Joshua Apparicio

Words of the Week – The Power of Healing

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterFebruary 5, 2020

To the youth readers: I’m back! I pray you’re all well. I have a great story to share with you. As you know writing for me is therapy. I found comfort in Psalm 73:26, “…as the word of God share my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I fell and broke both of my wrists. I knew what time it was. I needed to be still. God wanted me to rest in Him. When you have a personal relationship with God, you’re able to understand why things happen

Local Religion

Words of the Week – Turn the Other Cheek

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterMarch 20, 2019

To the youth readers, my prayer is that you all have been enjoying the Words of the Week I’ve been sharing with you. Writing to the youth throughout many communities has certainly been therapeutic for me. Being able to have this opportunity to speak directly and concisely to the youth is something I wouldn’t have even begun to envision, say, six years ago. It states in Matthew 5:38, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’” As Christians, we don’t always find a solution in using one insult to describe

Religion

Words of the Week – Wisdom

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterFebruary 6, 2019

To the youth readers, I say, “Hello, young leaders! I pray that your year is off to an exceptional start!” I would like to continue to encourage you all as you start your new 2019 endeavors with a scripture that I’ve had to firmly stand on so many times before, especially when I had to make insightful and calculated decisions. As it states in James 1:5, “If any of us lack wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to us.” I often thought you had to be a grandmother

Religion

Words of the Week – God Supplies My Needs

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterJanuary 30, 2019

To the youth readers, sharing with you from my heart for the past few months about life’s unforgiving challenges have certainly meant the world to me. God has been supplying all of my needs, and I truly believe that, as I haven’t gone without. We all understand that it’s difficult when you’re going through the fire, or facing unpleasant situations. You feel alone or as if there is no one supporting you. At these particular times, you are inundated. But, at these times, think back to this influential scripture, Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your needs according to

Religion

Words of the Week – God’s Promises are Yes and Amen!

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing WriterJanuary 16, 2019

Welcome to 2019, your best year yet! To all of the hard working young youth leaders, I would like to start off by encouraging you all to work diligently on your new year and what you’ve promised yourselves this year. I do remember when we were going through life’s unforgiving challenges, we read in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” I especially liked this scripture because my understanding is that God can

Religion

Words of the Week – Love One Another

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterJanuary 2, 2019

Young readers, God wants us to know how special we are to him. “For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Every morning, I wake up so grateful knowing that God blessed me with another day filled with love. My days are often challenging because of my hectic schedule, filled to the brim with schoolwork, but I always stay focused and on task. To be loved is a blessing! There are days when I feel like I haven’t rested enough, and I

Religion

Words of the Week – Be Thankful Always

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterNovember 21, 2018

To the youth readers: The season of giving thanks is quickly approaching. I like to call this the “Thankful Season.” So many people take this time to provide services to the less fortunate. As a young man, I think the season of gratitude should be present all year around, daily or as often as we can. Being thankful for what we have endured or the challenges we have been through is not always easy to look back on. This time of giving thanks is especially sensitive for me, as we were without a place to call home four years ago.

Religion

Words of the Week – Obedience Is Rewarding

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterOctober 31, 2018

To the youth readers, my prayer for you all is that you’re having an opportunity read for pleasure, whether it is a love story, drama, romantic or non-fiction otherwise known as the Bible. I hope that you now understand what a great book it is. Can you imagine challenging your English teacher with the Bible as a book report? I would like to start with the first commandment with a promise we all know or have heard, which is in Ephesians 6:1-24, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, that it

Opinion Religion

Words of the Week – Faith Must Be Exercised Daily

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterSeptember 5, 2018

When I think about faith, I can share the faith I had to have while my mom and I were homeless. We had to rely on faith as our daily food. But, as James 2:17 says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” I had to apply my faith in class, on the playground and anywhere I went knowing that I had asked God to help me. During our time in the valley, after my mom lost her job and everything else, we truly relied on God’s promises in the Word. We were never hungry,

Religion

Words of the Week – Respect Is Paramount

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterAugust 1, 2018

To the youth readers: Though I am 13-years-old, I know the importance of being respectful to everyone, including my elders and especially my parents. It’s okay to disagree and express the basic forms of respect, which starts at home. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will never depart.” Proverbs 22:6. We are distinctly instructed in the word of God to submit to authority. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by

Religion

Words of the Week – Enlightening Summer Reading

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterJuly 18, 2018

To the Youth Readers: Summer is almost over, believe it or not, and the fall will be here before you know it. Whether you are returning to school in August or September, now would be a great time to start reading a book, and I believe the Bible is a wise choice. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” – Proverbs 1:7. I remember my mom reading to me daily when I was younger. I couldn’t wait to read on my own. As I grew older, I realized how much I enjoyed reading, which I started at

Religion

Words of the Week – Never Let Being Bullied Derail You

Joshua Apparicio, Contributing Youth WriterJuly 11, 2018

To the Youth Readers: I am truly humbled and privileged to have this opportunity to write to my fellow peers about a disheartening and true issue we all experience – bullying. Whether you are the victim or the person who does the bullying just remember 1 John 4:4, “The Lord is greater than the giants you face.” I’ve been in the victim position and it feels demeaning and overall terrible. I was bullied for 6 years and I have a prolific amount of stories to tell. This all correlates as to why I am the president of the Student State

Religion

Holman UMC Welcomes Michael Eric Dyson

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorJune 20, 2018

Pastor Kelvin Sauls, left, and Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles welcomed the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, right, as the guest preacher on June 17. Joshua Apparicio, center, joined many people in obtaining Dyson’s new book, “What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America.” (Shirmin Apparicio photo)

Religion

God Leads the Way for Young Joshua Apparicio

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorJune 13, 2018

Young people are making positive headlines across America and 13-year-old Joshua Apparicio is among that group. A recent 8th grade graduate, Apparicio already garnered as a reputation as an outstanding motivational speaker and won countless awards for his public speaking skills. Despite the accolades, the multi-talented youth remains humbled and focused as he prepares to enter high school. According to Apparicio, the key to his success is his relationship with the Lord. “God plays a 100 percent role in my life. God is the head of my life,” shared the young man, who also plays the piano, saxophone and upright

Religion

Apparicio Continues on Upward Path

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorFebruary 7, 2018

At the young age of seven, Joshua Apparicio was winning several local competitions for his oratory talents. Now at the age of 12, he continues to garner attention and awards for his public speaking skills. Apparicio, who attends Morningside Church of Christ in Inglewood, dazzled the audience at last month’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Worship Service at Faithful Central Bible Church. During the event, he received repeated applause for his speech, “We Are Better Together: Realizing the Dream.” The confident, yet humble, 8th grade student, said he aims for his message to inspire other youth. “What I plan to