Perfect Storm of Success Rains on Erica Sapp

             If Erica Sapp thought this past year was full of miracles, wait until the one's that coming up.

            That's because the petite 18-year-old from Eastpoint, known for her devotion to video production ever since she was in elementary school, just learned she has been granted a scholarship to attend Lee University in Cleveland, TN, and study film, video and TV production.

            She also just won an international talent competition for her multimedia work.

            Plus, after confronting a series of heart problems, constant tests and open heart surgeries throughout her young life, she's healthier than ever.

            It's been a memorable year for Sapp, a perfect storm of good fortune and good health, and it's about to get even more exciting.

            Sapp's church family held a reception for her earlier this month on Aug. 10 to celebrate her winning an international Teen Talent competition on Aug. 8 at the 72nd Church of God International General Assembly in San Antonio, TX.

            Her music video "Set Me Free," made in 2006 and based on a song by Casting Crowns, had already won the state competition. This time, it would earn a first-place trophy, emerging as tops in the category of Multimedia -Short Clip in a field of over 3,500 participants from throughout the world, all in the service of the competition's theme "Our Talent, His Glory."

            But there was more to it than even a trophy.

            One of the judges in the Teen Talent competition was a teacher at Lee University, a 90-year-old, small, highly rated Christ-centered private university, affiliated with the Church of God, located in Cleveland, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

            That judge was so impressed by Sapp's work that he called the university's vice-president, who then talked to the 2008 Franklin County High School graduate and convinced her that Lee University would be a perfect fit for her talents.

            "As soon as I get there, I'll have a job," said Sapp excitedly, as friends stopped by at the reception to wish her well. "We're all kind of scared and nervous. It's an opportunity not too many people have."

            In deciding to go to Lee, .Sapp abandoned earlier plans to start at Gulf Coast Community College, where she had full paid tuition through the Take Stock in Children program.

            "I wanted to stay in doing ministry," she said. "God gave me this talent and it would be very selfish of me not to use it for His glory. He gave so much for me."

            Fortunately, it appears the Take Stock scholarship money may still be available, as the new Take Stock in Children Director Roy Carroll told her it appears that Lee University qualifies under the terms of the Take Stock program.

            When Carroll was named Teacher of the Year, Sapp made a video for the annual banquet, just as she has for several local programs and organizations, including the Franklin County School Board, Sherriff's Office, Carrabelle High School graduation classes, proms, portraits and weddings. ""I have a small business," she said. "I took a shed and made it into an office."

            Since middle school, she's been the main media person at Eastpoint Church of God and has a wealth of projects in her portfolio, including filming and editing the "Sonic Flood" concert a few years back.

            "She brought us into the future," said her youth pastor, Scott Shiver.

The Biggest Miracle of All

            Perhaps the most wondrous aspect of Sapp's good fortune relates to her health.

            For her entire life, she has had to contend with heart problems, after being born with a hole in her heart and without a main artery. Even with two open heart surgeries - a valve repair and replacement - and many catheterizations ("I can't even count how many. I've been through a lot of tests"), it hasn't always been easy.

            "I was never able to play sports, and had to be careful about simple stuff, like going to the beach," she said. "It really held me back a lot."

            Even during her senior years, she was out of school for two months, relying on teacher Marilyn Reynolds to bring her work as she prepared for surgery at Shands at the University of Florida to repair 30 percent blockage.

            She scheduled it around February or March, but it was later delayed until April, which would mean she would miss both the prom and graduation. "I prayed about it and it was like ‘If this is what I need to do, I need you to give me peace about it.' The Lord spoke to me and told me ‘You're going to be at your graduation.'"

            Sapp went to Shands and underwent a catheterization but the results were not what she had expected. "They told me I didn't have to have surgery. Everything they saw was not there. My heart was just as healthy as anybody who didn't have heart problems."

            Her reaction was at first skeptical. "I was upset because I felt they were sending me home without fixing me. Eighteen years of being sick, it was hard to accept it," said Sapp. "But we knew what had happened, and after that He completely reversed my year.

            "I can run, I can play. As far as physical, I feel like I've never felt before," she said. "I feel fine. For the first time I can run and be active and not have to stop."

            To encourage other youth who may be facing health problems, Sapp referred to Philippians 4:13, which says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

            "Your health conditions will put restrictions on you, and they'll try to tell you you can't do the things you want to do and pursue the dreams you want to do," Sapp said. "God is much bigger than any kind of health problem, or any kind of situation that you're in, and He will always bring you through as long as you trust him."

CUTLINES

 Erica Sapp, front left, stand with her dad, Jimmy Sapp, far left, her brother Colton Sapp, and her mom Paula Sapp, right, at the Eastpoint Church of God Aug. 10 reception in her honor. Her extended family also includes stepmom Shirley Sapp and stepsister Maranda Coatney. Photo by David Adlerstein.