REBECCA CARRASCO

LAPLACE – “At 14 I wanted to be a Christian and knew about the idea of being saved,” said Casterderal Anthony Williams Jr., a Vacherie native who now lives in LaPlace. A soon-to-be senior at East St. John High School, this summer he will turn 17 on July 9 and will work as a manager-trainee at McDonald’s. After work, he can often be found at the New Wine Christian Fellowship, which he has attended for a year and a half. There, he sings in the choir and is a youth leader. “Youth participation at New Wine Christian Church involves many activities that involve a display of our faith in the Lord,” Williams explained. “We have the stomp team, the drill team, choir and an active prayer life. The drill team stomps rhythmically and recites the scriptures. The worship ministry dances as they worship the Lord. The choir is not entertainment. We give praise to God and His lyric so that His presence can be enjoyed by all.” In July, Williams will also be involved in Team Mania Ministries where he will preach to people living on the streets and try to bring them to God. “Our mission is to get people off the street and get people saved,” he said. During his junior year at ESJHS, Williams participated in 4-H club and the Future Business Leaders of America Club. “In the 4-H club we helped others,” he said. “I was president in my junior year. In the Future Business Leaders of America Club, I was the chaplain.” Williams wants to major in business communication at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux or Xavier University in New Orleans. He is hoping to link business and religion with helping others. His advice to students is “stay focused on God and he’ll take care of the rest. Don’t try to fit into the crowd – be a leader not a follower.”