DISCOVER JOSHUA WILDERNESS INSTITUTE
Joshua Program:
Life in Community
Growing Together in Faith, Friendship, and Christ-Centered Purpose
Real Growth Happens Side-by-Side
At the Joshua Wilderness Institute, community is the environment where transformation takes root. We often say that being at Joshua is like being in a rock tumbler. You’re placed in close proximity with others, and over time, the rough edges start to wear down. It’s not always easy, but it’s where real growth happens.
Joshua students live, learn, serve, and worship together for nine months. They start the year with a community camping trip—a space to set the tone, build trust, and begin forming what becomes a truly Christ-centered family. Throughout the year, that bond deepens as students support each other, challenge each other, and pursue God together.
This kind of daily connection shapes more than friendships—it lays a foundation for lasting faith.
life in community
At Joshua, students don’t just grow individually—they grow together.
What Life in the Lodge Looks Like
- Lifelong friendships form in the daily conversations and shared struggles
- Biblical accountability develops naturally as students hold each other to the standards of the program
- Students walk through hard moments, personal breakthroughs, and faith-building experiences together
- Shared work projects build ownership, humility, and teamwork
- Even fun is intentional, with things like themed dinners that foster celebration and creativity
- By the end of the year, the lodge doesn’t just feel like home, it feels like family
What Life on the Road with Joshua Looks Like
Over the course of the year, Joshua students take five trips that stretch them—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. And something happens when a small group travels together. Whether it’s loading up vans before sunrise, stepping into unfamiliar places to serve, or worshiping under the stars after a long day, the road builds connection.
Students learn what it means to show up for each other, to serve with humility, and to see God at work beyond their daily routine. These shared experiences forge a unique kind of friendship—one rooted in mission, trust, and a growing understanding of what it means to follow Jesus together.
A Christ-Centered Community
More than anything, Joshua is a place where Christ is at the center of every relationship. This isn’t a surface-level community; it’s forged through honest conversations, shared worship, and the commitment to grow in grace.
Here’s what students experience:
- A gospel-shaped understanding of relationships that lasts far beyond the gap year
- A community marked by encouragement, truth, forgiveness, and accountability
- A sense of belonging that reflects what it means to be part of the body of Christ
- The freedom to struggle, share, and be seen, without losing your purpose
By the time students leave, the people who were once strangers feel like brothers and sisters—not just in name, but in practice.
It’s Not Just Where You Live—It’s How You Grow
- You’ll support and be supported
- You’ll challenge and be challenged
- You’ll grow because you’re not doing it alone
What You Learn from Life in Community
Here’s what students learn:
- How to resolve conflict with grace and humility
- The value of accountability and speaking truth in love
- What it means to serve others before themselves
- How to build deep, lasting friendships rooted in Christ
- That vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
- How to live with integrity when no one’s watching
- What it looks like to encourage others and be encouraged
- That discipleship often happens in the ordinary moments
By the end of the year, students leave as more than a group of friends—they leave with a spiritual family.