Testimonials

This is an amazing course, made all the richer by the instructors and the fellow students. The affirmations of my fellow students and the course instructors have not only encouraged me, but strengthened my calling. I will be ever grateful for this course.

It was exciting for me to find that my gifts matched my calling. I was also surprised to learn the strength of some of those gifts.

Dr. Ellis was very involved in the course and very helpful, beyond what I would normally expect. I liked the small size of the class. It made interaction with everyone deeper and easier.

Self discovery is an ongoing process and this course is an effective tool to guide the journey. I found a gentle peace and comfort by reflecting and putting my thoughts and struggles on paper.

Everyone in church leadership should take this course.

You can teach old dogs new tricks. Age should not be a barrier for learning and serving.

This course has caused me to stretch my spiritual muscles to complete the assignments. It was a challenge sometimes and I spent A LOT of time praying. But it merely "whet my appetite" for the next phase of the training. I can't wait to get started.

I have been serving the Methodist Church as a District Superintendent’s Assignee for about 3 years, and last July went to licensing school and am now enrolled in Course of Study for local pastors in the United Methodist Church.

The Lay Academy prepared me well with the beginning skills and the history of the church to take my studies to the next level. I want to thank the Lay Academy for the preparation, guidance, the opportunity for group participation, and the grace I experienced

Pastor Ellis’s encouragement and the encouragement of all the instructors helped me find the courage to pursue God’s calling in my life.

I found the academy an indispensable part of my education and journey into ministry.

I remember distinctly how we were taught to use the lectionary, research tools, and the process of reading and meditating and praying on the scripture, which allows it to speak to you in a way which brings the depth of God’s word to the fore. We would underline the salient words in a verse, which words jumped out at us or which prevailing thought became a periscope to understanding the text, and then the sermon preparation process that insured that we kept to the core meaning of the passage within the context of history, culture, and the rest of scripture.

The Academy was a comprehensive and progressive program for my work in the church.