On June 25, I watched the television with excitement as one of our church members, Rachel Wyatt, competed in the Miss South Carolina pageant. She and her mom and dad have been faithful members of our church for several years. That evening, Rachel was crowned Miss South Carolina 2016.

As the crowd cheered and celebrated her accomplishment, I thought about Rachel sitting in our church the previous Sunday, worshiping the Lord. I marveled at how this talented and beautiful young lady that people were admiring on the stage was the same young woman who is so unassuming as she participates in our college ministry.

Recently, during our Sunday morning services, I took the opportunity to interview Rachel in front of our congregation. I asked her what it was like when her name was called as the new Miss South Carolina. She replied that she had prayed for peace and for the Lord’s will to be done, so when her name was called, she was filled with excitement at the opportunity she was being given.

This is not the first pageant Rachel has won. In 2012, she was crowned Miss South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen. After receiving her crown, she went down on one knee and “Tebow-ed,” and the photo went viral across social media. I asked her why she did that, and she said that when Tim Tebow would strike that pose, it was his way of bringing honor and glory to God. When Rachel, with a crown on her head and roses in her arms, knelt on one knee and struck that familiar pose, it was her way of showing everyone watching that God was first in her life and deserving of glory.

In 2013, Rachel was crowned Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, which is the teen version of the Miss America pageant. She traveled the country as an ambassador for Miss America and for her Lord. She is unashamed of her Christian faith and understands that every title she wins is another opportunity to let her light shine.

Keith Shorter and Rachel Wyatt

I asked Rachel if she has any plans to strike another Tebow pose should she win the upcoming Miss America title on Sept. 11. Her answer was classic Rachel: “I don’t have any plans to celebrate on stage, but if I should win, I hope that the whole year will be a time where I glorify the Lord in everything that I do.”

Her platform as Miss South Carolina is “Life Without Limits.” She has been working with special-needs adults since she was in high school. Her face lights up when she teaches them to dance or to complete daily living skills, but when Rachel is around her special friends, they are the ones with the biggest smiles.

As I interviewed Rachel in front of our church, my last question to her was: “As you prepare for the Miss America pageant, how can your church family pray for you?” She asked that we pray she will be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ with everyone she comes in contact with in Atlantic City.

As the bright lights and TV cameras come on that night, millions of people will be watching, and a national audience will be introduced to a godly young lady who lives for Jesus.

— Keith Shorter is pastor of Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Easley and president-elect of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.