Specialized Christian Service by John

Specialized Christian Service by John - February 2020 Scholarship Essay

When I was 10 years old, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I answered what any reasonable ten year old would answer: “A millionaire.” Little did I know that God would turn my fascination with money and my enthusiasm with words into a calling to be used for His kingdom. Nine years later, I am pursuing a double major in Business Administration and Communication Studies. I look forward to using my talents for christian service in my church, career, and community.

First, God has fitted me to serve in my church. When my brother Paul was born five and a half weeks early, our church stepped in to help. From meals and childcare, to prayer and home repair, our small group taught me the importance of investing in the lives of others. My family attended Eastview Christian Church in Bloomington, IL where I joined a youth program called Service and Leadership Team (SALT). The SALT leader mentored me and called me into leadership. I began sharing the communion meditation in the high school service. Although I was never good at sports myself, I enjoyed using my speaking skills to inspire young athletes and their families with the halftime message. These experiences revealed my passion to inspire others with the truth of God’s word. I plan to serve the church by leading small groups, mentoring leaders, and speaking in service.

Next, God has fitted me to serve in my career. In high school, I participated in a national speech and debate league. After graduating, I saw a need for practical debate coaching. Partnering with some fellow debaters, we formed Resolved Debate, a small business devoted to instructing middle-school and high-school students to think critically and communicate effectively. Traveling to five states, my fellow coaches and I hosted three-day camps, charging a reasonable fee for the camps and aiming to provide exceptional coaching. After beginning each day with prayer and time in the Bible, we taught the advanced skills of research, rhetoric, and refutation, focusing on ethical communication in light of a biblical worldview. Unlike my ten-year-old aspirations, I didn’t become a millionaire, but I did gain experience in branding a business, developing a curriculum, and marketing a product. Above all, I had the opportunity to influence the next generation of communicators who will impact this culture for Christ. I also learned about effective team leadership from working at Chick-Fil-A. Our operator set high expectations and inspired his team to reach them by offering training and incentives. Watching the leadership of several godly men inspired me to pursue leadership as well. Serving as a trainer fueled my desire to lead and mentor others. With a clear calling, I began investigating colleges, but God had one more lesson to teach me. That millionaire-wanna-be didn't have a million dollars. In fact, he didn't even have enough for college, but God provided step by step, piece by piece, dollar by dollar, building my faith and trust in him along the way. What did I learn? I learned that stewardship is wisely and intentionally using the skills, talents, and resources that God has provided to build His kingdom, not my own. Business is my calling, an opportunity for me to put my faith into action. As a future Christian businessman, I look forward to furthering God’s kingdom by graciously serving others, intentionally mentoring my team, and wisely stewarding resources.

Finally, God has fitted me to serve in my community. Prior to this year, most of my service was within the four walls of the church. This past semester, I volunteered for Junior Quest, a program that serves at-risk children by providing games, meals, and a message. Many of these kids face challenging life circumstances. We had the opportunity to bring the gospel outside the walls of the Church and build a bridge to our young friends. For several weeks, we explained the fruits of the Holy Spirit with some of these children hearing these concepts for the first time. On one particular occasion, a boy came into the group crying. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that his mom had died earlier that morning. At that moment, I understood the importance of what we were doing. I had the opportunity to share Jesus with this little boy during his darkest time. Now, instead of just considering how I can serve in my church or even in my workplace, now I want to serve wherever God opens a door.
From the 10-year-old millionaire-wanna-be to the man I hope to become, I am convinced that God has formed, fashioned, and fitted me to serve Him in my church, career, and community. I will use my gifts and talents to serve God and to serve others.