Since my conversion in 1986, I have always desired to be
involved in missions and pastoral theological education. The
Belizean church is looking for someone to fill that
very role. I believe God has prepared me for this end. I
have a strong, multicultural background, having lived in a
number of countries. I was born in England, raised in South
Africa, and have spent many years in Europe and the United
States. I have also experienced a rich variety of church
backgrounds, all of which have been solidly in the Reformed
tradition and emphasized preaching, teaching, pastoral
ministry, worship and evangelism. I was educated in South
Africa and England, where I studied law and qualified as a
barrister (trial lawyer). I then held the job of a law tutor
and lecturer at the English University of Buckingham for
eight years. The university is international with students
from more than fifty different nationalities. From 1999 to
2002, I attended Reformed Theological Seminary for
my theological education and training, followed by five
years of pastoral ministry in the PCA to sharpen and deepen
my pastoral skills. As one aspect of my ministry, I plan to
blend both my academic and practical training into my work
at the seminary.
Julian Zugg
August 2008
Belize is HOT!
No, I don’t mean it in
the “that’s hot” sense; I mean it in the absolute literal
“sweat on your back hot”. Just when I thought I had
adapted—the last week here has been brutal. Days of 105,
nights of 85. The locals are complaining, fans are spinning,
thermometers are popping, and ice cream sales are soaring.
Whenever something happens in the gulf, it gets very hot, no
breeze, just still. Fay has had an effect on Belize.
Seminary has been very encouraging. I am now 3/4 through
covenant theology class and it has been well received. I
have a number of non-reformed dispensational students and,
for the first time, many are seeing the Scriptures in a very
new way. All of them are leaders in their churches here, so
I’m hoping that the reformed and covenantal influence will
spread to each of their congregations. At present, I have
students from five different churches. The Belize
Presbyterian church is my bread and butter and I am
mentoring them, but we are also taking in students from
Brethren, Baptist and other churches. There are more
churches in Belize than you can shake a stick at. The
discussions have been good. I check their comprehension form
time to time as they are getting a great deal of new
information, but it is going in and they are eager for more.
One of them said to me, “This is a real time sacrifice, but
I am being really helped.” I encourage them to cast their
bread upon the waters, for in many days they will get it
back again. In all labor there is profit. I am also working
with the education commission to help write candidates’
licensure and ordination exams. These will be based upon PCA
exams, with some small modifications.
Encouraging news: As a missionary, I am always looking for
students who want to learn enough to be able to take over
the work when I leave. One student has already approached me
and wants to translate the material into Spanish, learn it,
then go and teach it. Now if I can get the material
translated into Chinese, I will have English, Spanish and
Chinese versions and that means they can go anywhere. We
have already had some interest.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. Please continue
to pray for the work here. Pray for me, that I might grow in
grace and discipline. Please pray for strength to keep
sitting and typing. Pray about scheduling a trip to
Guatemala to learn some Spanish, for some is needed. Pray
for the students, that they might learn, understand, and
apply what they learn into their lives. Pray for me and
them, as I teach some doctrines which are very different
from what they have heard in their churches. There is a
great opportunity for growth, as well as a great opening for
the devil to sow discord. Please pray for peace and unity
for the group.
Love
to you all in Christ’s name,
Julian
