Columbia Contact: 2018-2019

2018 - 2019

C O L U M B I A C O N TA C T CONNECTING THE COLUMBIA BIBLE COLLEGE COMMUNITY | COLUMBIABC.EDU

TH E ART OF L OVI NG INVAS ION An Interview with Quest's Leaders

YOU AR E OUR G LORY & J OY Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring Within Your Church

F RI ENDS HIP IN THE MARK ETPLAC E

T O PI C

Making the Move from Coach to Mentor

MENTO RING T he Powe r of Life - on - life

COLUMBIA CONTACT

PRE SI DE N T ’S D ES K

2018-2019 Academic Year Columbia Bible College seeks to equip people for a life of discipleship, ministry, and leadership in service to the church and community.

M ENT O R I N G –

THE NEED HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER

COLUMBIA CONTACT PURPOSE STATEMENT The purpose of the Columbia Contact is to encourage and provide updates about news, events, and related college business to students, alumni and friends of the college.

Columbia Bible College provides faith formation and professional ministry preparation for Christians of all ages and supports the churches of the region in the fulfillment of their mission. Columbia is evangelical Anabaptist and is operated by two regional Mennonite conferences, British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and Mennonite Church British Columbia.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Jantzen

LAYOUT & DESIGN Grant Bielefeld Dark Roast Digital

COVER PHOTO peterschreiber.media on Adobe Stock

CONTRIBUTORS Kimberley Morrison Stephanie Jantzen Stan Hindmarsh

CONTACT Tel. (604) 853-3358 Toll Free. 1-800-283-0881 info@columbiabc.edu Fax. (604) 853-3063 Columbia Bible College 2940 Clearbrook Road Abbotsford, BC V2T 2Z8

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ne of the most influential people in my life was a young adults pastor by the name of Blaine Greiner (interestingly, he’s still ministering to young adults today!).

His impact took place over a very short period of time — just one year. But it was at a time when I was looking for future direction, and trying to figure out my gifts and future vocation.

Blaine entered my life at a pivotal point. I was 20, and had just returned from a year of Bible School.

He recognized what God was doing in my life, and he gave me the responsibility of teaching a Sunday School class, as well as inviting me to serve on the young adults leadership team.

At the same time, he helped me process major questions concerning my future. He was there to assist me to discern that the beautiful young lady I was dating would make a great spouse.

When my fiancée and I sensed a call to crosscultural missions, he listened to our questions and provided great insight for future training.

As I look back on that year-long mentoring experience, I am somewhat flabbergasted by the magnitude of his effect on my future.

The recent Renegotiating Faith study conducted

by Rick Hiemstra of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has highlighted how mentoring of young adults is now more necessary than ever.

He points out that the transition from youth to adulthood is changing shape, and taking longer.

Whereas we once expected youth to assume an adult identity and responsibilities relatively quickly after high school, we now know that this process is stretching over a much longer period (up to age 30 or older). The reasons for this cultural development are many, and we should not simplistically blame the Millennial generation.

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The implications of this sociological shift was a key topic of conversation at the “How to Keep Young Adults Engaged in the Local Church” event held at Columbia in late January. One of the encouraging findings of the Renegotiating Faith study was the important role that mentors often play in helping young adults stay committed to Jesus and engaged in the church. Those who listen well are able to help name the unique gifts and calling of those they mentor. They also help young adults make the move from the youth group to becoming active adult members of the congregation. They serve as a source of continuity through an extremely tumultuous time in the lives of many. The fact is — we need mentors.

Not long ago, someone passed the following Greek proverb along to me: Society grows great when older people plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. The idea is obvious. If we want to see strong churches, families, and communities, we need to invest in the lives of our young adults. Mentoring is an awesome way to do so. Navigating the challenges of life today is best done in community, and the combination of a listening ear with wise, biblical counsel can have immensely positive outcomes.

Bryan Born, President

CONTE NT S DEPARTMENT S 01

PRESIDENT'S DESK

The Need for Mentoring.

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NEWS & UPDATES

Renegotiating Faith, Lions’ Den, Quest Changes, and a new Health Care program.

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M E NT ORI NG: T HE A RT OF L OVI N G IN VA S IO N

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CELEBRATING GRADUATES

Commencement highlights and alumni updates.

An Interview with Mike Richardson & Jeremy Walker on Quest’s approach to mentoring.

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APPLYING IT

Advice for finding a mentor.

FEATURES 07

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BEARCAT ATHLETICS

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Basketball guard Aly Nuruddin shares the impact his coaches have had on him and how he’s paying it forward.

YOU ARE OUR GLORY & OUR JOY

FRIENDSHIP IN THE MARKETPLACE

By Ki mber ley Mo r r iso n

By S ta n H i n d ma rs h

Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring Within Your Church

Making the Move from Coach to Mentor

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NE WS & UPDATES

C OLU M BIA N E W S & U P DAT E S UPCOMING EVENTS CHURCH MATCH BURSARIES OPEN May 1

STUDENT ORIENTATION September 1 & 2

FALL CLASSES BEGIN September 3

SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION EVENING September 19

COLUMBIA ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER October 26

MENTORING: AN IMPORTANT WAY TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ‘RENEGOTIATE’ AN ADULT FAITH

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long with Apologetics Canada, Columbia was delighted to co-host “How to Keep Young Adults Engaged in the Local Church,” a special event that unpacked insights from the recent Renegotiating Faith research project.

Presenting the data with helpful anecdotes and action points was Rick Hiemstra, director of research and media relations at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Rick described the way adulthood is delayed in today’s society — often through factors outside a young adult’s control. Economic and job market realities mean that more young adults are living at home, extending their educations, and then struggling to find high-paying fulltime employment within their fields.

As a result, many are delaying marriage and parenthood. Without easy access to the milestones that would traditionally have marked them as ‘adults,’ some Christian young people choose to establish their adult identities by moving on from their parents’ faith and church.

How can ministry leaders work to reverse this tendency? Rick presented encouraging data about the important role that mentors can play in helping young Christians find their place as full-fledged adults within Christian communities. For example, those college and university freshmen in regular contact with a Christian mentor were far more likely to connect to a Christian group on campus within their first months of study.

Following Rick’s report, a panel of local young adult ministry leaders — including Andy Steiger and Terry Crosby of Apologetics Canada and Kathleen Doll and Jeremy Walker from Columbia — discussed the implications of the findings and how they see them reflected in their own work with young adults.

See the full video at columbiabc.edu/ya-faith-event

NPO STUDENTS PITCH THEIR POSITIVE-IMPACT IDEAS IN ‘LIONS’ DEN’

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n April, students in Columbia’s Non-Profit Organization Management class participated in “The Lions’ Den” as a way to practically dive into the lessons and theories they learned throughout the semester.

The challenge? To pitch an idea for a new non-profit or ministry endeavour to three members of the Abbotsford business and charity community. In their five-minute presentations, students tackled questions like: What issues would your NPO address? What is your marketing plan? What expenses do you foresee?

Each presentation was a reflection of passions in current students. One group pitched an idea for a coffee shop that will aid those transitioning out of hard times. Another presented an idea for a dance studio with scholarships for students in financial need, and another an organization to address the decline in youth volunteerism.

Overall, the Lions’ Den was a fitting end to a class that equips students with a better understanding of the responsibilities that leaders face as they work to produce positive change.

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WELCOME TO NEW STAFF & CONGRATULATIONS ON NEW ROLES GLENALLEN CHRISTO

BERNICE FETTERLY

Male Residence Director

Development Coordinator

JESSICA FUNK

SARAH ROZENDAL

Communications & Multimedia Coordinator and Women’s Basketball Coach

Female Residence Director

KAYLEE BOLLE Admissions Assistant

AC ADEMIC NEW S FROM GREAT TO GREATER: QUEST IS CHANGING MORE FREE TIME Rather than complete 31 credits hours over two semesters, the typical Quest student will now only need to complete 25 credit hours, with a course load that includes eight classes rather than ten. Quest participants will gain up to 120 hours each semester, allowing them to engage more fully in the relational aspects of Quest: being mentored, participating in intentional friendships, and pursuing spiritual formation.

FREEDOM TO PURSUE INDIVIDUAL GOALS

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tarting in Fall 2019, Columbia’s longstanding Quest one-year discipleship program is adopting a more flexible approach to its academic requirements in order to provide a richer experience for incoming students.

Quest students will also now enjoy the freedom to add one or two additional classes to their program. Those who wish to move into one of Columbia’s diploma or degree programs will be able to take the courses they need to stay on track for graduation within two or four years.

Others may want to take an elective that allows them to explore an area of interest, learn a ministry skill, or gain college transfer credits for their future academic pursuits.

CHRISTIAN “ADULTING” Another recent change to the Quest program is a new emphasis on developing the practical skills that are essential during the transition to adulthood.

Quest students now take a semester-long class in both self-management and Christian decisionmaking, where they learn what it means for a Christian to live as a capable and healthy human being. Instructors provide coaching in areas such as identifying strengths, habit formation, personal finance, relational boundaries, practicing intentional decision-making, and wrestling with questions of calling and vocation.

CLOSE TO LAUNCH: COLUMBIA’S HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE

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olumbia is getting ready to launch its newest program: the Health Care Assistant certificate, an eight-month program that will qualify graduates to serve as care aides within health care settings across the province.

Columbia’s HCA program will follow BC’s approved curriculum for training health care assistants, integrating a Christian perspective that aligns with the health care sector’s emphasis on person-centered care. Students will also take a required ‘Foundations of Christian Vocation’ class, which will give them tools to connect their Christian faith with their work in caring for the vulnerable in society.

Another unique aspect of Columbia’s HCA program is its close relationship with local senior care facilities, including Tabor Village, Baptist Housing, and Menno Place. These organizations

expressed a strong desire to partner with Columbia in training care aides of strong character and Christian integrity, who are equipped to provide the best practices in nursing care. While classes will take place on Columbia’s campus, HCA students will practice their skills in an on-site lab at Menno Place and then go on to complete their training at facilities such as Menno Place, Tabor Village, and other carehomes in the area.

As of May 2019, the proposed program has received preliminary approval from the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry and must now be approved by BC’s Private Training Institutions Branch. Pending approval, the program is scheduled for launch this September.

Program details and further info: columbiabc.edu/HCA

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C E LEB RAT IN G G RADUAT E S

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2019!

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riends, family, faculty, and staff gathered at Abbotsford Pentecostal Assembly to cheer on eighty-four new graduates of Columbia on Saturday, April 20. Drawing hope from Easter Saturday, commencement speaker Stacey Gleddiesmith encouraged graduates to continue trusting during the uncomfortable, ‘in-between’ spaces of life. Valedictorian Haley Ost reflected on her experience within the Intercultural Studies program and celebrated the way Columbia prepared her and her fellow students to live the ‘weird and wonderful’ way of Jesus.

A LUMNI U P DATES

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JOHN GOERTZEN Class of 2018, Columbia One

It has been just over a year since I graduated from the Columbia One program at CBC. Since my graduation, I have returned to UFV and I am in the process of completing my Bachelor of Kinesiology, which will be completed next year. In the meantime, I am still volunteering as a youth leader at my church, as well as being involved in the church's young adults ministry. I have greatly appreciated nights like Vespers at CBC, where I had the chance to worship God, but also to reconnect with former classmates, and meet new people. In regards to work, I have just been promoted as a manager in the restaurant I work in, which has further encouraged me to have a missional view in my occupation.

In July, I will be going on a short mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, to support a church we have partnered with.

Prayers would be appreciated as we are still in the process of raising funds and learning Spanish.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to the CBC community for being so welcoming and encouraging. I will not forget my year there and the knowledge and spiritual growth I received during the school year.

2018- 2019

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR: RICK GOOSSEN, PHD

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r. Richard (Rick) Goossen received Columbia’s Alumnus of the Year award at the 2019 commencement ceremony. This award is given annually, to a graduate of Columbia who has gained distinction through their accomplishments and/or has brought positive change to the community through their Christian leadership.

After studying at Columbia, Rick went on to study at Simon Fraser University, McGill Law School, Columbia Law and Middlesex (London). Active in the worlds of research, writing, and business, Rick has focused his life on the calling to encourage believers to be differencemakers in the marketplace. He is the founder of Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization (ELO), which exists to connect and equip Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders and now reaches 100,000 people annually.

After accepting his award, Rick encouraged Columbia’s graduating class with these words: “What is an entrepreneurial leader? There are two parts. First, to be entrepreneurial means to do something new, unique and different — with practical application. Second, to be a leader — it’s beyond influence; more specifically it’s to be aware of how to positively impact others, to think beyond yourself. With the two together you can have exponential impact. Your creativity is divinely-inspired.

God is the creator. We are created in His image. When we engage in creativity — which can’t be quantified or explained — we are close to God.”

JEREMY LIND

ALLISON SCHNECK

Class of 2010, BA in Biblical Studies Owner/Web Developer Viewpoint Digital Design & Development

Class of 2019, BA in Intercultural Studies and Youth Work (Double Major) Registrar & Internship Resident Leader Hope Bay Bible Camp

“I never would have guessed I'd be doing what I'm doing, but CBC helped me understand how to engage with it. God's mission is to create and redeem, and when we work with integrity to how we've been created, we participate in his mission. I’m living in Abbotsford, BC, attending The Life Centre, moving to Kelowna in September so my wife can attend UBC Okanagan for a Masters in Social Work.”

“This past year I’ve been working as a missionary at Hope Bay Bible Camp on Pender Island as the Resident Leader and Registrar and absolutely loving it!

I live in a yurt at the camp. I get to help pioneer the youth group (you know… Bible study, “minute to win it” games and Saturday morning cartoon themed youth nights). I help with Sunday School, guest groups, do a ton with administration in the camp office. In the summer, I get to do whatever is needed as we run camp (wash dishes, be cabin leader, lead discipleship camp, help with program.)

God has been doing immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine here. He’s providing volunteers and campers, finances and resources. He’s been changing the lives of teens and families. This is the dream.”

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YOU ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY CULTI VATI N G A C ULTURE OF ME NTOR ING WI THI N A L O CA L CH URCH | b y K i m b e rl e y Morrison

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2017- 2019 2018 2018-

Photo: Pearl on Lightstock

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or now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord” (3:8). “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (2:19, 20). These words from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reveal the apostle’s transcendent vision for the practice of mentoring.

Centuries later, this letter invites us to look over the shoulder of the original readers and discover how Paul cultivated a culture of mentoring in the Thessalonian church.

A short-hand description of mentoring that arises from the letter might be framed in this way: “Accompanying another such that faith is initiated, imitated, and multiplied.” Emerging from this definition are three key themes that I believe are foundational to the practice of mentoring: transition, with-ness, and a way of becoming.

TRANSITION

To accompany, by definition, is to go somewhere with someone. Mentoring happens when we accompany someone as they transition. In this little letter, we are introduced to a group of people who are initiated into faith by turning to God from idols (1:9). The Thessalonians were intentionally transitioning toward God as their only source of life and being. Sometimes we accompany people when they first transition into a faith journey with God. However, transitions happen all along the life journey.

We all encounter seasons that sweep away old norms, forcing us to embrace new ones. The way back to what was, as it was, is forever lost. These transitions move us to places of vulnerability. Such transitions might include: leaving home for college or work, marriage, birth of a child, a life-altering illness, death of a loved one, move to a new city, change of vocation, entering menopause, divorce, or retirement. A culture of mentoring within a local church is catalyzed by simply determining to be the kind of people who accompany others through life, and especially transitions.

WITH-NESS To accompany is by definition to go somewhere with someone. Listen to Paul describing the texture of with-ness: “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (2:7). “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you…” (2:11). “…when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a brief time…” (2:17). In an era when family was the central and controlling mental model of a flourishing life, Paul uses family metaphors to describe the relationship he shares with this local church. Nursing mothers are in routines of constant feedings and fathers are deliberate in provisioning and protecting on a daily basis. Paul regards the Thessalonians as dear, spiritual children and describes faith being transferred in the context of loving, habitual relational rhythms.

In the 21st century, the texture of with-ness has radically altered. Western culture often approaches life as a series of carnival events that one observes and consumes. We move from one event to another and the space in between is marked by hurry. As tribute to the event we take a picture and post it on social media. Family is what happens when we coordinate schedules and debrief during the inbetweens that punctuate a series of events. Caution must be taken that we do not contextualize Paul’s metaphor for mentoring to a contemporary idea of family and along the way lose the power of his original description of with-ness — intimate, personal, deeply nurturing time engaged with.

WITH-NESS: INTIMATE, PERSONAL, DEEPLY NURTURING TIME ENGAGED WITH

Where the church has emulated the world and morphed into a series of events to be observed, consumed, and hurried past, we may have lost the opportunity to deeply form faith. The local church must intentionally strategize to accompany others in personal rhythms of relationship during the inbetweens that are available. A culture of mentoring within a local church is cultivated by slowing down to sit and to eat and to reflect and to listen and to love and to do so in life rhythms, not haphazard events.

A WAY OF BECOMING Faith progresses in a journey of becomings, not just believings. First, the Thessalonians are initiated into faith: “… when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (2:13). Next, they imitate faith: “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord…” (1:6). Finally, they multiply faith: “So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” (1:7). The Thessalonians are initiated into faith by receiving and believing the gospel. However, they progress in faith by a series of becomings.

In a letter to Corinth, Paul states, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). “Be imitators of me” signifies imitating who a person has become. “As I am of Christ” signifies imitating this person only as they imitate Jesus. Imitation is across the scope of a whole life. The best indicator of what this means to Paul can be found in the words he shares with his personal disciple, Timothy, “you parakoloutheo (followed closely or accompanied) my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and suffering…” Paul accompanied Timothy such that, not only teaching and doctrine, but a whole way of becoming was transferred to Timothy.

When a local church accompanies people, especially through transitions, in a with-ness marked by the deeply personal and relational love of a devoted parent, they will transfer a way of becoming that initiates, imitates and multiplies the Jesus way of being. The glory and joy of a local church at the coming of Jesus is those they mentor.

KI MB E R L E Y MO R R I SO N is a member of the Intercultural Studies faculty at Columbia.

Her past roles include church planting in Canada, pastoring with five different denominations in the U.S. and Canada, and serving for ten years as a missionary to the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Kimberley earned her Doctor of Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, where her work focused on the question of how to restore a transcendent view of God to the Canadian church. She is currently completing a PhD in Intercultural Education at Biola University.

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Mentoring: The Art of Loving Invasion Why is mentoring so important? What does good mentoring look like?

And what are some ways an everyday Christian can start to mentor people in their lives? I sat down for a sprawling conversation with two practiced mentors: Jeremy Walker, director of Quest, and Mike Richardson, Columbia faculty member and founder of Quest.

by Stephanie Jant zen

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he border guard looked in the car window, a suspicious frown on her face. Jeremy Walker, director of Columbia’s Quest discipleship program, and Mike Richardson, Quest founder, were heading into the United States.

“Do you often spend time with people who are a lot older than you are?” was the guard’s question to Jeremy.

Without batting an eye, Jeremy replied, “Every chance I get.”

It’s a story Mike tells with a chuckle, but with a little sadness too. He sees it as a perfect illustration of a key missing piece in our society: mentoring relationships. It’s become a rare thing for people to cross generational lines, for a younger person to keep company with one who’s older and wiser.

Why are these relationships so few and far between?

Mike suggests a number of reasons. One is our collective emphasis on human development. We — schools, churches, community — tailor our programs to ages

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and life stages: kids, middle-schoolers, teens, seniors.

We silo people into their age-focused activities and rarely plan events that bring generations together. Mike also senses a general reluctance among his fellow Baby Boomers. Many of his generation, he muses, shy away from mentoring young people because they were raised with the ideals of individualism and independence: “you need to do this for yourself, and you don’t ask for help.” They themselves were not mentored, and so they are simply not sure where to start. Economic and family realities play a role too, as teenagers spend more time alone while their parents work longer hours.

Add these elements together and it’s no wonder there are so few ‘old’ to ‘young’ mentoring connections.

ORGANIC & INTENTIONAL Columbia’s Quest program works hard to defy this trend.

Every September, twenty-five or so young people arrive on the Columbia Bible College campus to engage in a year of discipleship. They come expecting a mix of classroom

by which we invite others to follow us as we follow Jesus.”

They agree that mentoring is not so much about building competency (that’s coaching), but developing character and identity that are rooted in Christ.

WE CANNOT BE FULLY LOVED UNTIL WE ARE FULLY KNOWN.

In Quest, mentoring is intentional, but it’s also organic.

There’s no list matching students to ‘official’ Quest mentors, nor is there a plan requiring regularlyscheduled mentoring appointments. Instead, mentoring relationships emerge little by little over the course of the year. And it’s the student who sets the pace.

“The out-trips are a seedbed for fostering mentoring relationships,” shares Jeremy. “A lot of students feel more comfortable doing side-by-side things.” This is a unique feature of Quest — leaders literally come alongside students. Hours of hiking, bus-riding, and chair-lift riding pave the way for more intimate face-to-face talks. “There’s this easing in,” Jeremy observes. “We had dinner with you, we hiked with you, and now those conversations become part of this process in a very non-threatening way.”

THE ART OF LOVING INVASION

learning and outdoor adventure, and they get it. On top of their Bible & theology classes, ‘Questies’ spend forty days in BC’s wild — tackling everything from canoeing to tall-ship sailing to spelunking. They also come expecting friendships, the kind that are forged quickly when you camp, paddle, pray, and study together.

What many Quest students don’t expect is the level of mentoring they will have access to. Most will develop deep relationships not just with their peers, but also with their Quest leaders, who range in age from 20-something to 60-something.

And these relationships will have a clear purpose beyond togetherness and fun.

“Mentoring is stewarding wisdom,” Mike explains. Jeremy picks up the thread. “I would define wisdom as the art of skillfully living. Mentoring is the relational process

MI KE R I CH AR D SO N

Both Jeremy and Mike light up when they describe the mentoring conversations they get to have as students begin to feel safe enough to open up. They invite students to share their stories, ask them about family patterns, explore questions of faith, and help them dream about their futures. Specific habits and issues are often tackled.

Throughout, there is a tremendous amount of verbal encouragement. Mike and Jeremy take every opportunity to affirm Questies, to praise them for their strengths, and to let them know the unique ways they see God’s image reflected in each of them. For many students, this takes some getting used to.

Founder of Quest

“It seems like a shock to people when we speak words of

JE R E MY WAL KE R Quest Program Director

Photo: Bekah Bielefeld Photography

Photo: Need to confirm

“I would say we have developed the art of loving invasion into the lives of students,” Mike smiles. “One of our program mantras is ‘We cannot be fully loved until we are fully known.’ So we create a culture where it’s a safe place to be known.”

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Photo: Jeremy Walker

encouragement into their life,” Mike observes. “They don’t have a place to put that.” This makes sense given the experiences many students bring with them into the program.

time together, and sharing stories.

“There are a lot of stories filled with shame, hurt, abuse, sin, you name it,” Jeremy explains. Gently and compassionately, Mike and Jeremy and their fellow leaders work at helping students change these negative narratives, to rescript the voice in their heads that’s keeping them from being what God’s designed them to be. In some cases, the transformations are astonishing.

Jeremy tells the story of one student who had suffered horrific abuse and hurt from their church — who really didn’t want anything to do with God when she first arrived. That young woman experienced restoration, to the point where she chose to lead an on-campus event to fight human trafficking.

“There’s this idea that to nurture wisdom, then I must be able to give really good advice. And people know their own stories, they know their own mistakes, so they automatically disqualify themselves from being a good mentor. What I wish they knew, is really, you just ask questions. Most of what students discover, they discover for themselves. Really, you’re just available.”

Though the stories of transformation are not always so dramatic, they tend to follow a similar pattern. Mike grins as he describes that pattern: “New habits develop. That then refine character. Belief in themselves. An understanding of ‘I have something to offer the world,’ and then to go see them do that. Discovering their voice, how to use their strengths, their gifts.”

MENTORING IN ‘THE REAL WORLD’ The mentoring that happens within Quest sounds special, and it is. But both Jeremy and Mike are convinced that it doesn’t take an outdoor discipleship program for powerful mentoring to take place. If you’re a Christian, you can mentor others on the way. In their minds there are three ingredients to successful mentoring: asking questions, spending

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JUST ASK QUESTIONS

IT’S WHO YOU KNOW Available to whom is perhaps the next logical question. Today’s culture of busyness can make it feel impossible to fit in an intentional, timeintensive mentoring relationship. For Mike, the answer here is to look at your life and focus on identifying the mentoring relationships you already have. People are often surprised that they’re already engaged in mentoring — in relationships intent on nurturing wisdom. Mike loves to sit down with people and help them see that they can be more intentional in their existing relationships. Grandparents are a particular favorite of his. “What goes on in your relationship with your grandkids? There you are, down on the floor building Legos, or roaming in the mud, and you’re engaging with them. Letting them know they’re valuable. You’re stewarding wisdom.

That’s mentoring at its finest!”

Jeremy’s approach is similar. He encourages people to take stock of the people they already know and care about: “Who in my life could I provide a safe place for? What young people would it be cool to invite to share

life with? Who can I do life with who doesn’t have someone to do life with?” This could be as simple as having a young adult over for coffee and boardgames, or it could mean doing what Jeremy and his wife did, inviting Glenallen, a younger staff member, to live in their spare room.

Jeremy’s aware this situation might not work for everyone, but he sees it as a great way to blend everyday life with mentoring. “Glenallen gets to see family with all the good and bad — the challenges and opportunities for growth. He’s getting a realistic lens for how marriage looks.”

HOW DOES MENTORSHIP RELATE TO DISCIPLESHIP? (OR COACHING? OR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?) Do a little reading and you’ll encounter multiple definitions for mentoring, and approaches for understanding how mentoring fits with processes like discipleship or coaching. This diversity isn’t surprising given how rich and deep these concepts are, and given the way many of these practices have counterparts in faith-based and secular settings.

TELL ALL YOUR STORIES Sharing reality is an idea Mike is also passionate about. For him, something as simple as sharing real life experiences can lead to powerful mentoring.

“Everyone is drawn to story,” he notes, and goes on to paint the picture of a group of retired men enjoying their morning coffee at Tim Horton’s.

“What do they do — they swap stories. What if you invited some younger guys into your group and just let them hear your stories? There are so many jewels in that.”

Here’s a brief guide that captures Mike & Jeremy’s approach to these terms:

DISCIPLESHIP - THE LIFELONG JOURNEY & DESTINATION Reflects the imitative nature of our Christian faith, which is passed from one person to another, so that people are able to follow Jesus more closely and be transformed into his likeness.

Jewels for the listener, and for the teller too. Mike becomes visibly emotional when he describes what it’s been like for him to mentor so many Quest students over the years.

“It’s incredibly humbling to have the opportunity of knowing someone deeply and profoundly, and caring for them, and then being cared for by them. These people become family. You lay down your life for them, and that’s part of the privilege of it — the connection lasts a lifetime.”

MENTORSHIP – AS AN UMBRELLA TERM Embraces a wide variety of approaches and types of relationships, all focused on intentional, personal training that equips people to grow as disciples of Christ.

“And then when I can see what they’re doing in the lives of others, with goal of intention of being imitators of Christ, then I know they’ve got it.

For me now, watching our students all over the globe and getting stories back of the people they’re investing in, and the ways they’re extending the kingdom… that is so exciting!”

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: Focuses on paying attention to how the Holy Spirit is moving in a person’s life in a very intentional way, often for discernment. It can be part of a mentoring relationship with a fixed time frame, or a one-time encounter.

COACHING: Focuses on enhancing skills for ministry, with direct goals that connect to desired growth areas and key responsibilities.

MENTORING: Is used when the focus is more general – an intentional, imitative relationship where the goal is for the protégé to learn to follow Jesus the way the mentor follows Jesus. Mentoring is typically a longer-term relationship that involves ‘doing life together’ over a season. It can embrace a variety of ages: peer-mentoring, older-wiser mentoring, or reverse mentoring (younger to older).

Photo: Alanna Ekkert

Photo: Jeremy Walker

AN INVESTMENT WITH HUGE RETURNS

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AP PLYING IT

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

DO YOU WANT A MENTOR? P RAC T I C AL ST E PS F O R F I N D IN G SO M E O N E T O J O U R NE Y WITH

Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking & Giving Direction

by Keith R. Anderson & Randy D. Reese

The Mentored Life : From Individualism to Personhood

by James Houston

In the classes he teaches at Columbia, Jeremy Walker provides students with the following questions to consider and ideas for the best ways to initiate a healthy, positive mentoring relationship.

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Preparation

First, take time to work through these key questions:

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Is there/has there been someone in my life who can create a safe space for me to tell my story?

• • •

Whose life do I desire to imitate or emulate?

Are you ready to be taught when learning may require a confrontation with a lifetime of habits, patterns, and familiar answers?

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Are you ready to learn and to submit to the guidance and innovation of your mentor?

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Do you have a spirit of attentiveness that is willing to be engaged for your growth?

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What do want out of the relationship? Is it a set of skills, experience, decision-making guidance, friendship, accountability etc?

Invitation

Once you have a candidate mentor in mind, you’ll need to approach them with an invitation and declaration of your desire.

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I would like to get to know you further because…?

Would you consider meeting with me?

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I admire ______ and would like to learn how to grow in that direction. Would you consider teaching me?

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There is something about how you demonstrate _____. Would you consider showing me how to do this?

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You exhibit the kind of character I want in my life.

Would you meet with me unto that end?

What keeps you from seeking out a spiritual mentor?

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Possible ways to frame this invitation:

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Initiation

As you and your mentor get started in your mentoring relationship, take the time to agree on a set of clear expectations and boundaries together.

This will help your relationship stay healthy and positive over the long haul.

Consider things like:

• • • • • • •

Motivation. (Why?) Timeframe Meeting place Format Accountability Evaluation measures Time commitment

MENTORED AT COLUMBIA Recent alumni share their experiences of being mentored on campus

CATHERINE BERGS

Diploma Biblical Studies, Class of 2019 Currently living in Huntsville, ON Planning to pursue BA of Communications in September Lover of comedic but heartfelt memoirs When I think about the transformation and growth that have happened over my life in the past few years, I am absolutely blown away. And the largest external influence on that growth has been the availability of persistent, loving mentorship from men and women who are further along on the spiritual and emotional journey of life than I am.

There is little more comforting to me than to hear from someone I admire deeply, “I too have been in that difficult place, or a place very much like it, and I have survived and grown and lived my life beyond it.” And I heard this sentiment expressed over cups of coffee in the “comfy” chairs by the cafeteria doors, at otherwise empty cafeteria tables while the rest of the world carries on around us, after student leadership meetings when the attending faculty member asked, “how are you doing, really?” And I have heard other things as well. Little snippets of conversations stick in my brain and they have changed how I think about myself, and God, and other people, and the way I relate to all of them. Things like “I don’t expect you to have all your stuff together when we talk,” and “I’m so happy you have the courage to cry,” and “You’re thinking about this part of your personality as a weakness, but what if it’s a gift you haven’t learned to use yet?”

I know that asking to meet professors (and staff — they’re great too!) to meet for coffee is nerve-wracking, but it is so worthwhile to meet with these lovely, flawed people and be reminded that you are a lovely flawed person too, and together you are part of something bigger than yourselves, a lovely flawed Kingdom tripping its way toward better understanding of the Divine. Plus sometimes they pay for the coffee so…

NIK SCOTT

BA Biblical Studies, Class of 2019 Associate Pastor of Worship Arts Fraserview Church During my time at CBC, I have had a subtle, yet powerful experience of mentoring. In the four years that I have attended here, professors and faculty have been willing and available for mentoring, and in my last two years, I began developing some more of these relationships. I have found professors to be readily available to meet for coffee, some even hunting me down amidst my own busy schedule, just to have lunch before I graduated.

The most consistent mentoring relationship that I developed was within the worship arts department, as Shar Warkentin met with me to discuss my leadership role in worship teams on a weekly basis. Through these times, we also talked about my life beyond Columbia, and how I was balancing my work load and my walk of faith.

This mentoring relationship developed to be incredibly significant for me, as it meant that I could meet regularly with a person I could be honest with, and as someone who could share in my burdens, and challenge me further in faith and in practice. In fact, this summer, Shar will be officiating my wedding!

Mentorship has been something that I have seen more and more at Columbia, and I hope to continue this practice in my upcoming ministries and jobs. From my own experience, it certainly takes effort to step out of your comfort zone and enter into a mentoring relationship, but it has been a deeply rewarding experience for me.

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I

stood by the door of his room. He was no longer there in person. I took a moment to thank God for my dear friend, Vern Heidebrecht.

His earthly struggle with Parkinson’s disease had come to an end. My daily prayers for him could now change to, “Thank you, God, for loving me through Vern.”

It was Vern who first helped me see the importance of mentorship in life. I was on the board of Northview Community Church when I attended a seminar led

by Vern, senior pastor at the time. Vern’s suggestions included connecting with someone ten years older, ten years younger, and your own age. Little did I know that Vern would become my ‘someone ten years older.’

FRIENDSHIP IN THE MARKETPLACE THOUGHT S O N M EN T O R I N G

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That seminar was a foreshadowing of what has become a very rich part of my life. Some call it mentoring, which generally assumes, not necessarily correctly, an older or more experienced person meeting with another to encourage personal growth in life. For me it has provided a shared journey of life that centers on the savouring of friendships along the way, both outside of work and within the marketplace.

Many would, and wisely so, suggest caution around developing deep friendship or mentoring relationships within a shared workplace. This is especially true with those you are seen to be in authority over. As a business owner, I have recognized the challenge and the risk. But for me, the willingness to risk mentoring at work has benefited me with rich friendships that, in some cases, have outlasted the shared workplace.

In my experience, a mentoring relationship often grows out of a coaching one.

Coaching focuses on improving performance, and is therefore quite common in the marketplace. Mentorship, on the other hand, explores more personal aspects of life and tends to focus on developing character. For a successful move

Photo: Monkey Business on Adobe Stock

from coaching to mentoring, a few ingredients are key.

Compatibility is critical: ideally, both people should enjoy each other’s company. Reasonable access is also important.

Will both mentor and mentee value the relationship and make time for it? As the mentoring relationship deepens, a foundation of love for each other is established. Within an environment of safety, mentor and mentee can trust each other to respect confidentiality as they engage in open, honest, and at times, vulnerable conversation.

To give an example: a work colleague was struggling and their choices didn’t measure up with the requirements of the job. I also didn’t believe it was what they expected of themselves or would want for themselves if they took a step back to see what was going on. Parker Palmer, in a recent book of his called On the Brink of Everything — Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old suggests an approach to mentoring: “I ask questions in hope of evoking my friend’s inner teacher, the most reliable source of guidance anyone has.” I think most people want to serve authentically through their best self but the waters can get pretty murky and thus cloud the wisdom that lies inside. A question can nudge a person to that place of personal clarity. This may take some prodding, and also means listening to the person and not to our own expectations and preconceived ideas — as hard as that may be. In this case the person took ownership and embraced necessary growth, allowing great service to all from an authentic self. To this day, our friendship is very much intact.

Mentorship in the marketplace can be formalized, but need not be. At times I have established clear goals with a mentee — for example exploring a book that I have found helpful in my own life. But we often overlook the mentorship that is part of everyday life, and is available to giver and receiver if we are willing to engage daily.

As the founding president and principal owner of the Hallmark of Abbotsford, two eldercare communities, I had the incredible privilege of surrounding myself with years of accumulated wisdom — lives lived by people approaching the exit door of their time on earth. All I had to do was ask questions, and more importantly, listen with my heart.

An example: I asked a resident, who had lived what I would call quite a successful life, to define success for me. He provided a one-word answer: “Perseverance!” I suggested to him that perhaps what he meant was that perseverance was the way to success in life. He responded: “No, that is not what I am saying. Perseverance is success.” That has stuck with me since he shared that with me over fifteen years ago.

We had many conversations over his years at Hallmark, allowing me to glean from his wisdom and life.

Personally, I have found one of the best places to engage in a mentoring relationship is by going for a walk together — and have often done that in the context of the marketplace.

A walk, side by side, coffee cups in hand, no desk separating position or perceived status. Walking in a park, not the shopping mall, allowing the conversation to flow, with words and in silence. Walking provides a great opportunity for listening to one another, for thinking carefully even during the uncomfortable silences. And when the going gets tough in the conversation — just keep walking. I will often bring along a notebook and when the opportunity allows, I do make notes, explaining fully that I am doing so to help me collect my thoughts as I am hearing them and will repeat back to the person what I have heard them say. Often their own words repeated back to them can give them the insights that they were hoping for.

I certainly do not purport to be a specialist of any kind, let alone when it comes to the fascinating world of mentoring.

I confess to be a learner in all of life, grateful for the many teachers, many likely unknown to themselves as my mentor.

So I simply offer to you some thoughts on mentoring in the form of story — thoughts I hope will resonate with you and validate the many relationships you are blessed with and continue to explore.

And may we all — whether younger or older — accept the Apostle Paul’s challenge to his own mentee, Titus: teach others “to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely, [to] have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.” (Titus 2:2 NLT)

S TA N A N D G R AC E H IN D M A RSH have lived in Mt. Lehman BC for over 30 years. They founded the Hallmark of Abbotsford, two eldercare communities, 20 years ago, which contributed to a busy life while generating great friendships. They sold the company in 2017 but continue to maintain many of the relationships from those years. They have three married sons and nine grandchildren.

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BE ARCAT AT HLETIC S

BEARCAT HIGHLIGHT: ALY NURUDDIN We asked

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basketball player

ALY NURUDDIN

Aly Nuruddin

Co-Captain & Guard

to tell us about his experience being mentored as a member of Columbia’s Bearcat team.

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WHAT DOES MENTORSHIP MEAN TO YOU? "Mentorship for me, means a relationship. A relationship which fosters growth, development, and leadership. This is a relationship where we can be vulnerable and authentic.

What it means for me is having someone to grow and learn from, and who can guide me every step of the way.

As a young person, it’s helpful to have a mentor who cares about me and my growth and inspires me to become a better version of myself. In our busy world of work, school, family, friends, social media it’s incredibly rare to find a relationship where two people can meet and talk about passions and our development as Christians trying to fulfill God’s purpose for us in his Kingdom.”

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IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN MENTORED AT CBC? “At CBC, there is an opportunity to be mentored in every aspect of your college experience. As a player, I have been mentored by my coaches and the athletic staff. We continue to meet daily throughout the year to discuss goals, passions, and growth. They help me deal with any sort of hardship that I encounter, which allows me to focus on playing the game I love. Athlete mentorship here at CBC has helped me tremendously in my journey of being a faith-based student athlete. As a student, I have also been mentored by many of my teachers. Class sizes are small which allows teachers to get to know the person behind the student. Teachers will often meet outside the classroom to discuss growth, learning, next steps in life, and will even listen to your adversity and problems. They truly care about you as an individual, and it allows for students to grow in all areas of their life.”

HOW HAS YOUR MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE HELPED YOU TO GROW AS A PLAYER, LEADER, AND CHRISTIAN? “I believe that the biggest help that I have received from my mentorship experience is the understanding that I am human, and I will fail and make mistakes. I think we get caught up in trying to be the perfect player, or perfect leader, or perfect Christian, and we tend to forget that our failures will build us to be better in those areas. We grow when we fail, and we learn when we make mistakes. My mentors have helped me understand that it is okay to not be perfect. I can only strive to be the best version of myself.”

HOW HAS BEING A BEARCAT HELPED SHAPED YOUR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTORSHIP? “Being a Bearcat has helped me understand mentorship as a relationship in which we grow, learn, and develop together. We can never grow or learn too much. Growth and learning are part of a never-ending process and it shapes who we are. It has shaped my understanding of the true essence of a Bearcat and what it means to be Christ-centered and tenaciously competitive individuals. Understanding that the impact a Bearcat makes goes far beyond the doors of our gym and the size of our campus. We are more than just student-athletes and while sport is what we do, it’s not who we are.”

more than just players. I used some of the approaches that my mentors used with me and was able to be authentic and vulnerable with them.

The biggest takeaway from my experience in being mentored is that making an effort in getting to know their story will go a long away. In my experience of mentoring others, the first thing I do is get to know their story. I then ask them about their dreams and aspirations, and we look to grow towards those dreams daily.

The challenge of mentoring is finding the time to continue to meet when life gets busy, and so I have committed to taking in a small group of people to mentor so that I can continue to make time for them weekly.

I’m also using the lessons I’ve learned in my work as a high school basketball coach and trainer, and as a practicum student teacher in Langley. I have been blessed with great mentors and I hope to pass on this amazing knowledge to others.”

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT MENTORSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO PASS ON? “Wisdom and knowledge aren’t things that are supposed to be held forever but are to be spread and enjoyed. Mentorship is the key to learning those things. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my many mentors and all that they have taught me. Mentorship relationship makes an immense impact on both individuals, and helps them succeed in every aspect of their life.”

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN BEING MENTORED HELPED YOU NOW MENTOR OTHERS?

FROM ROD ADRIAN (CBC MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH)

“Through my experience this season of being a co-captain on the Men’s Basketball team, I was able to mentor our new and younger players in our program. I was able to foster a relationship based on openness and focus on our development and growth as people first, not just players. We are

"Aly is a collaborator and connector of people. I have witnessed his skills in working with others in positive ways as he brings value to conversations through exceptional listening skills. I see him as a connector bringing people together in a courteous and friendly way and he looks to bring the best out of people.”

Athletic Photos: Leslie & Grant Miller

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