Working for the Coalition for Christian Outreach does not seem like it would be a position where selling is involved but Joshua Hayes has found that to be a false assumption. As he has the role of Campus Minister on Grove City College’s campus, he is regularly practicing his selling skills. What does he sell? In his words he sells, “Hope.” He comes along side college students of all majors and convinces them of their value, importance and role in God’s big picture. He communicates we each have a place to share and live out of in the Kingdom of God that is vital to the Good News being known. He aides students in discovering who God has designed them to be and supporting them in embracing that.
He does this in many ways but just a couple of them are through outdoor adventure leadership and learning activities and one on one or group discussions that happen organically as we live life alongside each other. He has done this for me as I took a leap of faith and went on a week-long ice climbing trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire January of 2018. Through a handful of frustrating climbs, a few challenging winter hikes, living in close proximity to nine other human beings, (most of whom I did not know in the beginning) and many spiritually based conversations I was convinced there was something to be discovered in this outdoor space. Many things actually, things about myself, others, God’s created world and about God Himself. I was absolutely certain of my calling to engage in this space for my own personal growth and development and then to invite and lead other people into this kind of rich, life-changing experience.
Josh facilitates these kinds of experiences all school year long through his on-campus program, Impact, and there are 18 other students a part of it and somewhere on their own journey of buying what he is selling. Ultimately, God is at the heart of Josh’s work but some form of selling is heavily involved and he does it well.
BoweryJE22
This reminds me about Professor Sweet’s mention of “Selling the Invisible.” Many times in life we have to move people to try to encourage or rebuke them, and the changes we are trying to inspire are almost always invisible.