For many young adults, heading off to college means leaving their childhood church behind. But for 18-year-old Ader Deng, a lifelong member of Christ & St. Luke’s and a freshman at Penn State University, the roots planted in our parish continue to nourish his incredible journey. Recently crowned “Mr. Africa” at his university, Ader’s story is a testament to the power of our youth ministries, and specifically, the enduring, warm mentorship of our Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry, Kathy Hanna.
Ader’s story is deeply intertwined with the history and mission of Christ & St. Luke’s. The son of refugees who fled the war in South Sudan, his parents trekked miles to a refugee camp in Kenya as part of the “Lost Boys” and “Lost Girls” — over 20,000 children displaced or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War between 1983 and 2005. They undertook a dangerous, year-long journey of more than 1,000 miles to escape violence, and only about 4,000 survived to reach Kenya. Roughly 3,600 were resettled in the U.S.
Our church partnered to help sponsor Ader’s father’s resettlement here in Norfolk. Born to this resilient family, Ader was baptized at Christ & St. Luke’s and quickly became woven into the fabric of our community along with his siblings Monica and Moses who serve as acolytes and regular members of our Youth Group.
“My first memory would be Youth Sunday before the church was renovated,” Ader recalled during a recent visit back home. “I remember going there every Sunday to the third floor and just learning about Christ”.
As he grew, Ader embraced every opportunity to serve. He spent seven years singing in the Choristers, transitioned into the acolyte ministry where he eventually became an Acolyte Master, played his violin for services, and consistently served our homeless ministry. He even took the time throughout high school to volunteer at the Kroc Center, teaching music lessons to children there. When Kathy Hanna took over the youth program, Ader was right there as what she proudly calls “one of the founding members of Youth Group in my era”.
The relationship between Ader and “Ms. Kathy” goes far beyond Sunday morning programming. It is a genuine mentorship — one that challenges, encourages, and empowers. Nowhere was this clearer than in the lead-up to Youth Sunday in February 2025, when Kathy asked Ader to preach the sermon.
Initially, Ader was terrified. “I didn’t want to do it. I generally didn’t wanna do it at all,” Ader said. In his sermon that morning (which you can listen to in full at our website), he explained his hesitation: “I quickly said no, because I didn’t think I was ready for such a big responsibility,” he said.
But Kathy refused to let him hide his light. “Ms. Kathy always encouraged me, assuring me that I would be fine and she would be there to help,” Ader preached to the congregation. Her gentle but firm persistence sparked a spiritual breakthrough for the young man. “I realized that sometimes in life, God sends us people to share important messages. In my case, Ms. Kathy was my messenger,” he shared from the pulpit. “He was telling me that I shouldn’t doubt my abilities. If I wasn’t capable, he would have chosen someone else for the job… Instead, I should embrace the challenge”.
In that profound sermon, Ader compared Kathy’s encouragement to the biblical story of Simeon, who saw incredible promise in the infant Jesus when others didn’t. “Often when our friends or family encourage us, they help us to see the potential within ourselves that we might overlook, especially when we’re feeling unsure,” Ader said.
Looking back, Ader views that sermon as a massive steppingstone that taught him how “to speak out to the church to let them know what’s on my mind”. That hard-won confidence has been essential as Ader navigates his freshman year at Penn State, where he is majoring in cybersecurity with a minor in AI.
It also gave him the courage to step onto the stage at Penn State and compete for the title of “Mr. Africa.” For Ader, the pageant was never just about a title; it was a platform to live out the values of love and service he was raised with. “The pageant wasn’t just to showcase my culture, it was also to donate a thousand dollars to a charity of my choice, U.S. Aid for educational development in South Sudan,” Ader explained. “I felt like I was making an impact… The way I see it isn’t just about where I’m from. It’s just how I am involved in my culture, how I perceive the people around me”. Since winning, he has continued to use his voice, giving speeches on campus, including at the NAACP Black Love Gala.
Kathy’s youth ministry is so special because of its ongoing nature. It doesn’t end at high school graduation. Recently, when Ader was back in Norfolk, the two met up for lunch at Baker’s Crust to catch up on his life.
“Lots of times my experience has been that once your students move on to bigger and better things like college, they don’t come back to church. They don’t get in touch with their youth leaders,” Kathy shared, beaming with obvious pride. “It makes me feel like I’ve done my job well that he came back and shared with me everything that’s happening in his life. I’ve been telling people stories about him all week!”
At Christ & St. Luke’s, we strive to build deep connections that cross generations. Ader is a living embodiment of that mission. When asked how his faith continues to shape him, he points to the resilience it provides.
“My journey hasn’t always been pitch-perfect,” he admits. “Just knowing that I have someone to rely on, to look up to, to talk to in my times of need just helps me to push forward.”
We are so incredibly proud of Ader Deng, and deeply grateful for Kathy Hanna. Together, their story reminds us that when we welcome our youth, we are giving them a foundation of love that will hold them steady, no matter how high they soar.
If you’d like to find out more about Children, Youth & Family Ministries at Christ & St. Luke’s contact Kathy Hanna.
