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"Ezekiel 12 Featured in Christian Times Newspaper"

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Lights, Camera, Action, AMEN!

By Rebecca Waer

San Diego- Ezekiel 12 Ministries hopes to bring Christians and the media together this summer through an innovative program that teaches people how to use the arts and media to promote the message of Christ.

An offshoot of the Poway-based church, Christian Life Assembly, Ezekiel 12 will simultaneously run three camps: Movie Camp, the Summer Drama Institute and the Institute of Arts and Media or IAM.  Students of the one-week movie camp, open to age 8 an older, will appear in a movie directed and produced by IAM students.  The three-week IAM project, directed by Howard Flaherty, will give students hands on training in all aspects of movie production.

The Summer Drama Institute will produce street dramas and mimes.  Ezekiel 12 organizers are currently working to bring Christian Hollywood directors and producers into IAM.  The programs’ founders also hope that this year’s students will use there training and join the Ezekiel 12 team to expand the ministry into the missions field next year.

In selecting the name, organizers looked to the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 12, which describes how God instructed Ezekiel to act out a dramatic illustration of Israel’s eventual deportation.  God hoped the drama would bring understanding to His people.  Ezekiel 12 ministry’s hope is the same: to reach His people, especially young people raised on a Godless diet of “MTV and Special Effects”.

Pastor Bob Maddux, of Christian Life Assembly, said he was led 14 years ago to create the entertainment-based ministry, which has evolved over time.  His vision has been bolstered by co-founder Rev. Mark Williams.

“We wanted to form an institute to train people with directors and actors”. Maddux said.  “Lots of people are breaking into the media business- we want to do that as Christians”.

Maddux was involved in the arts when he became a Christian in college.

“I began to realize [The Arts] are having an big impact, and there aren’t a lot of Christians in the media.” The Pastor said.

With the explosion of the Internet and digital technology, Maddux said now is the time for Christians to get involved.  “With broadband tech we can watch movies online and that business is dominated by secular humanists” he said. “We need to raise up media missionaries working in the arts and media.

Williams is currently touring California with Ezekiel12’s “ArkQuest” 

“It is interactive and powerful…we have an authentic replica of the Alter of Incense and the Ark of the Covenant,” Williams said of the drama.  “We also have an incredible worship team,” Less Than Dignified” Williams said the drama has brought blessings.

“Through the drama kids have given there lives to Jesus and marriages have been restored, it’s amazing,” he said. 

Ark Quest’s drama team, which will perform April through June in various Southern California cities, is comprised of college-age students at Christian Life Assembly.

Maddux is hopeful the Summer workshops will provide a big draw for those interested in the arts.

“We are wanting to reach out to people anywhere who want to be part of this, a clearing house to produce movies, to get out in the mainstream media” he said.  “I think there are a bunch of talented people out there who are going to be creating movies that are entertaining, exciting, funny, with a message.”

For more information about the program or to apply for one of the summer programs, log onto www.ezekiel12.com