I'm starting a new project here on this blog of mine. I thought of it this morning when I was mentally composing an email to the Residence Life staff and included a line about how thankful I am for them. I started thinking about how true that is, and what specific things each of them has done.
I realize now that I've started writing this that the whole project might seem a little creepy.
It's meant to be encouraging. It's meant to show that what these people do doesn't go unnoticed.
(Anything that sounds really creepy is simply due to my weird, super specific memory.)
Josh Hartsell, Resident Director of Oakwood-Slater Hall.
King of Freshman Guys, according to a student he overheard.
Three-year intern at Grabill Missionary Church.
Fan of Justin Bieber and Twilight.
Loyal friend. Wise advice giver. Lover of God and people.
Tool. And I mean that in the best possible way.
I met Josh just before the end of my junior year of high school. I had just gotten back from a choir trip to Florida, and it was the interns' first night at youth group.
Most of that summer is a blur, but I remember one of Josh's sermons very clearly.
He gave us each a small rock and a little bit of Play-Doh. He talked about Ezekiel. Who talks to teenagers about Ezekiel? Recent Bethel grads, that's who.
"'Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules'." (Ez. 36:22-27 ESV)
He talked about a prayer that he had heard from a professor or mentor or chapel speaker or someone.
"Lord, break me, whatever the cost."
It changed my life. I'm not just saying that because it seems like the right thing to say. It's true.
It had an immediate effect, changing my plans to go to Europe the following summer to plans to go on the mission trip.
And I keep on praying it, and it has drawn me closer to God and has kept me seeking His will for my life.
I don't remember much about the second summer, other than Josh teaching me the proper technique for applying caulk when sealing windows. (Lick your finger and smooth it out.) After trying it, I read the label. "This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm." This lead to a discussion of all the things that can cause cancer, and now I can't microwave something in a Styrofoam container without remembering that conversation.
Then I got to Bethel and I started to see firsthand his ministry on campus. For the past three and a half years I've seen how he has helped guys adjust to college life, how he has mentored and discipled, how he has been a friend and a brother and a leader. He has brought together great RA teams and has strategically invited guys to return to Oakwood after their freshman year to build relationships with the new students.
Following several tweets about the Biebs, I finally caved and bought "Baby" and "Somebody to Love."
(This is pretty much the only communication we have.)
Here's the thing that secured Josh the honor of being the first People I Respect post.
This year, two of the guys he met his first summer at Grabill are RAs.
That's the kind of relationship building he does. He's known these guys for over five years and has maintained that relationship in such a way that they have partnered with him in the leadership of Oakwood.
He also invited three guys from the Grabill area to be those returning residents.
Josh and I don't talk on a regular basis, and that's fine. But I've seen the impact he has at Bethel, and I think it's so cool.
Joshua, you're great. Keep doing what you do. Thanks for letting God use you.
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