Michael Schultz

Anticipated graduation year: 2011

Major: Sociology

Hometown: Centralia, Wash.

Whitworth activities/clubs: President of Global Servants for Christ, International Club

Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 11:12 "Since the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it."

Favorite book: Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo; The Psalms

Favorite movie: The Last Castle, a Robert Redford movie

Favorite thing about Whitworth: Its ability to meld rigorous, inquiring academics with a deep faith. Here at Whitworth, not only do you grow in knowledge and intellect, but also in faith, grace and humility.

I chose my major because... sociology is the perspective that discerns the moving parts of society as they function and conflict. I love sociology because it reveals this grand drama.

Favorite residence hall: Mac Hall, because it is the only dorm with community showers.

Research/special projects I'm involved in: I am the president of Global Servants for Christ, a club that meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings to pray for the global church. Starting this year, the club has taken on a new project called Gather. While praying bi-weekly for the global church, we remembered the need to pray for the local church. So Gather, a Wednesday night prayer gathering in the chapel, was organized to pray specifically for the Whitworth community. Among all the numerous ministries at Whitworth, a weekly prayer gathering, open to the whole community, was missing. The goal of Gather is to lead the Whitworth community deeper into prayer so that the fullness of God's grace and peace will be upon our campus. Through this ministry, it is my privilege to help gather Whitworth to confess, repent and receive the gospel.

Advice for incoming students: Stop and listen. Be sure to take the time to see the world around you; to know those near you; to hear all of creation groan. Then, the quiet whisper of the Spirit of God will be in your ear, like Elijah, and you will find peace in a world without peace, and strength in desperate weakness, and a hope that will not fail you.

What I plan to do after graduation: God willing, I will get a master's in sociolinguistics and then go and serve overseas for five or 10 years among an unreached people group. Long term, I hope to return to the U.S. in order to help organize churches to better serve their communities.