Ordained to the ministry in 1971, I have loved the pulpit ministry. Nevertheless, God has providentially placed me in a variety of circumstances to gain knowledge and experience in various aspects of education.
- My experience as an educator/discipler began when, as a teenager, I taught a Sunday school class at Seneca Gospel Mission on Elk Street in Buffalo, New York. (For the story of one of my experiences, CLICK HERE.)
- In graduate school at Bob Jones University, I served as a graduate assistant in the School of Education's Media Center. I taught small groups the use of various audiovisual media, directed students in making projectuals for the overhead projector and also graded and interpreted standardized tests like the CTMM and CAT.
- For several months in early 1975, I worked under contract to Berlitz School of Languages to teach Spanish to public school teachers. In the process, I picked up the highly effective Berlitz method of language instruction. (For the story of one of my experiences, CLICK HERE.)
- In the summer of 1975, I attended training at the Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) pilot school in Lewisville, TX. I received certification as a Learning Center Supervisor, which I upgraded to Principal's certification in Florida three years later.
- I have served both as principal and supervisor of a Learning Center in A.C.E. schools. (For a story from my A.C.E. days, CLICK HERE.)
- From 1980 to 1983 I taught in a conventional classroom situation at a nominally Christian school. Over the course of three years, I taught English, Spanish, Government & Economics, and Bible. In addition, I served as de facto guidance counselor.
- In 1983 my wife and I became home educators in which I took an active role as curriculum planner and backup teacher. This continued until the graduation of our youngest child in 2009. (For the story of one of my experiences, CLICK HERE.)
- From 1983 until about 1994 I became a discipler/mentor to a young man who had been a student of mine at the conventional school. He came to me for counseling and to establish his mindset and career studies on the foundation of a Biblical worldview. He became a veterinarian and continues to serve the Lord with his family in Pennsylvania.
- I got involved in adult basic literacy in 1987 when I began as a tutor for the Susquehanna Valley Adult Literacy Co-op. Over the course of five years, I became part of the team that trained new tutors and also served as a paid consultant.
- In February 2010, the opportunity arose to start and direct a literacy program at Unity Presbyterian Church. We call it The Unity Reading Development Ministry. I recruited and trained the tutors, and I have tutored adults, teens and children who came to us as non-readers or as functional illiterates.
- Over the past five years or so, I have taken online courses including "Understanding Dyslexia," "Blended Learning," "Childhood Studies," "The Learning Process for Teachers and Trainers," among others.
- Currently, I am pursuing certification in Whole Brain Teaching. I have passed the requirements for Level One certification and am progressing steadily toward Level Two.
