Jesus Christ and His Influence on my Desire to Serve by John

Jesus Christ and His Influence on my Desire to Serve by John - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

When I began reading the Bible, I was greatly impacted by Jesus Christ’s character and his life of service to those in need. As a Christian, I have come to understand that my most important mission is to serve those around me, especially the most poor, needy, and helpless in society, just as Jesus did. To my shame, serving and volunteering wasn't always my priority, until two events changed my trajectory. The first was witnessing the effects of Hurricane Sandy on fellow New Jersey residents, and the second was moving to San Diego and discovering the pervasiveness of homelessness in the city of sunshine.

After Hurricane Sandy, I was anxious to volunteer with a clean-up and rebuilding project on the Jersey Shore in conjunction with H.O.P.E. Worldwide. The experience was remarkable! I worked tirelessly demolishing homes that were destroyed by the storm. It felt incredible to help residents who were unable to accomplish the considerable task alone. Their gratitude changed my perspective, demonstrating that the purpose of life is to love others by meeting their needs, as God enables me to. Volunteering on this project also awakened my desire to restore and design homes and buildings.

I moved to San Diego in 2013 to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design at Point Loma Nazarene University. Upon my arrival, I immediately noticed the enormity of homelessness. As Jesus’ heart broke for those who were harassed and helpless, my heart broke for the homeless of San Diego and their deplorable living conditions. I realized that God brought me here to reveal a pressing need that He wants me to fulfill. He gave me the ambition to apply my design talents to restore existing homeless shelters, and build and design apartments for them that are safe, clean, beautiful, provide for their needs, and inspire them to prosper! I would be so grateful to be awarded this scholarship money to put towards pursuing and accomplishing these goals!