Shaylee.

They began Bible studies once a week, then increased to two times a week, and near the end of her series, they were meeting three times a week. Shaylee was really into her Bible studies and wanted more than ever to publicly demonstrate her acceptance of Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. As she studied the Bible, Shaylee grappled with some of the challenges she had faced all her life. But it was also a rewarding time; the chaplain saw her place those painful memories in God’s hands and move forward with her new life in Jesus Christ.

Shaylee's baptism took place during the Indiana Conference Youth Rally at the Cicero Church. There, many young people from churches all over the Conference were gathered to be inspired and trained to witness for Christ. As they heard Shaylee’s testimony, and watched the result of her decision to be baptized, some were impressed by the Holy Spirit to make a decision about accepting Jesus into their own lives.

Shaylee became a member of the Cicero Church and successfully completed her fourth year at Indiana Academy. Today, she continues to bear a new light of hope and purpose as she witnesses for Christ in her daily life.

Luis Beltre Jr., IA chaplain, and Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent