Growing Into a Faith of Her Own
For Erin Stitt, Good Shepherd wasn’t a place she discovered; it was where her story began.
Her parents have been part of Good Shepherd for more than twenty years, first coming to the church through an invitation. Erin’s own faith journey has unfolded from the very beginning. Baptized as a child, raised in the church, active in youth ministry, and now serving as a teacher at Little Lambs Preschool, she has had Good Shepherd woven into nearly every chapter of her life.
Yet somewhere along the way, Erin realized that faith is more than simply showing up.
Having spent her childhood at Good Shepherd while her mother worked there, Erin assumed her faith was strong because church was such a familiar part of her life. Over time, she discovered that faith isn’t about being in a building; it’s about building a relationship with God.
Today, Erin is among the young people helping to shape the culture of Good Shepherd, especially its youth ministry. She describes the youth ministry as a place where students are free to ask questions, share perspectives, and have honest conversations.
“We have open-mic nights,” she said. “People can share different opinions.”
What she loves most is her peers’ willingness to listen and learn from one another.
“When we share, our worlds grow so much,” Erin said.
That openness has helped her find her own voice.
Over the years, Erin has shared several messages with the youth group and in church during Youth Sunday services. Her messages have focused on welcoming others, self-worth, and the belief that each person is handcrafted by God. One message in particular centered on taking a leap of faith, a lesson she learned firsthand when she joined her school’s color guard despite knowing little about it and not even being sure she would enjoy it.
That leap paid off. As Erin prepares for her senior year at Staley High School, she serves as the color guard captain.
That same spirit inspires her to invite friends to church, even when it feels uncomfortable.
“It’s scary,” she admits.
Some invitations have been declined or ignored, but Erin keeps asking because she believes in what she has found within the Good Shepherd community. One friend who was struggling in their relationship with God accepted the invitation and, after experiencing the church’s welcoming environment, eventually chose to be baptized and confirmed.
For Erin, moments like these are reminders that a simple invitation can change a life.
She describes Good Shepherd this way:
“Once you step into Good Shepherd, you become part of a family you didn’t know you needed.”
For Erin, that sense of family has been shaped by relationships with people of all ages. Growing up around the church allowed her to build meaningful connections with adults who invested in her faith.
Jose Ramirez was one of those people. When Erin was looking for a mentor, she naturally turned to him for guidance.
“He taught me so much about what it means to be a good Christian,” she said.
Now, Erin hopes to be that kind of mentor for someone else. She believes some of the most meaningful friendships can form across generations.
“I can say someone is my friend from church and they’re 48 years old,” she said. “I can also be friends with a five-year-old. You never know what a five-year-old will teach you.”
As Erin prepares for her senior year, she is especially looking forward to an art class this fall that will challenge students to explore big ideas through creative expression. Her project will focus on misconceptions about faith, a fitting theme for someone who has spent much of her life helping others see faith in a new light.
Her passion for creativity and storytelling has led her to explore a future in marketing, which she hopes to study in college. Yet when asked whether she has considered ministry, her face lit up at the possibility.
Whatever path she ultimately chooses, Erin is already using her gifts to encourage others, build community, and help people feel welcomed and seen. For someone just entering her senior year of high school, that perspective reflects wisdom well beyond her years.
