Miss America 2009 Katie Stam Travels for the Children's Miracle Network--and for Jesus Christ

When she was a little girl, Katie Stam dreamed of becoming Miss America. She may have never dreamed that when it would happen her being in the public eye would open doors she might have never had before to share her Christian faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son, the Savior of the world. The Miss Indiana who won the crown believes He died on the cross and rose again for the sins of the world to give a home in heaven to believers. Not many contestants sing such an openly Christian song as she did for the talent competition--despite a throat infection-- "Villa Dolorosa," first popularized by Sandi Patti, about the road Christ walked to his crucifixion.

She said she never considered singing such a Christian song a risk. She just considered it a beautiful song. After she was crowned Miss America at first she couldn't even understand when people asked her about the "risk" in singing a song with such a heavy Christian message. Only when she began to consider that not everybody has an open heart to the message of Christ and his love, and she thought even more about the words, did she begin to understand.

Even though she did not understand at first why anyone would consider singing a Christian song for a talent competition at the Miss America pageant, Katie Stam did understand the persecution Carrie Prejean, Miss California suffered when she publicly stated she believes a marriage should only between a man and a woman. She said it is right for Christians to stick up for what they believe and applauds Prejan for her boldness.

"I haven't gotten any (flack)," for being open about her faith Stam said in an interview in www.blackchristiannews.com. "Whoever would have thought that a little girl who grew up on a dairy farm would grow up to be Miss America?"

Katie Stam said becoming Miss America has brought her closer to God. She said she had to rely on him to be able to sing despite having a throat infection.

"I have only become closer to God, completely relying on Him and putting every situation in His hands," she said in an interview on the website, http://www.lcms.org, a website of Lutherans and how they witness. "We are all called to serve in the position God has placed us."

Because she travels so much as Miss America, Katie Stam often doesn't get to attend church. Despite that she reads the Bible more than she ever has. Because Miss America represents all Americans she does not speak of her faith unless asked--but she is not shy about the subject when the chance comes to tell of Jesus and her belief in His love. She often gets the chance to lead a group in prayer. She said she has been a Christian since a very young age, but her boyfriend has helped in a much greater way to realize the importance of the Christian faith is a growing relationship with Christ.

Her favorite task as Miss America has been to work in children's hospitals. She said she always wants to be an encouragement to the sick children, but she often feels they actually encourage her more than the other way around. She said people often take good health for granted, but the children in the hospitals can't. Katie Stam said Christians are "soldiers" for Christ--wherever they are, in a children's hospital, serving as Miss America, at their jobs, or wherever.

By the time a new Miss America 2010 is chosen, Katie Stam will have traveled an average of 20,000 miles each month. All along the way she will have continued to promote community service and acted as the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for children's hospitals.

During the pageant 11 finalists were chosen by the judges, and Stam was one of four chosen by a new method--as a contestant on a reality show, Miss America: Countdown to the Crown. She said the new format for the show is great and more contemporary.

In 2008 the Miss America pageant gave away $45 million in cash and tuition assistance. Besides being named Miss America, Katie Stam won $50,000 in scholarship assistance.

Katie Stam was a student at the University of Indiana. She is pursing a degree in communications and hopes to become a television news anchor.

Although becoming Miss America has helped Katie Stam grow in a lot of ways as a person, she thinks the most important change for her has been the way she has grown spiritually. No doubt, some people have heard the message of Jesus Christ that would not have if she hadn't won.

Citations: Miss America Katie Stam: Faith Before Beauty, by 1010 Phoenix, Youtube.com

New Miss America Katie Stam Puts Faith Before Beauty, No author listed, Blackchristiannews.com
Katie Stam, No author listed, Lcms.org
Katie Stam: More than a Pretty Face, No author listed, 700club.com