Rooted in Faith, Ready to Serve: Wooten Joins NRCA’s Discipleship Team

By Presley Harrison, Shield Editor-in-Chief 

Among the many students and staff North Raleigh Christian Academy welcomed for the first time this year was Christian Life Director Ms. Lilly Wooten. As a new addition to the discipleship team, Wooten will be working alongside Mr. Josh Leonard, Dean of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, to connect with students, share the gospel, and encourage spiritual formation in the NRCA community.  

Wooten was working on a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Ministry to Women when she felt the Lord calling her to NRCA. “Shortly after I started at Southeastern, I started thinking about what it might look like to move to Raleigh. Little did I know, the Lord was already at work with what felt like a small, distant thought in my head. For the past three years, I have had the opportunity to serve at Liberty Christian Academy in Richlands, NC, as a Bible teacher and then Christian Life Director. Discipling and encouraging students is one of my greatest passions, and my prayer has always been that I will be faithful wherever God has called me. So, when the opportunity was offered to come serve in the discipleship office at NRCA, my prayer became exactly that. As I prayed about the opportunity, the Lord was kind to display His constant confirmation and provided clarity and peace that this would be the next place He has called me to,” Wooten said. 

In a practical sense, Wooten will be a versatile member of the discipleship team this year. Wooten said, “I’ll be helping with all things in the discipleship office, as well as through our Student Leadership Academy (SLA), chapels, mission trips, class trips, and student life. Mr. Leonard always has had a philosophy to be present in the hallways, meeting students and building relationships. My heart is to do the same. I could not be more excited to build relationships with students, staff, and families alike.”  

Wooten’s favorite Bible passage is Matthew 6:33-34, which says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (ESV). 

About these verses, Wooten said, “As humans in general, we can have a tendency to want to seek control over our lives and plan things our way. However, Matthew 6:33 tells us that our priority is to seek Jesus first, and then the rest will be added according to His will. When I committed my life to Jesus, I gave Him my yes and surrendered the timing, placement, and the details of my life to Him. And then verse 34 serves as a reminder to not worry about tomorrow. We're not promised tomorrow, and ultimately the Lord is in control, so therefore, our job is to live faithfully with each breath.” 

Wooten’s trust in God’s guidance and provision has shaped her journey. That same faith fuels her enthusiasm for the road ahead. She said, “I am super excited to be here at NRCA and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store!”