The Birth of Makazi

Makazi Institute has grown organically from emerging leaders streaming through the Ellis home. They come asking how they can apply sound biblical theology to concerns in their unique cultural contexts. In their quest, they all express the desire to think through biblical answers to difficult questions - answers they weren't able to find in their seminaries, colleges, or Christian institutions.

 

Black L'Abri

In the beginning, these students came at their own expense, seeking the community and thoughtfulness of a "Black L'Abri," and among themselves called it as such. Soon however, they began to think of the Ellis home as much more a contextualized L'Abri; they recognized that it was a place for healthy community and serious theological reflection.

 

To reflect the evolution of this larger vision, our students took the concept beyond its Swiss context and renamed our home "Makazi" - the Swahili word for "shelter and well-being."

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Partnership with The Gloucester Institute

Soon our young leaders began having their institutions and ministries finance their visits. In light of this, we chose to formalize the program for possible credit and certification. In 2013, Makazi Institute came under the non-profit umbrella of The Gloucester Institute, recognizing that our two organizations shared the same passion and commitment to excellence, as well as a desire to shape the next generation of cultural leaders.

 

Makazi Institute Distinctives

The Makazi Institute will contribute a biblical voice to today’s global cultures from a unique minority perspective. Through a one-year program featuring two, ten-day sessions, our budding cultural analysts and thought leaders will study with worldview experts from around the globe, with one-on-one access to established leaders, all in a community-oriented and distraction-free setting.

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Between sessions, each fellow will be expected to contribute to a semi-annual journal, addressing a current topic within their sphere of influence. Fellows will have the option to use their studies for independent study credit with approval of their academic institution.

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Makazi's ultimate goal is to uniquely equip our Fellows to 

disciple the culture toward a Kingdom perspective.

It's our desire that they return to their contexts as

distinguished thought-leaders in their chosen field.

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Dr. Carl Ellis, Jr.

Academic Director, The Makazi Institute

Co-Founder, Ellis Perspectives

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