Joel's not the ordinary Christian School guy, and thats what I like about him. He actually started his education at Harper College in Illinois, a secular 4 year community college. At Harper Joel was studying law enforcement and political science. I asked him to explain a little of his experience at Harper, and what made decide to leave Harper for Maranatha.
Joel said he went to Harper to find himself. He didn't know what direction to take with his education, and he wanted to explore his strengths and weaknesses. In a student body of 20,000 and a beautiful campus Joel did find his true love, Politics. One of his professors encouraged him to enter the field of Political Science. Joel says, "He told me I was too nice to be a cop. He said, 'Stay alive and go for politics.'"
Pursuing his new found passion, Joel enrolled in Philosophy 101 - Critical Thinking, his favorite class at Harper. He liked the class because it challenged him to think. The teacher was sharp, and knew his arguments well. But it was also his most enjoyable class at Harper that led him to consider enrolling in a Christian college.
Joel says he took Philosophy and began to doubt things. He recalls thinking, "If I'm wrong about my faith, then I'm living life for no reason." He began to seriously consider his faith and his future, and he decided he needed to be grounded in truth. Joel says he realized, "If I didn't go to a Christian College, I would regret it." He wanted to learn the foundations of the Christian faith. He even admitted, "I wanted to find a Christian mate - Its hard to find a person with the same theological convictions at a secular school." Joel wanted to date someone he could trust, and he was not confident she would be at Harper.
So Joel came to Maranatha, the school he hated throughout his precollege years. He recalls that all the teachers he despised in high school were from Maranatha. They really left a bad taste in his mouth for the school. But thankfully he met Mike and Julie Cason as well as Loran Boe who were also Maranatha supporters or graduates. Mike was his youth pastor, and Loran was his mentor. They helped him realize that despite his bad experience, Maranatha had many redeemable qualities. And through their influence he decided to visit the school with his parents who were also against Christian Colleges.
When the Josephs arrived at Maranatha, Mr. Wetzel showed them around campus, and Joel says, "My parents fell in love with Maranatha." Joel was also convinced that Maranatha was the right place for him to study.
Today, Joel is still happy he came to Maranatha. He says, "The reason I'm happy I came to Maranatha is not because Maranatha changed me, but because the people at Maranatha changed me." To explain his point further he said, "Maranatha is the tree to which many birds flock to." He admits he does not agree with everything Maranatha does, but he is happy for the way it shaped him. He told me, "I'd do it all over again."
So what does Joel tell those who find themselves tottering between a secular and Christian education? " He is convinced that everyone should seriously consider at least one semester of Bible college. While he freely admits that some people should not do Bible college for their entire 4 years of school, he also exhorts all students to consider one semester. Joel says, "Even in the worst case scenario you discover its not for you, and you can still transfer all your credits." An accredited Bible college is a win-win situation.
To learn more about Joel Joseph check out his blog:
Jusings
