My name Is Joshua Schulz, and I am a 22 year old child of God. I have spent the last few years working on my bachelors degree at Kennesaw State University.
This has been a long journey but I can finally see the finish line as I will be graduating this coming May. It was a lot of work and led to some of the most stressful moments I have ever experienced, but it has also been some of the best few years of my life.
I have seen God’s constant faithfulness throughout college in a multitude of ways. He has given me the opportunity to keep the Hope Scholarship and work throughout my college career. Because of this I am happy to say I will be graduating dept free.
We all hear stories about how so many people lose their faith when they get to college. So one thing I prayed for was a godly community that would encourage me in my relationship with Jesus and keep me true to who I am and whom I belong to.
God has fulfilled this prayer far beyond what I could have ever imagined, by providing the best group of friends one could ever ask for. I want to thank each and every one of you. If it was not for you all I would certainly not be where I am right now. The names of you all would make a paragraph of its own but you know who you are. Thank you for letting God use you to bring such an awesome impact in my life.
Prior to college I grew up in what many would call a “Christian home”. We certainly did not have everything figured out though. When I was only five our household took a major blow that has left scars to this day. My parents got a divorce.
It is hard to describe what being a part of this has been like. When my mom and dad got married they became one flesh. My little brother and I are the literal physical by product of this phenomenon. So once they separated it was like a part of me was separated as well.
This has brought unimaginable pain throughout my life, and even to this day brings up obstacles that would probably not otherwise be there. But praise be to God who saw me in my hurt and brought comfort to me.
Looking back I can see God has been by my side the entire time and is still there to this day. I do not know why I had to go through this experience or why anyone else has to, but I do know that through this situation God has taught me to put my trust in Him time and time again as He has proven Himself faithful and worthy of being trusted.
In high school I had been on four mission trips through my church, Johnson Ferry Baptist, where I grew up going. Each were one week long, spanning the course of spring break. I had the privilege of going to the Dominican Republic three times and once to Peru.
These trips were life changing and I absolutely loved them. I knew I wanted to go on another trip similar once I graduated college. However, when God started putting a yearlong mission trip on my heart I was hesitant at first. Then, remembering how faithful He is I knew this is what I had to do.
I remembered my friend briefly mentioning the World Race so I began doing some research. It did not take long for me to decide that this is what I was going to do.
Unfortunately, instead of applying right away I procrastinated for sometime as I tend to do with most things. After hearing that the routes were starting to fill up I finally sat down and applied. Following a couple interviews I was ecstatic to see I had been accepted.
I leave in August and could not be more excited. I know as a result of this trip God is going to change lives, mine included.
My name, Joshua, in Hebrew actually means “Jehovah saves.” I hope this message will be spread to the ends of the Earth. Please pray for me and my team as we prepare for this journey.
Thank you for following along and taking a few minutes to get to know me.
Your brother in Christ,
Joshua Schulz
