Education for Ministry: A Journey Worth Taking

Education for Ministry (EfM) is an individual spiritual journey taken in a group setting. It’s a unique program that gives you the space to ask spiritual questions—deep, personal, even challenging ones. In EfM, you are not expected to have all the answers. You are simply asked to show up, stay curious, and be open to where God may be leading you.

We are all on a faith journey. For me, EfM provided an exceptional roadmap. It guided me through the Old Testament, New Testament, church history, and spiritual living. Each year offered new insights, but it wasn’t just the content that shaped me—it was the community. The group setting was particularly enjoyable because of the rich diversity of perspectives. Each person brought their own background, beliefs, and experiences, and together we explored what it means to live faithfully in the world.

The most significant impact EfM had on me was in the area of vocation. I had always understood vocation to mean what a person does for a living—a career focused on advancement, success, and money. I believed that my self-worth was tied to my financial net worth. But I was wrong.

EfM challenged that idea and gently, powerfully, reoriented my understanding. Vocation, I learned, is God’s calling to do God’s work in the world. That shift in perspective helped me explain the deep gnawing that had followed me most of my life. It gave language to a longing I didn’t fully understand until I encountered it in the stories and conversations of EfM. I came to realize that you don’t have to be a minister to minister. You don’t have to wear a collar to serve. Ministry is about how we live, how we treat others, and how we reflect God’s love in everyday interactions. It’s about recognizing the sacred in each person and responding with compassion and grace.

EfM is a four-year program, and yes, that’s a commitment. There is a lot to read, discuss, and digest. But upon completing it, I’ve realized something even more profound: there is still so much more to learn, more to wrestle with, more to reflect on. The journey of faith doesn’t end—it deepens and expands.

I encourage you to explore EfM if you have big questions about scripture, theology, history, or your place in God’s story. EfM provides a safe, nonjudgmental, open forum for those seeking clarity, connection, and communication for a deeper sense of purpose. Ask the questions. Join the conversation.

For the interested or just curious, visit the EfM website, where you’ll find lots of information, including sample lessons, at https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry. You can also email our EfM Diocesan Coordinator, Mark Patzman at efm.edsd@outlook.com.