Ichthus Student Highlights

Published on May 01, 2008 by The Joe Koski

What would people say about your character?  How you act, how you treat others, how you respond in different situations all define your character.  And just like a character in a play or movie, we are defined and characterized by our actions.  In this life, what kind of character are you?  A Bad Guy?  A Knight?  A Damsel in Distress?  The Side-Kick?  An Evil Henchman?  An Extra?   

It is an important question to ask ourselves, not just out of concern for how people view us personally, but because if you call yourself a Christian, your character also represents Christ.  

If this question is painful, be encouraged!  The best stories are the ones where the main character does not stay the same throughout, but develops.  Changes.  Grows.  So, if you were thinking, “of course, I’m a Damsel in Distress!”  then after reflection suddenly realize that you are actually a “Wicked Witch”, don’t despair!  The best part about being a Christian is that Jesus can change you! 

Take Zacchaeus, a tax collector and a cheat who, upon meeting Jesus, changed his ways.  What about Saul?  He persecuted Christians until he met Christ personally.   

What does God want to do with you?  What will your story be when you let Him lead the way?  Let’s not just ask ourselves, “What kind of character am I?”  Let’s ask ourselves, “What kind of character can God make me?”  Let’s be as David was in Psalm 139:12-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

One person who consistently models faithfulness to follow the Lord with his life is James Wadsworth.  Currently attending a motorcycle technician training school called Wyotech, James will be graduating with training on Harley Davidson.  James plans to graduate in April when he hopes to land a job at a Harley dealership.  While it is clear that James is passionate about bikes, he has continually struck me as someone who is passionate about serving the Lord.  Not only is he strong in his quiet times, James was a 20/20 counselor for years.  Once classes got in the way of working with Jr. High students, he immediately volunteered to help with The Adventure children’s ministry!  As for right now, James says, “Right now God is teaching me patience.  I have to wait and see what the Lord has planned for me for a job.  I’ve been at that school for eighteen months non-stop and now it looks like there aren’t many technician jobs.  But God has a plan and right now, all I can do is wait and keep my eyes on the Lord!” 

Anna Jose: Student at Western Seminary

Anna Jose is someone who is looking to serve God with every aspect of her life.  Already having volunteered for several years in our youth ministries, and working at several occupations that serve at risk youth, Anna is currently attending Western Seminary in Los Gatos, where she is planning to master in Marriage and Family Therapy.  While she plans to continue work with at risk youth, Anna also concedes, “Only God really knows what I will be doing when I am all done.”  As for what God has been teaching her lately:  “I think the thing God and I have been working on most are my relationships.  I recently read the books ‘Wild at Heart’ and ‘Captivating’, and through reading those I have learned that God has made me with a role that is uniquely mine to play as a woman.  I need to be doing my best to fill it and uplift my brothers in Christ so that they can play the role that God has designed for them.” 

Sean Legge: Student at Cal State East Bay

Sean Legge is one of our students with a heart for others.  He is constantly helping behind the scenes at Ichthus and hopes to use his heart for others in his future career.  “One thing that God has shown me for a long time, is that He’s given me the gift of being in tune with how other people feel/think.  Because of this, I think I’m going to try to either become a High School counselor or a teacher.”  He is presently a sophomore at Cal State East Bay with hopes of studying abroad in England or Scotland.  What has God been teaching him lately?  “Keeping myself open for opportunities, keeping my heart and mind open to His commands.  One thing that God’s been teaching me through the works of C.S. Lewis is sometimes that which I desire or am envious of, may actually be something that God never intended me to have...like the ability to paint, or some item that someone has, etc.”