Remember the Vision and Trust God

We have heard and some of us may have even said, “The children are our future.” We may have also been guilty of thinking or maybe even saying, “What will the world look like in the hands of these young people?” I want to introduce you to a young man that makes you feel like things will be just fine.

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Meet Rob Hoskins
I first met Rob when he began attending church as a high school student with his uncle and aunt, Russell and Melia Mason. Russell is the Worship Leader and his wife, Melia, is currently on staff, as part of the Adult Ministries team at Fellowship North.   

Rob was born in Arkansas and grew up with his mom and three brothers. It was clear in his conversation that he loved his mom and she had done a wonderful job rearing him and his brothers. He is a very humble young man with a sweet spirit.

In his senior year, as he was considering colleges, out of state colleges were definitely on his radar. He knew and took seriously, the fact that leaving Arkansas meant he would be doing something none of his immediate family had done. 

One Sunday while attending a church service the pastor talked about baptism and stated they would be having one in February 2018. Although he had been baptized at a young age, it was in that moment he heard the Holy Spirit speaking to him and he needed to rededicate his life to Christ. Christ was speaking and it was no longer just knowing of Christ, but knowing Him. Rob transitioned into a personal relationship with Christ and it has changed his life.

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As Rob was approaching graduation, he found himself at a crossroad. Like traveling the road that is childhood and reaching a crossroad. At the end of that road you can choose responsible adulthood which veers to the right or adulthood which veers to the left. You see, with age comes adulthood, whether you live as a responsible adult or not, you are still, by the law, an adult. And Rob has definitely taken the right road.
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So as Rob was veering to the right, he speaks of hearing from the Holy Spirit. God was calling Him to not just travel the road of responsible adulthood, but to travel it with purpose and with Him. And Rob answered the call. In saying “yes,” God began to reveal Himself to Rob. He allowed him to see that He had always been with him, but until God opens the eyes of our heart, we are limited in what we see and much of what we see is distorted. Walking without God can lead us to have an inflated belief in ourselves. It becomes easy to think our gifts, talents and accomplishments are a direct result of our own doing. 

I have not had many conversations with Rob, but I hear about his faith in God and I see it in his actions and the way he lives his life. One night I saw a video. I think it was on Instagram, but it was Rob and he was talking about being on a plane and talking and praying with one of the passengers on the plane. After watching the video and seeing his love for God, I knew I needed to talk with him and have him share a #WhatIfChrist moment with you.

Rob acknowledged he knew Jesus through his family, but he had a desire to know him for himself. He said he wanted to know, “Who is this Jesus they speak of?”

Knowing Jesus as his personal Savior showed him things in a whole new light; Jesus helped him make sense of things. He said before Christ, he was living and moving, but after meeting Jesus, it all made sense. What he had done in his past, what he was doing and the plans he has for the future began to all come together.

Rob has always had a love for animals and he is a junior at Langston University in Oklahoma, getting to do what he has always longed to do. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA his entire college career and right now, he is attending school on a full scholarship.

As Rob shared his #WhatIfChrist moment, he talked about clarity and one with the Spirit. Before he graduated high school, as the deadline for accepting college admission offers was nearing, he was seeking God. He was asking God what college to choose and God clearly showed him and his Aunt Lee that Langston University was his choice. They were both praying and had laid all the acceptance letters out on the table. Without collaborating, they both said God was saying Langston was the school.

When Rob rededicated his life to Christ and invited Him in, all while humbling himself to hear from God, God did speak to him. Proverbs 3:5-6 is the scripture that God laid on his heart. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” He speaks of this as his life verse.

Rob confidently states that God has definitely made his paths straight. Straight paths does not mean you won't make a mistake, nor that there will never be hardships. Straight paths may also mean you'll find yourself sometimes walking through fog. But even in the midst of some days when he has to squint to see the next step, he knows that God is always leading the way and making the path clear. So he does not worry or fear, he just walks out on faith.

It's his faith and clarity in Christ that sent him to Langston University where he is now a USDA/1890 National Scholar which provides full tuition as he pursues his lifelong dream.

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Please head on over to my YouTube channel and listen to our full interview. Rob is a guy you want to get to know. You will feel a sense of security and hope in our future.

​You'll also want to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

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Resources
Rob has a full scholarship as a USDA/1890 National Scholar. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The program awards scholarships to students to attend one of 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. It is intended to increase the number of students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines at participating institutions.

Also, check out his YouTube channel where he posts videos, as he attempts to chronicle his college years. It is called Missing Conversations. ​​​

If you have a #WhatIfChrist moment, complete the form below and I'll reach out to you! I would love to hear it.