2018/2019 IMPACT REPORT
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
MISSION Ambrose prepares men and women for wise, joyful, and redemptive engagement in the church, society, and the created order through excellent Christian post-secondary education.
VISION Ambrose is a community of transformative Christian higher education – with a vision for the welfare of our city and our world.
VALUES Faith in Action: We seek to live lives devoted to serving Christ and pursuing His will with bold confidence in His sovereign power and purposes. Holiness: We are committed to the pursuit of a personal and corporate lifestyle that is worthy of the holiness of God and made possible by His indwelling Spirit. Community: We learn within a hospitable and Biblically based community oriented around corporate worship. Service: We provide humble and compassionate service to people in Christ’s name. Excellence: We pursue and demonstrate best practices and act with excellence in all that we do. Accountability: We embrace the Biblical stewardship of life and resources.
AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Ambrose University is built on the foundations of men and women who had a vision for Christian higher education in Canada and trusted God to provide the means to make that happen. That is still the case today. Through all the iterations of this institution, beginning with the Nazarene Calgary Bible Institute in 1921, the Christian & Missionary Alliance Western Canadian Bible Institute in 1941, and continuing on through various partnerships, name and location changes to Ambrose University in its current form and location, we continue to rely on God for our needs: everything from faculty and staff, to students and finances. The faithful donors to Ambrose have helped to build that foundation. Some are new donors; some have supported us for quite literally decades. Some are alumni of the schools; some simply believe wholeheartedly in providing a Christian university option, as well as a vibrant seminary to train those who are planning a more traditional path to ministry. I extend my thanks to each. The Impact Report is a review of the most recently ended financial year. In the pages that follow, you will find stories about academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, milestone events, alumni ministries, and donor profiles — a brief sample of the many key happenings at Ambrose University in any given year. Thank you for your support of Ambrose University. Without you, we could not provide the full range of programs and opportunities available to our students. As we continue our reliance upon God, would you pray for as we navigate the realities of being a faith-based institution in the polarized world of 2019?
Board of Governors Ken Stankievech (Chair) Businessman, Calgary, AB Wayne Bernakevitch (Vice-Chair) Lawyer, Regina, SK Rev. Keith Taylor (Secretary) Senior Pastor, Beulah Alliance Church, Edmonton, AB Calvin Buss Businessman, Vancouver, BC Ruth Copland-Holtz Businesswoman, Toronto, ON Rev. Ian Fitzpatrick National Director, Church of the Nazarene in Canada, Toronto, ON Rev. David Hearn President, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada Larry Koop Businessman, Olds, AB Delrose Laxton Office Manager, Calgary, AB Debi Mills Businesswoman, Stony Plain, AB Rev. Errol Rempel District Superintendent, Canadian Pacific District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Canada Lawrence Stalder Businessman, Calgary, AB Kenneth Tsang Businessman, Vancouver, BC
Gordon T. Smith President
Ambrose University is built on the foundations of men and women who had a vision for Christian higher education. 2018/2019 IMPACT REPORT
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The 2018–19 year at Ambrose showed, once again, what happens when the Ambrose community comes together to support our learners. The continued success of Ambrose is contingent upon the combined efforts of people.
FAITH AND LEARNING IN ACTION
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
2018-19 HIGHLIGHTS
New Canadian Bursary Awarded In September 2019, the New Canadian Bursary was awarded to third-year, English Literature student Yasmina Jabre. The New Canadian Bursary was created by Hannah Temple (CBC, 2001) who came to Canada when she was only two years old as a refugee from Vietnam. Hannah, formerly the Financial Aid and Awards Coordinator for Ambrose, saw first-hand the impact scholarships and bursaries have on students. Recognizing the struggle that many new Canadians endure when moving to Canada and knowing the power that education has on a person’s life, Hannah wanted to find a way to express her gratitude for the support she received and to find a way to share a legacy. “Education has empowered me in so many ways and given me a different worldview. In some ways it has been a different kind of escape for me,” expressed Hannah. Yasmina was raised in Lebanon and always had a passion for books. It was while she was attending university to become a doctor that she began writing to help her cope with the stress of her studies and her dream of becoming a writer and editor took shape. “In Lebanon, it is generally frowned upon to be a writer and it’s just really not possible,” she said. “So I came to Canada to pursue my passion.” Yasmina traveled to Toronto first but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for her and then applied to Ambrose. The fact that Ambrose was a Christian school drew her to the University as it provided a sense of security and community. Upon graduation, Yasmina would like to pursue a career in editing to help passionate writers have their work published. “It means so much to me to have been awarded the New Canadian Bursary,” she added. “As a full-time student, it is extremely difficult to work enough to support myself while living here. My parents have been supporting me and now I feel financially secure. I am so grateful to receive the bursary, especially knowing the history behind it.” Hannah and Yasmina’s stories show how impactful supporting students can be. If you would like to help a student overcome the financial obstacles that can impede post-secondary education, please visit ambrose.edu/donate. Hannah’s complete story was featured in the fall 2017 edition of Anthem, available on our website.
Science for Seminary Grant This year, Ambrose University and Seminary was awarded a USD $75,000 grant by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program as part of the Science for Seminaries project. With the grant, Ambrose Seminary plans to build on existing and potential collaborations between the Seminary faculty, Science and Behavioral Science faculty. In addition, they intend to expand this collaboration through several initiatives including recruitment of guest lecturers, participation in the annual Ambrose Research Conference (ARC), and hosting an institution-wide science and theology conference. The project team, consisting of Ambrose faculty Arch Wong, Beth Stovell, Mark Buchanan, and Christina Conroy, (pictured from left to right) seeks to create an ongoing collaboration and conversation between science and theology and the various communities Ambrose serves.
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2018-19 HIGHLIGHTS
The Ambrose Golf Classic The Ambrose Golf Classic ‘tee-d’ off its tenth year at the scenic Links of Glen Eagles in Cochrane, AB. There were over 80 golfers who played through the full spectrum of weather to raise funds for scholarships and athletics. This year’s tournament raised over $65,000 for critical scholarship needs. Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers for your support. A big thank you as well to all of our donors for supporting Ambrose as we seek to provide quality Christian education.
Right at Home: Ambrose Celebrates 10 Years on Campus On May 4, Ambrose celebrated 10 years on its current campus during the Right at Home event. We were joined by approximately 200 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of Ambrose as we reflected on the past ten years and the journey to our new home. Keith Kitchen, alumnus, musician, and pastor added to the festivities with a concert. During the event, we also heard stories from staff about the construction of the campus as well as reflections from the journey to this campus. It was amazing to hear all of the stories from alumni and friends as we celebrated this milestone. We hope to see the Ambrose community again as we celebrate many milestones to come. As part of our ten-year celebrations, Ambrose hosted 46 people for the President’s Anniversary Dinner where good food, fellowship and an address from Preston Manning were enjoyed. The event was held, in part, to raise awareness about the Ambrose Fund. The Ambrose Fund helps to support the general operations of the university which includes entrance scholarships, student and academic support systems, and program and faculty development.
Proud of the Pride – A Year of Firsts The 2018-2019 athletic teams had many reasons to celebrate this past season. The ‘year of firsts’ kicked off, in September, with the first ever season of outdoor soccer. It was an excellent team-building year and the Lions look forward to continuing to grow their skills. In February, our women’s volleyball team was pleased to host the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Volleyball Championships. Though the Lions didn’t place in the finals, they won the best prize – substantial support from the Lions family. The amount of support received, ranging from our volunteers to the fans was inspiring. The women’s futsal team also had a lot to celebrate, after winning the ACAC Women’s Futsal Championships hosted in Lethbridge. This was the first ACAC championship win by the Lions.
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI IMPACT
The impact of Ambrose University on lives and communities is seen most clearly in students and alumni, who share their abundant gifts to make a positive difference in the world around them. A strong and engaged Alumni community inspires the next generation in their pursuit of knowledge. In 2018-19, Ambrose alumni demonstrated our community values, locally and globally.
GROWING COMMUNITY
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ALUMNI IMPACT
Disciples in the Desert Dave (Master of Divinity, 2008) and his wife Jen have been serving as International Workers with the Christian Missionary Alliance (C&MA) in the Desert Sand Region since 2012. Ambrose Seminary is a great preparation ground for overseas ministry and service among immigrants and new Canadians right here at home. Through Ambrose, students taste and experience Jesus’ heart for serving others and equipping leaders in the developing church around the globe. Today, Dave is part of a vibrant team discipling and equipping new Jesus followers and church leaders from several least-reached people groups. Most of these leaders are migrants and refugees and are planting churches and sharing the gospel among very difficult conditions. Jen serves in the area of natural childbirth and breastfeeding support, training and empowering young moms to see how magnificently God has created and equipped them for motherhood. Dave and Jen are grateful to Ambrose for making their ministry possible through the training and equipping that they received. Desert Sand Region
Finish Free to Ph.D. – Diving Deeper into Ministry Now a first-year Ph.D. student at McMaster University, Jackson Theune (Master of Divinity, 2019) credits Ambrose Seminary for preparing him for a seamless transition into the rigour of doctoral studies. “The MDiv program instilled within me a deep understanding of the relationship between my studies and my relationship with Christ,” said Jackson. “It has provided me with a greater sense of my calling and ministry which, in turn, has given me a Christ-centered motivation for my Ph.D. work.” Jackson was a recipient of the Finish Free Scholarship which allows MDiv students to finish the third year of their degree tuition-free if they complete the program within three years. Receiving the finish free scholarship was especially important for Jackson because it allowed him the freedom and peace to pursue his education without worrying about financial stress. He added that it paved the way for more significant goals in his life which he hopes will bless others for years to come. Currently working as a part-time associate pastor, Jackson aspires to become a professor and teach others the value of God’s Word in their lives and also hopes to continue preaching.
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI IMPACT
Ambrose Alumna Receives Edwin Parr Award Now in her second year teaching, Sarah Hawley (Bachelor of Arts in Behavioural Science, 2016; Bachelor of Education, 2018) was a recipient of the Edwin Parr Award. The annual award recognizes teaching excellence among first-year teachers. The Ambrose Education program has a well-earned reputation of creating teachers well equipped to face the demands and challenges of the teaching profession. “It truly feels surreal to be honoured and recognized in this way,” says Sarah. “I feel that the students who have been entrusted to me are the ones who have inspired me to use my creativity and passion for learning to show up each day and turn my classroom into my favourite place to be.” One week after graduating, Sarah began working as a substitute teacher for May and June. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Sarah received a contract to teach grade four at Cochrane Christian Academy in the Rocky View School District, where she had her final practicum. Since then, she has received a continuous contract and is now in her second year of teaching, this year with grade one students.
The Ambrose Fund Your support makes an impact.
Scholarships Outreach & Recruitment Hardship/ Financial Aid Student Supports
Most Pressing Need
STUDENT SUPPORT
GENERAL GIVING
Bursaries
AMBROSE FUND
Capital Projects / Facilities Athletics Music, Drama and Arts
Flourishing Congregations
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT
UNIVERSITY LIFE
Spiritual Life Community Impact
2018/2019 IMPACT REPORT
Student Alumni Leadership Programs Develop. and Supports
Library
Special Forums, Lectures and Conferences
Canadian Poverty Institute Jaffray Centre for Global Initiatives
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Through their passion for teaching, they share that knowledge with students and the wider community. Through support from people like you, they inspire curious, critical, compassionate disciples to go forward with confidence in the world in which God has placed them.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
GOING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
TEACHING AND RESEARCH
CPI Receives Two Grants The Canadian Poverty Institute (CPI) is an inter-disciplinary institute housed within Ambrose University that seeks to heal poverty through teaching, research and public education. The Canadian Council of Churches has provided $8,700 and the Shantz Mennonite Church Bequest Earnings Disbursement Fund has provided $12,250 to support the CPI’s research. Poverty continues to be an important issue of public discussion in Canada. In an effort to promote social justice and aid, churches used to be the primary social institutions that involved a holistic approach. They undoubtedly supported the social good, but things are changing. A gradual secularization of social services has meant that the role of churches has been progressively assumed by the government. Through its research, the CPI intends to provide a map of the role churches have played and what the future can look like for churches to promote social justice through redressing poverty in Canada. For more information about the CPI and its research, please visit www.povertyinstitute.ca
Second Annual Scholars’ Corner Ambrose University faculty are engaged in a diverse array of scholarly work, from authoring books and book chapters to editing textbooks, publishing Scholars’ papers in peer-reviewed journals and general audience magazines, and Corner writing music, plays, poems and more. On April 24, Ambrose faculty gathered together to celebrate the Second Annual Scholars’ Corner. At this event, faculty are honoured for the dissemination of their research and showcase their published books, journal manuscripts and other forms of scholarship. This year, upwards of 70 peer-reviewed pieces were featured at the Scholars’ Corner. In celebrating scholarly activity, Scholars’ Corner helps build Ambrose’s capacity for such work and affirms its importance to teaching and learning.
New Faculty Publications In July 2019, Ambrose faculty Dr. Joel Thiessen and Dr. Monetta Bailey, as well as Dr. Reginald Bibby of the University of Lethbridge, published The Millennial Mosaic: How Pluralism and Choice Are Shaping Canadian Youth and the Future of Canada. The book examines how millennials are similar or different to their parents and grandparents, and asks whether we should be encouraged or concerned by the research conclusions. Joel and Monetta will be conducting a series of public lectures on the book, visit ambrose.edu/alumni for more information. Dr. Jonathan Goossen, Associate Professor of English, published Jonson, Shakespeare, and Aristotle on Comedy in 2018. Jonathan relates new understandings of Aristotle’s dramatic theory to the comedy of Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare. By first synthesizing these developments and then treating them as an interpretive theory, rather than simply a historical influence, this book demonstrates a remarkable consonance between Aristotelian principles of plot and its emotional effect, on theone hand, and the comedy of Shakespeare and Jonson, on the other.
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DONOR STORY
Coming Together for a Common Purpose The Jespersen family has had a long-standing relationship with Ambrose University, dating back several generations. Many Jespersen’s attended Canadian Bible College (CBC) and now their children and grandchildren are attending Ambrose. The initial connection was made through the Alliance denomination but continues to flourish. Every few years the extended Jespersen clan holds large family reunions and it was at a reunion a few years ago that the family decided to come together to raise funds for Ambrose University. In April 2019, President Gordon T. Smith approached the clan with a goal to raise funds to update the cafeteria. Six families within the extended Jespersen clan gathered together and decided this was a great goal for their family to pursue. “I was particularly excited about the idea to raise funds for a new food court as gathering around the table and breaking bread together has been a staple of our family,” said Debi Mills (née Jespersen). “The idea of creating a new space for students to gather together and enjoy a meal together is very significant for us.” The Jespersen family credits Ambrose and its predecessors with providing an excellent Christian post-secondary education. “CBC and Ambrose education has always been close to our heart,” said Arlie Jespersen. “I saw how CBC helped our kids and now our grandkids at Ambrose. We’re excited to leave a legacy for future generations.” “Faith and education together to produce well-rounded citizens,” added Debi. Debi and Arlie both agree that it takes courage to begin the conversation to form a group to raise funds but that ultimately taking that step has been very fulfilling. Arlie noted “we have to do our part but God is directing it. It’s not about the amount for us, it’s about coming together for God’s kingdom.” The Jespersen’s are very close to achieving their fundraising goal and look forward to seeing the lasting impact of an updated cafeteria for students to join in community together. “Before we set our goal over 30 of us came to Ambrose for a visit. It made such a lasting impression to see where our fundraising will be going,” said Debi. Both Debi and Arlie recommended that if working together with your family members on a fundraising goal sounds like something you are interested in, to jump right in. Though finances can be a difficult conversation, the Jespersen’s recommend taking courage and lean in to how incredible the idea of coming together can be. “The excitement can be contagious,” said Debi. “Be courageous and take the first step. Allowing others to see your excitement will help you get started.”
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
AMBROSE AT A GLANCE
1,109
Share of Revenue 2018-2019
full-year and part-time students
Tuition and student fees 53% Donations and constituent support 18%
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average class size
Government grants 18%
19:1
Sales, rent and other 11%
student-to-faculty ratio
98%
Share of Operating Expenses 2018-2019
Education grads offered teaching positions upon graduation
Employee compensation and benefits 65%
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Operating supplies 18%
School of Ministry and Seminary students in practicum or internship placements
Financing 6% Scholarships and bursaries 6%
13,842
Facilities 5%
Ambrose graduates serving and changing communities
$1.0 million for scholarships and bursaries
59%
of students receive financial aid
Share of Donations 2018-2019 Churches and Denominations $1,974,639
11.24%
53.73%
13.03%
21.99%
Individuals $808,115 Corporations/ Business $479,013 Foundations/ Charities $413,147
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students in thirty Behavioural Science practicums
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Honesty, integrity, character, selflessness, kindness, faith and goodness are woven into community life and academic programs at Ambrose. Since launching the “#bethelight” in 2018, Ambrose has continued to passionately pursue academics in action. This includes seeking community building opportunities for students to share the light and think beyond the walls of the institution.
THE WAY FORWARD
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AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
LOOKING FORWARD
Celebrating 50 years This spring marks the 50th anniversary of Ambrose Seminary with its roots as the Canadian Theological College (CTC) and then renamed in 1982 as the Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS), now Ambrose Seminary. We are proud of the 2167 Seminary graduates who have gone on to serve as pastors, missionaries, and community leaders. This 50th year our graduating class marks a very special point in time for us. Watch for details of celebratory events in the coming months
Scheduling Flexibility Pastors and lay leaders require flexibility in scheduling and course delivery. Ambrose is increasing course access by further developing innovative strategies to deliver credit and non-credit courses through the Ambrose Seminary. Ambrose is also continuing to grow the one-day workshop series presented by Ambrose @ Large as an opportunity for professional development or academic credit. Taking courses this way enables people to accumulate credits and work towards a certificate, diploma or degree at their own pace.
Become the University of Choice Ambrose aspires to be the ‘university of choice’ for mission-fit students. The University aims to provide an exemplary learning experience in all programs – and fully capitalize on those that are innovative and only offered by Ambrose. For example, our psychology program goes beyond traditional classroom learning and gives students the opportunity to apply what they are learning. Ambrose is one of the few universities that allows undergraduate students to actually conduct research which means students will stand out after graduation.
Creating Connections Ambrose will continue to grow internship and networking opportunities to prepare students for their careers. For Ambrose Seminary students, an internship is an integral part of preparing for ministry. Internships provide students with extended and in-depth practice of ministry to integrate classroom input with experiential learning, and to learn the art of theological reflection on experience in the context of building a working relationship with another person in ministry. Practicum is a key element of the Behavioural Science program. The positive outcomes from the program come not only from the student’s academic pursuits but also from the hands-on learning gained during the practicum period. Business students are encouraged to take a small step outside of their comfort zone and network with the people that could be instrumental in to huge steps in their careers.
Mental Health Resourcing and Other Supports for Students to Achieve Academic Success Student Academic Success provides professional academic support to help students maximize their academic success and achieve their learning goals. Our team offers individual appointments, peer support, group study sessions, and workshops to students in all areas of study at all levels.
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THANK YOU... Your gifts of time, talent and treasure deliver the scholarships, facilities, faculty, programs and impact that sets our university apart. We are grateful. To learn more about the profound difference your gifts to Ambrose University make possible — and to explore giving options — please contact: University Advancement (403) 410-2000 ext. 2920 advancement@ambrose.edu ambrose_uni ambroseuniversity ambrose_uni AmbroseUniversity
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1 (403) 410-2000 I 150 Ambrose Circle SW, Calgary, AB T3H 0L5 Canada I www.ambrose.edu