Joshua Reid
Just when he’d finished up his homework and graduated in May, Joshua Reid ’21 hit the books all over again in August. Working at a Christian afterschool program called The Mix, he’s working with children as part of a yearlong service placement through the Shalom Project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“I didn’t so much choose this service placement,” he said. “It was impressed on my heart. It’s a program for kids in the Lancaster area where they can not only do their homework but also have a place for community. The kids are in an environment where they can learn about the Gospel.”
The Shalom Project serves as an intentional community of young adults who effect social change through lives of service. Participants live together in a house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving full-time in professional internships and participating in weekly seminars aimed at personal growth and Christian formation. Shalom covers living costs, including room and board, in addition to a small stipend.
“The reason why I decided to do a service placement in lieu of rushing to find a job is because I felt that I wasn’t ready to find a job yet,” said Reid. “Sure, COVID-19 and other factors proved job finding difficult, but another reason I decided to do a service placement after college was because I’ve always wanted to do something like this. I enjoy helping the community and so, when I found the opportunity in the form of The Mix to help the community and the kids within it, I jumped at the chance. For the moment, I’m going to enjoy working with the community.”
The sense of community at Shalom is a continuation of what he felt as a student at Messiah University. He says his history professors helped him see history—and his place within it—in a new way.
“They forced me outside of my comfort zone when it came to understanding history and the scholarship surrounding it. They also forced me to see myself in a different light, particularly when it came to public speaking and presenting at conferences like the 2019 and 2020 Humanities Symposiums and the National Undergraduate Research Conference,” he said. “Additionally, several friends I made through my time at Messiah from the history students to faculty and staff also helped me see my faith in a different way.”
What advice does he have for prospective Messiah students? Tour campus, visit during on open house day, see what piques your interest. In the meantime, he’s busy mentoring future Falcons at The Mix.
“The ability to work with kids and encourage, equip, empower, educate and engage with them in a way that empowers them long after I’m done with the placement would be a blessing,” he said.