Senior Spotlight: Josiah Clark, A Young Man with a Heart and a Love for Jesus
It is not often you will see Josiah Clark without a baseball in his hand. As far as he can remember, Josiah has been playing baseball. Along with a baseball, you may also find a Bible in his hand. Two loves, baseball and Jesus, have been strong forces in his life while a student at Bolivar Central High School (BCHS).
The BCHS baseball season begins on Monday, March 13, 2023, and Josiah will be on the field with his team playing the positions of middle infielder and outfield. Although baseball is his primary sport, Josiah also played football for BCHS. He skipped his junior year but returned this past fall to play one more time before graduating.
“I enjoyed it! It was different from playing baseball full-time, and I enjoyed the different atmosphere,” said Josiah, who played slot receiver for the offense and shared what he learned from the experience. “I would say you can do anything you put your mind to because football is a real physical sport, and you have to learn how to push through.”
Josiah did just that, pushed through, and had a good season. He is looking forward to playing his last season as a Tiger baseball player. Josiah has also learned a lot from playing baseball.
“I learned how to handle adversity because baseball is full of trials and hard things throughout the sport,” said Josiah. “I’m looking at playing baseball in college.”
When not on the fields, he has gotten involved in other campus activities that include Beta and the Fellowship of Christian Students. Through Beta, Josiah has seen personal growth, which also pulled him out of his comfort zone.
“It’s helped me to learn more information about other people and how to communicate better,” said Josiah. “I like being with other like-minded people. There are not a ton of members, but the ones who do participate are faithful.”
Josiah has participated with the Fellowship of Christian Students for four years. It is through this group he has been able to best share his heart and love for Jesus. Josiah shared an experience he had from one of the projects the BCHS students did for veterans in the county.
“We made gift baskets for the veterans to let them know they were appreciated,” said Josiah. “Seeing the smiles it put on their faces made me really happy.”
A desire to serve through ministry is a trait Josiah comes by naturally. His father, Joshua Clark, is the pastor of Parrans Chapel Baptist Church in Bolivar. Josiah and his siblings have lived a life of service. He shared he has felt a tug from God towards ministry, but it was not a direction he was interested in pursuing.
“I didn’t want to just because of my father being a pastor,” said Josiah who shared some trials he later experienced caused him to have to draw on Him more. “I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do, and I started praying about it. After a while, I was not able to ignore God. I felt the Lord just leading me in that direction.”
Josiah finally surrendered to God’s calling in November 2021 and preached his first sermon at Parrans Chapel in June of 2022.
“My preparation for the sermon involved just digging in the Word, taking notes, and seeing what God wanted me to speak on,” said Josiah who shared more about the sermon. “It was based on the direction in life that we’re supposed to go. I was first preaching to myself, and then the congregation. Going to church and serving Jesus is what I am supposed to do. I know I would like to do ministry probably until the day I pass.”
Construction is one of Josiah’s favorite classes at BCHS through which he has also been able to serve others. He has taken the class for three years from Mark Fulghum who is also the BCHS athletic director.
“I’ve come to enjoy construction and it’s a trade I can use later in life,” said Josiah, who has had the opportunity to work on projects for teachers at the school as well as people in the community. “I build whatever needs to be done. I helped build a set for a play at school and wheelchair ramps with people from my church. It is another hobby I enjoy and may consider pursuing it as a profession.”
Weightlifting is something else Josiah enjoys that he started over the last year and a half. He was introduced to the activity by Nathan Gilliard who formerly coached Josiah in baseball.
“He introduced me to weightlifting and got me to fall in love with it. I think it’s important because it does help for sports, but it also just helps to be in a state of mind where you are always growing yourself as a person,” said Josiah.
His family has been extremely supportive throughout school and sports and even more so with his walk with Christ.
“They have pushed me in every aspect of life, and I wouldn’t be here without them,” said Josiah.
Determined, willing, and kind are three words Josiah believes best describes himself.
“You must stay determined or disciplined in what you do to keep yourself growing in every aspect. You must be willing to be intentional. It goes hand in hand with being determined, but willing to be more intentional with my faith, to be able to share what I believe,” said Josiah. “I would say I am the kind to go out of my way to like, holding the door open for people or helping them pick up whatever they dropped, and just certain small things like that.”
Josiah plans to attend Champion Christian College on a partial scholarship where he will play baseball and study ministry. He has favorite memories of BCHS and shared how not he, but whom he would like to be remembered when people mention his name.
“My best memory is growing with the senior class over the last four years. I will miss the people and spending time around the sports teams. It’s just good to be around people who have the same interests as you do,” said Josiah. “I wouldn’t necessarily want them to remember who I was, but mainly Jesus being inside of me and showing the light from Christ to them.”
Josiah shared some parting words with his fellow BCHS students.
“Christ is the most important thing in everything you do. Once you find Him, there is true joy you find instead of just momentary happiness,” said Josiah.
Pictures courtesy of Brittney Clark.
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