Our graduates are called, transformed, and sent to lead a life of eternal impact, and we love celebrating the life change they get to be a part of through the local church!
INTRODUCING
Miguel Plaza & Angela Malagisi
2025 Highlands College Graduates
As graduates of the Class of 2025, Miguel and Angela are stepping boldly into a new season marked by purpose, preparation, and promise. Their story is a beautiful picture of what it means to be developed at Highlands College and sent out to advance the Kingdom of God.
This summer, Miguel and Angela will step into internships at the Riverchase Campus of Church of the Highlands, return home to serve at Broad River Church, and prepare for their wedding—all while living out the mission of Highlands College. Their journey reflects what HC is all about: equipping leaders who are grounded in the Word, fortified in character, and ready to serve the local church with faith, obedience, and humility.
Let’s hear how God is leading them, what they’ve learned, and how they’re preparing for what’s next.
What does this next season look like for you both?
We are excited to start internships with the Church of the Highlands Riverchase Campus throughout the summer, head back to serve at our home church, Broad River Church, and finish planning our wedding that will be taking place in November.
Can you share about the internship you are stepping into and how it’ll prepare you for the ministry or opportunity after your internship?
Angela will be stepping into a worship internship that will help her develop her leadership, communication, and production skills. This internship prepares her for her future ministry in worship and the Next Generation. Miguel will be stepping into a Dream Team internship to help him build and establish systems, communication, and teams. This internship will help prepare him as he enters his future ministry.
What are you most excited about in this upcoming season?
We are most excited to see how God deepens our relationships, develops us as leaders through our internships, and prepares us to go home to assist with leading in other areas of ministry. We’re also excited to see how God will continue to shape our characters as we step into marriage.
How has Highlands College prepared you individually and together for what’s next?
Highlands College has prepared our character, integrity, and strength in the Lord. We’ve both experienced freedom in our lives and feel like entirely different people from when we first came to Highlands College. Highlands College has also taught us the importance of our relationship with Jesus and how we need intentional time with our Savior daily.
Miguel and Angela at the Torch Awards.
Miguel and Angela at Late Night Chapel.
Looking back on your time at HC, what moments or lessons stand out the most?
A lesson we took away from our Holistic Discipleship class was a quote from Mark Dever that says, “The Christian life is the disciplined life and the discipling life.” It stuck out to us the most because it defines what God calls all Christians to do within their purpose or calling. Not only does it say that we need to be disciplined ourselves, but also to disciple others. Following this, one of the greatest lessons to take away from HC is to embrace a hidden season. The hidden season is arguably one of the most important seasons we’ve encountered here at HC. It’s the one that shapes character, calling, and a personal relationship with the Lord before stepping out into full-time ministry.
What part of your training at HC do you think you’ll lean on the most in this next chapter?
A part of our training at HC that we will both be leaning on the most is the heart posture we learned here to be servants. Regardless of being on the stage or part of the parking team, we want to serve with humility and joy, knowing that we get to serve in the house of God. Our first yes was to God, and we will serve Him gladly in any way we can!
Miguel and Angela with friends they met at Highlands College.
Miguel and Angela, with Sterling and Sheridan Rhodes, both HC Alumni who are now on staff at Amplify Church in North Carolina.
Was there a moment when you sensed God confirming this was your next step?
We both felt led to return home around March of this past year. Angela had an encounter with the Lord during a meeting regarding our next steps with trusted church leaders from home. She experienced God’s presence tangibly and felt called to the people of our home church. Miguel had a moment during chapel when Charlotte Gamble came to preach, and he felt God tell him that we had been looking for jobs and security with our physical eyes and to start looking with our spiritual eyes. God was pointing us to go home, and we simply said yes!
What would you say to someone considering ministry or taking a step of faith towards walking in their calling?
We would want to encourage them not to fear their current circumstances, remain obedient, and trust God in His plans. Sometimes, the best step to take when walking toward your calling can look harder or feel harder than expected. Still, God is faithful, and you will see the blessings of your obedience. Three years ago, we had no idea we would return to school and move 16 hours away from home to go to Highlands College. Now, we’re living in the moments we have been praying for. Be faithful, be courageous, and never doubt what God can do in you and for you.
What’s one thing you’re praying for this season?
We’re praying for God to move in the state of Connecticut and the Northeast region. This area of the country is a small but growing community of believers, and we’re believing for revival and spiritual freedom to occur in the next few years.
Looking Ahead
Miguel and Angela’s story is a powerful testimony of how God is working through Highlands College alumni to make an eternal impact in the local church.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know one of our amazing Highlands College graduates. Learn more about Highlands College and how you can connect to our network of graduates around the world.
