May 20, 2009
Elvis in the house! That is what you might hear when Justin Watford, one of our residential staff counselors, walks into the room. That is because Justin is a great impressionist. There are not many people that he cannot imitate. Frequently he has the rest of us falling on the floor laughing at his latest rendition of Dr. Phil, a relative, or even one of the staff. He is great at picking up the nuances of each person’s character.
But there is One in particular who Justin tries his best to imitate. That is his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Justin does his best each day to live a godly life and to provide to our boys a role model based on the life of Christ. And it is a role that Justin portrays well. He is gentle when the situation calls for gentleness, and yet can be firm when firm is needed. He can be a great encourager and a great exhorter, depending on what is needed in the moment. But in all of these things, Justin imitates his Lord in his grace toward others.
One of the ways Justin best demonstrates his love and concern for our boys is through activity. Justin rarely leaves campus by himself. He frequently has a couple of boys with him when he leaves. Whether he is going to rent a movie, heading out to Wal-Mart, more affectionately known here as ‘Wat’-Mart, or going to a museum, zoo, or movie set, Justin, at his own expense, takes boys with him. He gives of his own time, talent, and treasures to ensure our boys know that someone cares for them.
Justin has been at Salem for several years, and we hope we have several more with him. One of the things we tell parents and others about Salem is that is not a job for our staff. This is not a career. It is not something they are doing until they find something better. It is a ministry. It is who we are. We do this because we love God and we love kids. Nowhere is this more evidenced than in Justin. Thanks for being part of Salem, Justin. You are awesome!
Brent
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
