Micah Value bought his high-school diploma on Wednesday — 5 days after the remainder of his classmates.

And Jesus was the rationale.

The Kentucky teenager had his diploma withheld for professing his Baptist religion in his graduation-ceremony closing speech.

Mr. Value went off his authorized script on the Campbell County Excessive Faculty graduation on Might 24.

According to Cincinnati CBS affiliate WKRC, citing Superintendent Shelli Wilson, the varsity had authorized “I have to give the glory, and the reward and the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” at first of the speech and no additional non secular references.

However that wasn’t what occurred.

“My Lord and Savior is your reply,” Mr. Value continued as a part of a minute-long testimony. “Class, everybody within the viewers in the present day, I’m right here to inform you should you don’t have any of these issues in your life, you may’t appear to search out the reply, my Lord and Savior is your reply. He will provide you with the reality, the best way and the life.”

The teenager told Northern Kentucky Fox affiliate WXIX-19 on Wednesday that when he went to get his diploma, a principal tapped him on the shoulder and stated it’d be withheld.

“I knew it was going to be held,” he stated. “Earlier than you do something, they inform us should you go up there and do a cartwheel or one thing silly, that can get your diploma held.”

And in line with Mr. Value, he knew the varsity didn’t need him to say faith. He had submitted eight drafts and was informed to take out religion-focused sections.

Regardless of that, the teenager stated he needed to testify anyway.

“I merely can’t maintain again what Christ has performed in my life,” Mr. Value, a Baptist who underwent a “born once more” expertise within the eighth grade, informed WXIX. “He’s all the pieces to me.”