HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Hanceville High School’s Miley Bales will be a senior this school year, and in this interview, she discussed her relationship with God, starting with how much the passing of Rodney Buckelew impacted her and the entire Hanceville community.
“God means everything to me. My faith guides my decisions and my personal wellbeing. God is my guide and has led me out of tough situations. After a hard couple of months after the passing of Rodney Buckelew, who was not only my mentor, but friend of mine, I leaned on God through that tough time. I needed a lot of strength and guidance to create my service initiative in memory of Rodney. Not only did I do this for Rodney, but I also did this for the students in the band in need. I have a servant’s heart, and I want to help others in any way I can. I’m so thankful for all the opportunities that God has given me, and I give Him all of the glory. I always pray and put my faith in Him before I take the field at halftime,” Bales said. “He has changed my life by always giving me a sense of comfort and picking me back up when I fall. I always know that I’m never alone and that He’s watching over me and protecting me.”
Miley mentioned a couple of her favorite Bible verses and being a role model for younger kids is very important to her.
“My first Bible verse that I love is Mark 9:23: ‘If you can,’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes’. This means a lot to me, because whatever I’m going through, I remind myself, because if I have Him, I can do anything. Another one is Psalms 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit’. This is also important to me, because whenever I’m struggling, I know that He is close to me and can help me through it,” Bales said. “It’s important, because no matter your age, everyone is a child of God, and I believe everyone needs to put their faith in Him. Whenever I was younger, I always looked up to the older twirlers, and I wanted to be just like them. As I got older, I remembered this and strived to be the one that younger kids look up to.”
Miley has a long list of Godly role models that she looks up to, and her fair queen platform is something that she takes very seriously. She talked about her service initiative, Marching Forward.
“I’m a pastor’s kid, so throughout my life, I’ve encountered many Godly role models through my parents. They’ve helped guide me in every step in my life and helped me better my faith,” she said. “My fair queen platform is very close to my heart, because it’s more than just a service initiative. It’s something I want to continue for years to come. Marching Forward is to not only impact the Hanceville community, but I want to spread this farther throughout the county and help benefit other band students. Rodney’s family has helped and supported me a lot, and it means just as much to them as it does to me. It’s on its way to becoming a non-profit organization under the name Marching Forward Legacy Inc. Here’s the mission statement: ‘Marching Forward Legacy Inc. was created to honor and continue the legacy of Rodney Buckelew, a humble leader whose hard work and unwavering support touched countless lives. We envision a world where every student, regardless of background or financial means, has the opportunity to participate in marching band, and experience the transformative power of music, mentorship, and community. Our mission is to break financial barriers through sponsorships, scholarships, and fundraisers ensuring that no student is denied life-changing opportunities, a chance to build confidence, form lasting friendships, and feel supported. Through this work, we are marching forward with Rodney Buckelew’s spirit, building a legacy of inclusion, leadership, and hope that will enrich lives for generations to come.’”
Miley gave some advice to anyone that wants a relationship with God but might be struggling with that process. She has learned a lot during her own journey so far.
“I would say that they’re not alone and that God is with you and is waiting for you with open arms, no matter your background or history,” she said. “Before we go perform, the band always prays. The majorettes do a separate prayer also. This is something that is very important to me, and something that I make sure we do. For my daily ritual, I always pray before I go to sleep and when I wake up. I also keep a Scripture on my phone lock screen. One thing I’ve learned through my journey is to always be kind, because you never know what someone is going through. I’ve also learned how to better appreciate life, because we’re never guaranteed another moment, so we should live our life by praying for others, being an example of Christ, and to do the things you love and enjoy. Spending time with family and friends is important to me due to that reason.”
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