A young child from Santa Clarita, California, says goodbye to his friends, knowing he will not see them every day anymore. His parents are moving to the Middle East as missionaries. God is going to use them for good in a country in which most people are not Christians. However, his friends are not joining him. The child, not understanding the importance of his parents’ mission, resents God for making him leave his friends.
That child’s name is Josh Powell. After seeing his current love for the Lord, one would not expect him to have resented God. The Lord changed his life while abroad to make him the person he is today.
“I think Josh is one of the most genuine, kindest people I’ve ever met. He’s very encouraging, very empathetic. If someone’s mourning, he’s quick to mourn with them. He rejoices with those who rejoice,” said Sam Perkins, the resident director of C.W. Smith Hall at The Master’s University (TMU). “What you see is what you get with Josh. He’s a very genuine person, and I love him for that.”
Before Powell turned one year old, his family moved to Southern California so that his father, desiring to be an overseas missionary, could attend The Master’s Seminary. During that time, his mother homeschooled him and his siblings while his father worked multiple jobs. After his father graduated, his family traveled throughout the United States to raise support until they moved when Powell was eight years old.
Although Powell knew that his parents were doing good by sharing the Gospel, he had an unregenerated heart.
“One thing about me, just as a person, is I’m very relational. … So, moving over had a lot of challenges in just making the switch…, and I understood that what my parents were doing were good, but in my heart, I still wasn’t saved at this point…,” said Powell. “…For a very long time I held resentment against God because … the thought process in my heart was, ‘If You’re sending us over here, why aren’t You sending my friends with me? …Why don’t You just bring them too so they can help, and I can have my friends?’ Of course, that’s a wholly selfish idea.”
Powell thought he gave up his American friends to live in the Middle East to do good and that he was better than the children of other religions. Powell thought, “I know I’m wicked, but … I’m in the right religion at least. I’m not like that … kid over there.”
Powell prayed the Sinner’s Prayer multiple times as a “get-out-of-hell-free card” while still holding onto his sin. He wanted to be liked by people, but, while at home, he was content with being disobedient to his parents and responding naturally to the irritations of his little sister. Even though his parents taught him “good doctrine and theology,” the “wickedness of sin” dominated his heart so that he lived what he calls “absolutely horrible.” By age 10, Powell hated God, believing that God had not predestined him for salvation.
When Powell attended a summer camp, he met someone around his age that was excited about God’s Word, constantly mentioning it in conversations. That stood out to Powell because he lacked passion for the Lord; he saw going to church as a “chore.” On the last night of the camp, Powell heard the testimony of his counselor, who was like Powell before the Lord saved him. While listening, Powell realized how wicked he was and asked the Lord for forgiveness.
In the following weeks, Powell, doubting his salvation, searched the Bible for assurance. Additionally, his parents noticed a change in how he treated his siblings; he was quicker to ask for forgiveness. He was showing the fruit of a changed life. His parents asked him about the change, and there he confessed God’s recent work in his life. Since then, the Lord has continued challenging Powell to live honoring to Him.
“He’s always super encouraging and very positive, pretty much in every situation, and he’s also very humble and very uplifting. …It’s just nice to be around someone who actually genuinely cares about people and genuinely wants you to succeed. He’s a strong Christian, and so he points to the Lord in a lot of areas in his life,” said Matthew Brecheen, one of Powell’s college friends.
Today Powell is a student at TMU, pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy. He desires to become a licensed physical therapist after graduating. While he is unsure of his life in a few years, his mission of sharing the Gospel does not change, whether in America or abroad.
“At the moment, I’m leaving up to God; staying in prayer, staying in Scripture; wherever He wants me,” Powell said.
