During my 30 years in the Navy and Navy Reserves the constant refrain seemed to be “continued professional improvement” as a necessary ingredient to advancement. Although most of us just wanted to do our job–no more, no less–we eventually learned that what our chiefs were saying was true and we sought more training, even though it cost us time with our families and impacted our social lives.
This meant applying for more Navy schools, taking correspondence courses, and attending college classes. This was difficult because of the cost, the length of the courses and the uncertainty of our future. More than once I was called to pack my sea bag for my next submarine deployment just after having signed up for a college class.
In this sense, times haven’t changed since coming to Southern California Seminary: there is still the time pressure and the need to improve ourselves and our professional skills. This time, however, for me it is for a higher purpose: to serve my faculty by helping them to prepare the next generation of servants who will impact their people and their ministries.
When Maria first approached me several years ago about the Ezra Center concept, I knew at once it would help all of us on the Shadow Mountain Ministry campus. Short teaching sessions, frequent offerings (during work hours) and a buffet of topics were the key ingredients for this new concept. And, we get to learn from each other–each from the same Body of Christ with unique gifts and talents to serve and encourage each other! Perhaps this year you will make an extra effort to attend one or more of the sessions–plan on it!
“Teenagers will gravitate to the oldest person who takes them seriously and treats them with respect.” As I heard Ken Elben share this quote from Wayne Rice, I understood why I had attended the Ezra Center seminar on reaching the next generation.
It was one of those moments. Someone else had said what I was thinking but had never put in words. As soon as I heard it, I knew it would be a part of my life for the rest of my days.
It is moments such as these that have me so excited about the Ezra Center for Excellence. This campus of ours is loaded with talented, gifted people and I am convinced we are all better at what we do when we share our strengths with one another in a practical way. In very short snippets of time, we can influence one another with the insight God has entrusted us with. I believe this is the point of Romans 12:6-8: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
I look forward to how my life will be influenced by the gifts God has placed in you!
A year and a half ago I joined Shadow Mountain and knew I needed a place to serve. Shortly after, I sat across a table from Michelle, who served with Joyce Tepfer and Servant Ministries. “There’s this thing called the Ezra Center for Excellence. You might be a good fit,” she said as she reviewed a long list of ministry needs that could match my gifts. I don’t think Michelle knew much about the Ezra Center—in fact, very few people did. And although many have benefited from the free workshops in the last fifteen months, I think it’s still one of the best kept secrets around here.
The Ezra Center and I have been more than a “good fit.” It has given me an opportunity to serve and to grow; to bless and to be blessed. One day I sat at a workshop, learning from Pastor Jeremiah about “Spiritual Journaling.” Another week I led a workshop on “Temperament and Team Building” for a group of international teachers.
If you are looking for opportunities to use your gifts to bless others, talk to Maria Keckler and join the team of experts that are eager to share their gifts with others.
The Ezra Center has proven to be a great blessing to many at Shadow Mountain.
Featuring a wide range of course offerings from Bible seminars to workshops that meet life needs or classes that help you master your computer, the Ezra Center equips the Body of Christ in a remarkable way.
As a learner, I have participated in several of the Ezra Center’s technology seminars and the excellent writing seminars led by author Bill Farrel. As a pastor/teacher, it has been my privilege to offer several seminars including “Developing a Christian Worldview” and “Why God Allows Believers to Experience Problems.” What an honor to invest in the personal and professional growth programs that the Ezra Center offers for Christian educators!
Whatever your interests are, it is likely the Ezra Center will offer a workshop this year that will enhance your skills for service to the Master.
The Ezra Center for Excellence offers the perfect format for busy people to enjoy continuing growth opportunities professionally and personally in bite-sized pieces. The one-shot approach to receive the best part of any given subject allows the learner to be exposed, along with processing time, to implement at least one new concept. In the typical conference setting the learning component is often competing with thoughts from before/after workshops for days at a time. As a LEARNER, I find the single focus most helpful.