Ben Ewings

Hidden Talents

Sometimes God knows our gifts better than we do. That’s what Ben Ewings has concluded as he walks through his daily ministry as a professor and coach at Luther Prep.

Ben always thought he was genetically determined to be an English teacher. He liked writing and literature, he loved the excellent English teachers he’d had at Lakeside, and he graduated from MLC as a secondary English ed major.

But at Prep—surprise, surprise—he was called to teach biology. Who knew God had hidden a talent for the sciences in his DNA? “I didn’t really know what to expect,” he says, “but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed teaching one semester of bio, and I hope to teach it for years to come!”

What has not surprised Professor Ewings is how much he enjoys the daily interaction with students and how much he loves coaching.  “I always dreamed about being a coach,” he says. “I learned so much from my coaches in my athletic career, and have always wanted to help other athletes succeed in sports and in life.”

Though he played football for four years at MLC, at LPS he’s the head wrestling coach. This is a relaunch for LPS—the last time the Phoenix had varsity wrestling was 2005-06—so Ben’s starting his first year in a first-year program. “We have 35 guys out,” he says, “which is great for a first-year program. We’re preparing young men to be hardworking wrestlers in the present, and hardworking spouses, called workers, and wrestling coaches in the future.”

It’s all about developing students’ talents—some already visible and some still hidden but begging to be discovered.

Ben’s advice for you: “The thought of serving in the public ministry is a noble calling. I know that so much has been done for me by my former teachers, and especially by Jesus, the greatest Teacher. Working with students in many different settings—in the classroom, at athletic competitions, and in casual settings—gives you the opportunity to serve in these ways as well. If you enjoy school and enjoy interacting with people, why not give ministry a try?”