{"id":20747,"date":"2025-01-30T15:53:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=20747"},"modified":"2025-01-30T15:53:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:53:22","slug":"miss-america-shines-as-a-light-for-christ-in-a-broken-and-divided-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2025\/01\/miss-america-shines-as-a-light-for-christ-in-a-broken-and-divided-world.html","title":{"rendered":"Miss America Shines as a Light For Christ in a Broken and Divided World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Farragutful \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The New Miss America is proudly wearing her crown and her faith. Abbie Stockard, who represented Alabama in the Miss American pageant in Orlando earlier this month, has been vocal about her Christian faith since winning the title.<\/p>\n

“I am very driven by my faith,” Stockard told Fox News Digital<\/a>. “Based on the morals and the values that my family taught me, I believe that every single person is called to make a difference.<\/p>\n

I believe we were all created on purpose, for purpose. And so, while it is so amazing to have this platform of influence and be an ambassador for the organization, my main mission is to use this title to serve others.”<\/p>\n

Stockard is pursuing a nursing degree at Auburn University but will put her studies on hold while she travels the country for the pageant. During her time, she will advocate for the American Heart Association’s Go RED for Women initiative and cystic fibrosis research. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation named her the “Hero of Hope” and made her a national ambassador. It’s a cause very close to her heart.<\/p>\n

“My best friend \u2013 she isn’t just my best friend; she [has become] my purpose,” said Stockard. “We’ve been inseparable since the age of 9. I truly believe that in this lifetime, a cure will be found for this disease. And I’m excited to use this position of influence to continue increasing awareness, fundraising efforts and education so that we can get closer and closer to finding that cure.”<\/p>\n

In addition to these causes, Stockard intends to “be a light” and inspiration to those she meets.<\/p>\n

“I think our world is broken,” she shared. “I think it is polarized and divided, and I want to be a light. I want to be an inspiration, and I want to make every single person feel seen, valued and appreciated because that is who the Lord is. That’s what He would want me to do. And I know that I was anointed to this position for a purpose, and that’s why I’m not going to take it for granted.”<\/p>\n

Stockard performed Christian artist Lauren Daigle’s song “You Say” during the competition. Birmingham’s WVTM<\/a> is her inspiration for the song.<\/p>\n

“My grandmother picked out the song, ‘You Say’ before she passed away, and she would tell me, ‘Abby, whenever you hear this song, I want you to remember that you are beautiful, you are strong, and you are worthy, and don’t let anyone ever make you think otherwise,’ Stockard said. “So when I perform this number, I hope people feel inspired, and I hope people are reminded of the importance of always sticking to the course and staying true to who you are.”<\/p>\n

During the competition, she says it was her faith that kept her grounded.<\/p>\n

“The two words that I channeled the entire week of Miss America were peace and confidence,” she said. “Peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that the Lord is taking care of my needs for me. He has a plan for my life, and His plan is good. Reminding myself that He is for me and He is not against me. Why worry? Because he already knows the results of this competition.”<\/p>\n

“The second word [was] confidence \u2013 confidence in the work that I’ve put in, but also confidence in His plan for my life,” she shared. “One of my favorite verses is ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your understanding and all of your ways. Acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.’ That is what I leaned on\u2026 the entire week.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New Miss America is proudly wearing her crown and her faith. Abbie Stockard, who represented Alabama in the Miss American pageant in Orlando earlier this month, has been vocal about her Christian faith since winning the title. “I am very driven by my faith,” Stockard told Fox News Digital. “Based on the morals and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":20750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiring-messages"],"yoast_head":"\nMiss America Shines as a Light For Christ in a Broken and Divided World<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet Abbie Stockard, the new Miss America! 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