Christine (Todd) DiGiacomo, RCS c/o ‘78
Submitted by Alyssa Kiefer in Alumni, Alumni News, Class of 1978, Home Page Stories on September 18, 2019
San Francisco Bay Area Christian High Schools Graduates Share
Train Up a Child
One of the Redwood Christian Schools goals to #CelebrateRCS in our 50th anniversary is to connect with RCS Alumni and see what God has been doing in their lives since graduation from our San Francisco Bay Area private high school. Superintendent Hearne recently interviewed RCS Alumni, Christine (Todd) DiGiacomo, class of 1978.
As part of the interview, Dr. Hearne asked for Christine to share her thoughts on this month’s theme verses, Deuteronomy 6:5-7: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Christine shared, “When asked, Jesus said it was the first and greatest commandment – to love the Lord with all of who we are . . . My children are grown now, Matthew-36, Amy-34, Dylan-24 and Danny-21, but I knew from the moment I was expecting each of them, that was my greatest goal in their lives: to teach them about Jesus. In small ways and grand ones, I set before them a world through the lens of a good God. While there are many interpretations of Proverbs 22:6, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it’, I claim that as one of the promises of God. It aligns with Paul’s ‘I am confident of this–he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it’. Philippians 1:6″
When did you begin attending RCS and what year did you graduate?
In the fall of 1974, I started at RCS on the Redwood Road campus, the same year Mr. Johnson started teaching P.E. at the school. (Do the girls still wear those silly looking red onesies? Goodness gracious, I hope not!)
Who was your favorite RCS Teacher?
Stan Edington was my favorite teacher, I do believe. I had him for Bible and Government. I loved his easy smile and laughter, indicative of his genuine love for God and us students.
Favorite administrator? Alfred E. “Butch” Monk . . . one of the all-time greats. Ha! But I was close to Gus Enderlin too; even though he scared me and most of us students when he was our principal, I developed a different relationship with him because he traveled with the Royal Choir and I did too. Great man.
What activities did you participate in while a student?
Choir, Cheerleading, accompanied the Royal Choir on piano, Drama . . . that’s all I can remember!
As a student what did you love about RCS?
I loved chapels – the music in particular. Choir was a great experience, particularly the choir tours we made–to Northern California, to Pasadena ASCI Music Festival, etc . . . good stuff.
What have you been doing since graduating from RCS?
That’s a lo-o-o-ng time! My degree is in Mass Communications from Cal State, Hayward (now East Bay), and I later got a multiple subject teaching credential as well and taught at our rival school, Fremont Christian. First I was a secondary teacher, and then dropped down and taught fourth grade, loving both equally well. My goodness, I’ve done everything from selling first-generation cellular phones to teaching aerobics to being published in engineering journals and leading Christian moms’ groups.
Since moving to Southern California 19 years ago with my husband Dean and our four children, I thoroughly enjoyed raising my children, but also stepped into ministry in a greater way–writing and teaching Bible studies, ministering to the homeless on the streets of Long Beach, leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes at San Clemente High School, and so on. Eleven years ago, I was asked to become the corporate pastor to an international company; for those executives I started writing ‘Morning Briefings’ – daily written and podcasted Bible study inspirations, and they now go to 143 countries.
What are you currently doing?
My kids, Matthew, Amy, Dylan and Danny, are now in four different states, with my youngest, Danny having just transferred to Suffolk University in Boston . . . love that great historical city! Though Dean and I live in a regular neighborhood in San Clemente, we have two chickens and four great little dogs – enjoy traveling (to see the kids!) working out and gardening.
My second book, Hello, God. It’s Me., is due out this fall and I will be leading my second journey this year back to Israel in November. I love studying about and being in the land that makes all I have learned from God’s Word literally come to life!
