Jean Larson knew that giving to the EfM scholarship program was a win-win because the program shook up her world view in a positive way.
EFM Mentor Supports Program Scholarships
“It would mean a lot to speak with you about EfM and about the Rev. Kevin Goodman,” wrote Jean Larson, in an email responding to a request for an interview. In December, Larson and her husband, Robert, made a generous gift to the EfM scholarship fund and did it in honor of Goodman.
Larson first met Goodman as an EfM coordinator in the early 2000s. The Education for Ministry Program, or EfM, as it is known to all who have experienced it, is a program of formation for Christian ministry that has touched the lives of thousands of people, mostly in the United States, but also around the world. The program relies on a network of coordinators and mentors, who lead reflection and discussion in parish meetings.
“By happenstance, Kevin has been my mentor three times,” notes Larson. “He shakes up my world view in a positive way that leads to growth.” Larson sees Goodman as a creative person who does not approach religion in a hierarchical way but inspires others to be their best selves. “It’s almost impossible to thank a priest,” says Larson, “but we thought this gift would be a way of doing that.”
The Larsons especially wanted the gift to support the EfM scholarship fund because they are both advocates for the program. The program costs $375 per year, which includes the books and cost of mentorship, yet the Larsons have met people who are not able to afford the experience. “I’m in awe that the program can run this way,” says Larson. “But it’s humbling to meet someone who can’t afford it. It always brings me up short. A lot of people are coming to this as older adults, who may be on fixed incomes, so the scholarship is our way ensuring that others can enjoy something that has been so meaningful in my life.”
After completing the program, Larson took the mentor training and has served as a mentor several times, except for a hiatus when the couple move to China. Now retired, the Larsons have thought hard about their philanthropy, choosing to make a few generous gifts to causes that are meaningful to them.
On considering the impact of this gift to EfM, Larson puts it succinctly. “If I can give a little money and someone can do EfM, that’s a win-win.”
To make a gift to support the important work of EfM, click here.
