To:
From:
Due:
Re:
Dr. Art Fricke
Josh Hurst
September 18, 2006
“Resume and Job Letter”
In this project I will be turning in a personal history essay as an application for Asbury
Theological Seminary. Also included for grading purposes will be a grade sheet
checklist, a list of requirements for the personal history essay, and an example application
from a current student at Asbury Seminary. I used my dad who received his doctorate at
Asbury Seminary for advice and editing of my personal history essay. I am sorry for not
being clear about what needs to be graded and am very thankful for the second chance.
Thanks,
Josh Hurst
Josh Hurst
Personal History Essay
Religious Pilgrimage:
I was raised in a loving Christian home and accepted Jesus into my heart at the age of 7.
During my next years of life, both my church and parents nurtured me in spiritual
development. When I was going into the eighth grade my family moved from Lubbock,
TX, to Ruston, Louisiana. For the first time in my life, I felt a longing to fit in and be
“cool.” Those next two years were the furthest I have ever been from God. My
relationship with my parents turned to a relationship of hate from my end. My tongue did
not give glory to God with the words it said. Also to top things off, I began to date a girl
my freshman year that I was by no means ready to date. That summer, I went to a church
camp in Ceta Canyon, Texas called One Way. I can’t describe how much I was in awe of
Him that week. Each day His grace, His love, His purpose for me, and His call on me
were made so distinct. I came back a radically changed person thanks to a radical Jesus
that week. I spent my years in high school steadily growing into the man of God He so
desired. I found purpose serving my youth group, but often felt alone in a very nominal
youth ministry.
When I was 18, I decided to go to Texas Tech University which is ten hours away from
my hometown. I had to trust God completely with my future for the first time in my life.
He provided in an incredible way and gave me for the first time, true Christian
community. That year I got involved in the Wesley Foundation at Texas Tech. Whether
it was from the Wesley Foundation or friends in general, God let me experience what
having believers around you makes you feel. God taught me a valuable lesson from my
freshman experience. I need to try to trust God not only with the things I can’t control,
but also with the things I can control.
During my years in college, God put me in several areas of leadership to serve him. I
was a full time youth intern in Ruston, Louisiana after my freshman year in college. I am
involved with Wesley Leadership team since my sophomore year, and also have held a
youth directing job in Littlefield, Texas. God has poured out his joy on me in those areas
giving me peace about my call. God is continuing to reveal areas I need to grow in to be
a more effective leader who raises up passionate young disciples.
Statements and Requirements for Admissions
I believe in the Trinity with three different parts. I believe God is the creator and true
Lord of this universe. I believe that Jesus was God in the flesh, and the only way to
obtain eternal life is to profess faith in Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit who
guides us into all truth. I believe scripture is the very word of God and to this day is
active in speaking truth to a broken world.
I believe that humans were created in God’s image, but all have fallen short of the glory
of God. I believe when we have fallen short, God calls us to fully surrender our lives to
him to experience sanctification. Not only does God sanctify us, but he also justifies us
into a life of righteousness lived for Him. Once we have fully surrendered our lives to
Him, God sends us the Holy Spirit so that we have both an inward and outward assurance
of our belief. I believe once we become believers, we are called to go forth and proclaim
the name of Christ to all nations. We do not do this alone, but rather with the help of our
fellow believers who compose the church as the Body of Christ. We are called to spread
love to this hurting and broken world until the Day of Christ Jesus through which God
will claim final victory on the earth.
I am applying for Asbury Theological Seminary after a call to the ministry was placed on
my heart in eighth grade. Jesus Christ is my rock and my foundation upon which all
other things are to be laid. I am encouraged by the statement of faith about who God is. I
am also encouraged by the Ethos statement. I am ready to be a witness not only to my
fellow students but also to the world around me. Purity from sex, drugs, and drunkenness
is something my heart holds very dear. The educational mission of Asbury is of very
high value. I desire to grow in knowledge and leadership while enrolled, so that I may be
sent forth to spread the love of Christ.
Motivation for Preparing for Ministry
My motivation for ministry is to reveal to the lost that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
My heart for ministry is not to seek the healthy, but to heal the hurt and broken. God has
given me a call since the eighth grade about full-time ministry. I can see God taking
delight in me each time I do what I was called. My goal is that people would not just
know about who Jesus was, but who Jesus is to them right now. God has placed in me a
burden for the lost and hurt of this world. Through life groups and youth minister jobs, I
found out that many people are satisfied with where they are at. I feel a burden to tell
people God does not ever call us to be satisfied, but to be full of passion and evergrowing. Whether by sermon or by mentoring a congregation, I know God is calling me
to speak.
Understanding of Christian Ministry
I believe Christian ministry often needs something as simple as a relationship. A person
listens much more to a friend whom he comes to trust than a random person on the corner
of a street. I believe we were never meant for Christian ministry alone, and we always
need to have other people surrounding us. It is also about serving people in those
relationships. As a minister, you are not the head of the body, so we must submit
ourselves out of reference for one another.
Recent Vocational Experience
I spent a summer as a youth intern where I led a few small groups. Also I was a mentor
to several youth in the youth group. Also I have been a youth minister the past two
summers at Littlefield, Texas. Also while at the Wesley Foundation I led a freshman
small group called 2420. I also served as a small group leader for a camp for incoming
freshman called Foundation. I have also served as a camp counselor for a number of
years for grades 8 through 13.
Experience in Christian Ministry
I am very fortunate to have been around ministry for a very large part of my life. My dad
is a Methodist pastor who has been at the Wesley Foundation and also an associate pastor
for my home church. Seeing him do ministry is always an encouraging thing to see. He
does a great job of balancing family and work, and his heart is always seeking out the
lost.
My youth group while I was in junior high and high school was nominal at best. I felt
like my only strong Christian friendship was with my youth minister for a while. There
was always more focus on what those around you were doing wrong than what you
yourself were doing wrong. As an intern I got to see God radically transform our small
group thanks to a camp called One Way in Ceta Canyon, Texas.
In college, I have been challenged greatly by the Wesley Foundation and some of my
friends. As a group our goal is not to be luke-warm Christians, but rather to be the salt of
the earth to all nations. As leaders of the Wesley Foundation we are called to pray daily
for the movement of the Spirit inside those walls.
Personal History Expectations
Summarize your personal history. Using your best English composition, concisely
address the following topics. Compose this essay in the editor below, or attach the
completed essay to an email sent to: admissions_office@asburyseminary.edu. Please use
a file format compatible with Microsoft Word, such as Word Document (.doc), Rich Text
Format (.rtf), Hypertext Markup Language (.htm), or ASCII text (.txt). This essay may
also be submitted to the Admissions Office by mail clearly printed or typed on 8.5 x 11inch paper. If submitting this essay by mail or email, please be sure to include your
full name on the first page of the essay. Please be aware that your personal history need
not be submitted with the application.
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Address your compatibility with the Seminary's Statements of Faith, Ethos, and
Educational Mission. If you differ as to any matter in said Statements, please
explain.
Discuss your relationship to Christ and your spiritual pilgrimage.
Discuss your motivation for preparing for ministry
Reflect on your understanding of Christian ministry
Describe your recent vocational experiences
Discuss your experience in Christian ministry and any other relevant experiences
(Optional) If you are married, describe your spouse's attitudes toward your plans
for seminary education and future ministry
(Optional) If you feel your cumulative GPA or academic test scores do not
adequately reflect your abilities to flourish at Asbury Seminary, please explain.