BMW - Honoring our 2020 Graduates

Among our group of amazing missionary women is represented an amazing group of 2020 high school and college graduates whose senior years were all abruptly changed as COVID-19 entered the scene, affecting graduation celebrations across the globe. Some had their graduation completely cancelled while some experienced first-ever, virtual graduations. Unfortunately, some were postponed to a different date which could make it impossible for missionary parents to even attend the ceremonies. 

We thought a nice way to honor the 2020 graduates represented by the Baptist Women's Missionary Facebook group would be to share their photos and a little information about each one with you, our readers. 

Autumn Bauer

Parents: Patrick and Jen Bauer, serving in Australia

Graduated from homeschool, December 2019. 

Future Plans: Planning to attend PCC in fall 2020
Major - Early Childhood Education

Autumn Brown

Parents: Joshua and Emily Brown, serving in Ghana, West Africa

Graduating from LCA Homeschool will be postponed until we can return stateside to her home church, Calvary Baptist of Memphis.

Future Plans: She plans to stay with her parents for a year and help serve in the ministry while taking some online Bible classes and praying about future college plans.

She enjoys cooking, art, guitar, animals, traveling and anything outside!




Erin Brown
Parents: Kevin and Kristina Brown, serving in Croatia
Graduated from homeschool, May 28, 2020
Future plans: To take a gap year, return to Croatia, and pray about direction for the future.
She is interested in art, drawing, and character animation.

Heidi Byrd

Parents: Gary and Tami Byrd serving in the Dominican Republic

Graduating from Santiago Christian School (Dominican Republic). 

She was very involved in school outreach, soccer, music and drama. 

Graduation has been postponed until December. 

Future plans: To attend Bob Jones University and study Christian Counseling/Leadership

Konner Cashner

Parents: Keith and Kimberly Cashner, serving in England

Graduated from Lighthouse Christian Academy in February 2020 via the distance learning program.
Future Plans: Include staying in England with his parents, continuing to help in the ministry. 

In June, He’ll receive his level 1 in coaching/personal training, and he’ll join the staff at his local Cross Fit gym.

Héctor Castillo

 Parent: Cynthia Castillo (Single missionary) serving in Mexico City

 Graduating from National Autonomous Universidad de Mexico (UNAM) Medical School - Mexico City. Graduation Date: May 25, 2020. 

Future Plans - Begins his Surgical Internship July 1. He'll do 1 year of Internship, 1 year of Social Service and then Specialty (Neurosurgeon).
From his Mom: Héctor is my adopted child, met him first when he was 9 yrs old and I taught him in Bible Club. I adopted him as a teenager.

Jeffrey Christian (pictured on right)
Parents: Jeff and Helen Sue Christian,  Belarus
Graduating from LeHigh Valley Baptist Bible Institute, June 28, 2020
Future Plans: He will continue to minister on the field with his parents.
He wants to be a youth pastor.

Anna Clark
Parents: Mike and Jeannette Clark serving in Iliamna, Alaska

Graduating from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa.
Future Plans: Anna is getting married this month and will serve with her new husband, Assistant Pastor in Waverly, Iowa.

Faith Clark 

Parents: Mike and Jeannette Clark serving in Iliamna, Alaska

Graduating from high school.
Future Plans: To take online classes this fall and hopes to attend Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa in the fall 2021.

Hosanna Crocket

Parents: Chris and Suzy Crocket, serving in Râmnicu Vâlcea, România

High School senior, graduating from Romanian public school.

Graduation ceremony was scheduled for May 29, but has been canceled.

Future Plans: Hosanna has tickets to move back to Australia in August to be near her boyfriend and work, but this will possibly be cancelled as well, as Australia has closed its borders until 2021.

Zachary Daab

Parents: Bill and JoAnne Daab - Jordan

Graduated from BJU with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. Ceremony was to be in May but has been rescheduled for August. He has been accepted into the masters program and will continue his education in the fall.

Allyson DeMoville

Parents: Randy & Kelly DeMoville serving in Dumaguete, Philippines

Graduating from Hyles Anderson College with her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with History & Homemaking teaching fields. 

Graduation was planned for May 1 and has now been rescheduled to September 6, 2020. 

Future Plans: She will return to take classes as she is dating a young man.

Christian DeMoville 

Parents: Randy & Kelly DeMoville serving in Dumaguete, Philippines

Completed homeschool on April 10, 2020 will have graduation (hopefully) in June. 

Future Plans: Will stay on the field and attend his parents' Bible college for a year. 

Then, Lord willing, go on to attend Hyles Anderson College to study Missions.

Iestyn Downey

Parents: Ronald & Tennille Downey serving in Wales, UK

Finishing High school (no graduation ceremonies in Wales)

Future plans: community college for design & technology in the fall. 

Planning to stay with parents on the field.

Micah Guay

Parents: Richard and Kristi Guay, serving in Thailand

He will graduate from high school in July (homeschool - no exact date set). 

Future plans: To attend Bob Jones University in the fall and major in Mechanical Engineering. 

Joy Kotvas

Parents: Joe and Lisa Kotvas in Perú

Graduates from Abeka homeschool high school, finishing up in July. 

Future Plans: She is praying about college plans. 

Peru has not determined when to allow international travel. Possibly it will not open until October.  

She desires to serve God with her life and invest in the lives of young ladies.

Meganne Litson

Parents: Matt and Sarah Litson, serving in New Brunswick, Canada

Possible graduation ceremony in June. 

Future Plans: To attend Vision Baptist College in the fall.

Elisabeth Jane Maher 

Parents: Richard and Oksana Maher serving in Ukraine. 

Graduated from KCA (high)  school in Kiev, Ukraine. 

Future Plans: Elisabeth has a burden to work with abused children and wants to study psychology at Cedarville University in Ohio.

Jeremiah Markle

Parents: Jeremy and Laura Markle serving in in Puerto Rico

Graduation was planned for May 23, 2020 (homeschool) from their sending church but was canceled.

Future Plans: To attend Maranatha Baptist University.

Alayna McLean

 Parents; Jerry and Krissy currently on deputation for the country of Paraguay 

Will graduate from homeschool on May 28th. 

Future Plans: Attending either West Coast Baptist College or Crown College of the Bible this fall.

Susanna

Susanna and Samuel

Benjamin

Susanna, Samuel, and Benjamin Morgan

Parents: Jim and Susan Morgan serving in Romania

Susanna and Samuel graduated from Landmark Baptist College, Haines City, Fl on May 17th.

Future plans: Samuel will be going to work as an assistant to a pastor in Georgia. 

Susanna will be staying and teaching at Landmark Christian School. 

Benjamin will finish his senior year of high school (homeschool) here in Romania in the next month.

Daniel Petersen

Parents: Mike and Becky Petersen serving in Poland

Graduated in May from Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC in IT/Bible. 

Future Plans: Daniel is working as a contract worker for an IT company in Greenville, 

while waiting on his girlfriend to finish schooling.

Michelle Leann Pridgen

Parents: James and Cheryl Pridgen serving in Uganda, Africa

Graduated from High school in March (in Uganda)

Future Plans: She plans to attend West Coast Baptist College in the Fall

 Ian Russell 

Parents: Pat and Jody Russell serving in Africa

 Graduating from West Coast Baptist College - ceremony rescheduled for September 5, 2020

Stanley Stensaas

Parents: Keith and Sally Stensaas, serving in Uganda, Africa

Graduating from West Coast Baptist College - ceremony rescheduled for September 5, 2020

Future Plans: To stay at WCBC to get his Masters.

Rebekah Sterling

Parents: David and Dee Dee Sterling, serving in Russia

Graduation from Golden State Baptist College was planned for May 13th and has been

currently rescheduled for June 27th, 2020. 

Major: General Studies  - Minor: Media

Future Plans: Possible position in Texas

Ryan Sterling

Parents: David and Dee Dee Sterling, serving in Russia

Will complete high school (homeschool) June 2020

Future Plans: To attend Golden State Baptist College in the fall.

Jessica Sullivant 

Parents: Mike Jr. And Maureen Sullivant, serving in Thailand

Jessica finished high school in April. 

Future Plans: She will be returning to Canada later this year and will be taking employment.

Jocelyn Telman 

Parents: Jim & Michelle Telman, serving in Uganda

Graduation, (homeschool) from an umbrella school, was scheduled for Jun 6,
but has been postponed until further notice.

Future Plans: She plans to attend Word of Life (Hungary) in the fall. 

The following year she will study Nursing in the States.

Aaron Trask

Parents: Gene and Robin Trask, serving in La Moskitia, Honduras
Aaron is graduating from Heritage Academy in Tupelo, MS.
Graduation was to scheduled for May 15, new date has yet to be announced.
Future Plans: Aaron is a preacher and is seeking the Lord's will for where to attend Bible College in the fall.

Levi Trask (far right)

Parents: Gene and Robin Trask, serving in La Moskitia, Honduras 

Graduating from Anchor Baptist Bible College, Pisgah Forest, NC. 

Graduation ceremonies were scheduled for May 1, but will most likely be held on June 5. 

Future Plans: Levi feels the Lord would have him stay and be Bro Barton's (pictured in above photo) assistant for the next few years. He also wishes to obtain his pilot's license for a future serving in Missions Aviation.

Timothy Waller

Parents: Dr. Greg and Linda Waller, Medical Missions around the world

Graduate of Pensacola Christian College with a degree in Pre-Med. - Virtual graduation May 8th

Future Plans: He will be going into research.

Sarah Winkler

Parents - Ron and Rachel Winkler, serving in Croatia 

Her parents hope to have a reception in honor of her home school graduation when they are stateside for furlough in August.

Future Plans: She will be attending Heartland Baptist Bible College in the fall to major in music.

Timothy Winkler

Parents are Matt and Sheri Winkler, serving in Uganda

Graduating from Rift Valley Academy on July 15.

 He is finishing online school right now in the States. 

Future Plans: He plans to take a gap year before either going to school or into the military.

Micah Youngblood

Parents: David & Tammy Youngblood, serving in Kiana, Alaska

High school Senior, homeschool with state of Alaska diploma 

He will participate in his home church Christian school graduation scheduled for June 6. 

Earned University of Alaska Scholar & Alaska performance scholarships to University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)

Future Plans: He has been accepted to UAA, but he is still praying over decisions regarding college in the fall. 

 

Michaiah Youngblood

Parents: David & Tammy Youngblood, serving in Kiana, Alaska 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Graduation was to be held on May 2, 2020 (cancelled, nursing pins and diplomas mailed). 

Future Plans: To be a medical missionary. She will continue her education to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Maybe one of the graduates listed here is a "missionary kid" supported by your church or somehow connected with your family. Why not reach out to them to help congratulate them in their accomplishments? If you would like an address for any of these MKs, please feel free to comment below and we will get that address to you.

And...for a surprise ending to this post! I will randomly choose one of the above graduates whose graduation was canceled/rescheduled/virtual and send them a t-shirt honoring this historic moment in their lives! I will post the winner soon! (I will wait a bit before announcing the winner in case we get a few late entries from those who didn't see the post in our BMW group).

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020! 

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! IT WAS A TOUGH YEAR WITH LOTS OF UNEXPECTED TURNS BUT YOU WERE FAITHFUL TO THE FINISH!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND CONTINUE TO LEAD YOU AS YOU SERVE HIM!

I Thes. 5:24 - "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."