Ben Warner, RCS c/o ’97
Submitted by Teresa Hendren in Alumni, Class of 1997, Home Page Stories on April 14, 2020
One of the RCS goals to #CelebrateRCS in our 50th anniversary is to connect with RCS Alumni and see what God has been doing in their lives since high school graduation.
Dr. Hearne recently interviewed RCS Alumni and current MSHS Principal, Mr. Warner, class of 1997.
As part of the interview, Dr. Hearne asked Mr. Warner to share his thoughts on this month’s theme verse 2 Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
Mr. Warner shared, “As believers we have the answer. The world may not want the answer, but it doesn’t change the fact that Christ’s death and resurrection is the answer everyone needs. We get to model this in our lives, in our classrooms, and in our relationships with students. When we are given the opportunity, we get to use our words to declare the answer! We often pray that we would be God’s hands and feet on campus, that we would know when to listen and when to speak, and that the Holy Spirit would accomplish his miraculous work through us. What a blessing and privilege to share the answer through Christian education!”
When did you begin attending RCS and what year did you graduate?
Mr. Warner: I began attending RCS in the 8th grade (1992) and graduated in 1997.
Who was your favorite RCS Teacher and why?
Mr. Warner: While there were many excellent teachers that I still appreciate and admire to this day, Mr. Huemoeller was my favorite teacher. I was his TA for MS PE. He was a lot younger then and really spent time investing in me. He led our FCA huddle and gave us a front row seat into his life and family. He showed me how to love people well. As my soccer coach he once told me: you’ll throw up before you pass out, and you will pass out before you die. So, don’t stop running until you throw up. I have tried to live my life by these words!
What activities did you enjoy participating in while a student?
Mr. Warner: SPORTS. I went to school so I could play sports. I played soccer (Coach Huemoeller), basketball (Coach Castaneda), and volleyball (Coach Stirling). I did also enjoy being a part of the yearbook class (Mr. McDaniel).
As a student what did you love most about RCS?
Mr. Warner: I knew that I was safe and that my teachers really did love me. I always felt that I could be myself in that moment and that if I was out of line, that I would gently be admonished to correct the behavior and forgiven. Mr. Gillette, Mr. Bakker, Mr. McDaniel, and Mr. Edington all played this role at different moments.
What did you do after graduating from RCS?
Mr. Warner: I attended Christian Heritage College in San Diego. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Education. I also earned my CA Credential while there. I played basketball and ran Cross-country for the school over the five years that I was there.
Why did you return to RCS as a teacher and now an administrator?
Mr. Warner: This was God’s plan. Dr. Hearne often says that we sometimes have to change to fit into God’s calling on our lives. This has been very true for me. I swore I would never return to the Bay Area and that I would live in San Diego forever. As an RCS PE teacher I swore I would never go into administration. As an assistant principal I swore I would never want to be a principal… Looking back at the journey, I see God’s hand in it all, gently moving me from one location to another and from one role to another. And now, Amber and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have our three children Elijah (4th), Isaac (4th), and Abrielle (3rd) in the school. God’s plan carries so many blessings!
