The Beacon - March 2024

ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

by Abeni Knowles

LETTERS FROM OXFORD

by Alley MacDonald

CRANDALL THEATRE

by Suava Hoffman

T H E B E A C O N

CRANDALL ALUMNI: DORIS WAGNER

by Mari Kadri

If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is risen, nothing else matters.

— Jaroslav Pelikan

Editor-in-chief: Mari Kadri

Assistant Editor: Malcolm Ohlhauser

Beacon writing team: Alley MacDonald, Evan Carr, Abeni Knowles, Noah Miller, Suava Hoffman, Hayley Cook

Special thanks to the CSA

Front cover photo thanks to Abeni Reya

March 2024 Schedule

Women’s History Month

Crandall Memes

April 2024 Schedule

End of Undergraduate Semester

Would you like your Society’s event included in the monthly schedule? Make sure to let us know by the last Thursday of each month!

On Earth, As It Is In Heaven: The Side of the Gospel Most People Miss

by Abeni Knowles

‘Learn Where Heaven and Earth Overlap’ is, in my opinion, one of the best Bible Project videos that exist. I’m going to do my best to do it justice. Nonetheless, I recommend watching it for yourself. Let’s get into it.

Christians have a strange relationship with the Gospel of Jesus. Most of us have consciousness of the Gospel, but can struggle to articulate it should we have to on the spot. If we had to formulate a classic explanation of the gospel, it would look something like this: God created man. Man rebelled against God and brought sin into the world. God, in His love for us, sent His son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating the power of sin and death. Whoever believes in Him will be saved.

This gets a gold star from most people. And I don’t blame anyone for that - it’s a good explanation of the gospel. But, it’s missing the primary message Jesus preached during His ministry: the Kingdom. When Jesus was fresh out of the wilderness and began His ministry, He began to preach that “the kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (ref. Matthew 4:17). What is this kingdom and why did Jesus emphasize it so much?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (betcha didn’t know that). It was in Eden where both God and man dwelled with one another and the Kingdom of Heaven, and Earth, were unified. The fall of man and rise of sin tore apart this unity, and man was now disconnected from the whole presence of God. The only way in which we could access God was through sacrifice. His holiness demands that our sin be absorbed to enter into His presence. It was in the temple where we met God, and in the Holy of Holies where His presence would fall. This era of disconnection, legalism and religiosity was not enough to save us, and not what God intended for His creation. Enter, Jesus.

Jesus enters our broken space with the good news: that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. His words are backed up by His actions. As He moves through His ministry He brings signs of miracles, healing, and resurrection. Each encounter is a unification of the supernatural and natural, of heaven and of earth. In the end is the story we all know, that Christ was crucified, died, and rose from the dead. It is who puts their trust in Him that is forgiven and redeemed.

His death called for the absorption of our sins.

Our new life in Him makes us temples of the living God.

He is enough to save us, and enough to deliver us.

What’s my point? Deliverance is a two-destination matter. You don’t take a package from the manufacturer and leave it on the stoop. You take it to another location. Jesus didn’t come just to remove us from sin and its repercussions. He came to deliver us into the Kingdom of God.

As Christians, we can become complacent in knowing our eternity is secure. However, the gospel calls for us to move up, down and around - to do whatever God is calling us to do in order to bring the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, a walking testimony. You are full of potential to do all God is calling you to. Don’t just sit on that gold mine. Spread the gospel, spread the kingdom.

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

On Earth

As it is in Heaven.

Abeni is a 2nd Year Biblical Studies and Psychology Major. She thinks Easter deserves just as much street cred as Christmas

Crandall Theatre An Opportunity to Shine

Crandall Theatre

Crandall Theatre has provided students many excellent opportunities. Students of all ages, majors, and levels of experience can act in Crandall’s shows. People with interests in specific aspects of theatre, such as directing, stage managing, set design, and much more have the opportunity to learn from others and build their skills in a friendly, fun environment.

My Experience

This year, I was a part of Crandall Theatre’s production of Shake It Off: The Musical, a student-written- and- directed show full of memorable songs and fun choreography. The cast and crew were predominantly Crandall Students, and some alumni who taught the students skills in many different areas, including directing, stage managing, and much more. In this show, I played a character onstage, but I also was able to take on a new role offstage as Head of Costumes and Makeup. This was really exciting as it let me pursue my interest in fashion and design. Working with director Sophie Chase to envision the show’s costuming and fulfill our creative visions for the show was so fun and rewarding!

The Future of Crandall Theatre

Crandall Theatre may have finished this year’s production, but we have great plans in store for the future! Stay tuned on Crandall Theatre’s Instagram page, @crandalltheatre, for more photos of this year’s production, as well as any news that we might have!

If you are interested in Crandall Theatre, stay tuned for updates in the coming year about future productions!

Suava Hoffman is a second-year sociology and psychology student with a passion for anything that sparkles.

Crandall Theatre ‘24

Photo credits: Matt Cook

Crandall Theatre Shake it off: The Musical Review

This year’s Theatre production was an original play written and directed by Sophie Chase. The play is a musical and contrary to what the title may suggest, it is not about Taylor Swift!

Instead, the play centers on a glee club. The teacher, Mr Baylor (Abby Slipp and Sophie Chase), who gets his heart broken at the beginning of the play is convinced to start up a glee club to distract himself from the heartache. Joining him are students Star (Bella Able), Monica (Suava Hoffman), Michael (Henry Hol), Ty (Titus Eastwood), and Scarlett (Emily Britton).

There was a cute love story between Suava and Henry’s characters that provided one of the main conflicts for the plot. The two had good on-stage chemistry and made audiences invested in their love story.

Titus didn’t have many speaking lines, but when he did he stole the show. His musical numbers were so fun and you could really tell that everyone was enjoying themselves.

It’s no secret that Emily has an amazing voice. Her version of All Too Well was a standout number. The story of the song was told well through the use of dance, props, and lights.

Bella was playing Star, the play’s main antagonist. She did an incredible job of playing a wide range of emotions and selling the redemptive arch at the end. She had seemingly the most intense choreography, and absolutely slayed it.

Elisabeth had a one scene appearance as Star’s mother, in which she delivered a touching rendition of Don't you ever grow up.

Opening night of the show, the understudy, Sophie Chase, had to take on the character of the Teacher. But for Saturday and Sunday Abby Slip was able to reprise her roll, so we got two different versions of the Teacher. Both actors had their charms when playing him, and it was a treat to be able to see both versions of the character!

Crandall Theatre Variety Show

MCs and Comedy Trio

The Beacon’s own Malcolm Ohlhauser along with Henry Hol and Titus Eastwood hosted the Variety Show portion of the night and preformed a number of comedy skits. They included audience participation and even got some profs in on the fun!

Solo Dance

Poetry Reading

Elisha Reimer read a selection of original poems. The poem entitled “My Dog” was a personal favorite due to the poignant themes and highly rhythmic execution.

Kayla Phillips danced a hauntingly beautiful solo dance entitled “Wake me Up.”

Graduate Students

Several Graduate students also took part in the variety show! Each night, audiences were treated to a beautiful performance of a traditional Iranian stringed instrument.

On Friday night only, there was a special Bollywood mashup dance.

Photo credits: Matt Cook

Crandall Theatre Variety Show

Crandall Dance Team

Crandall Dance Team, founded this year, launched into the spotlight this February at a Chargers basketball halftime with our first-ever performance! Since then, Crandall Dance Team has had two more performances in Crandall Theatre’s variety show. We are currently working on new choreography and hoping to end this semester with something fresh and fun!

We have high hopes for the future, so make sure you keep an eye out for news regarding future auditions, performances, and more. Tune in to our Instagram, @crandalldance team for updates, videos of our past shows, and sneak peaks of future performances!

Next year, you can expect to see Crandall Dance Team at many more halftime shows. We are also hoping to expand our team, try more styles of dance, and have a variety of performances. We can’t wait to see where Crandall Dance Team goes!

Photo credits: Matt Cook

Letters from Oxford: March 8, 2024

by Alley MacDonald

Dear Crandall,

Our amazing adventures in Oxford continue! With this letter, I thought I’d include a list of the top ten things I’ve learned since arriving in the UK in case you ever find yourself here and in need of some helpful tips:

1. Be sure to ask for the rubbish bin, not the trash can.

2. Do NOT approach the swans.

3. Sticky toffee pudding is the pinnacle of human achievement.

4. When riding through the Cotswolds on a double decker bus, keep a firm grip on your seat.

5. Calling Shakespeare “Shakey” makes class discussions ten times more fun.

6. A nice cuppa goes particularly well with oatmeal biscuits.

7. Take every opportunity to get lost in a library.

8. If someone holds the door for you, respond with, “Aw, cheers, mate!”

9. Do not be concerned if you find yourself in the middle of the English Civil War. It is most likely a reenactment as opposed to time travel.

10. Dreams really can come true!

We’ve entered the second term of the programme and are excited to be back in Oxford after the midterm break! Students in our group took the opportunity to travel all over Europe during our reading week, from Rome to Germany to London to Scotland. We all had amazing adventures (and misadventures!) and are now getting back into the scholarly swing of things. Our current courses are focusing on Shakespeare’s late plays and histories, as well as Victorian and modern drama. We’re especially excited for our upcoming trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we’ll be able to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and experience a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Spring seems to have officially arrived in Oxfordshire, with magnolia trees blooming and lots of birds singing. It’s especially lovely to see the fields of sheep from the train windows and the birds in the spires of the colleges and churches. Though we all seem to be missing snow just a little bit, we’re super grateful for the lack of driveway shovelling and window scraping here ;)

Micayla, Elizabeth, and Alley in Scotland over the midterm break!

One of our recent highlights was attending Formal Hall at Regent’s Park College (kind of like Academic Chapel but with food!). We enjoyed a threecourse meal with the college’s students and faculty in the candlelit Helwys Hall. My favourite part was the mushy peas, a British classic!

An exciting event that is fast approaching is our drama practicum! For the last week of the programme, we’ll be practicing and performing Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It for the residents of Charlbury. Wish us luck!

As we head into the last few weeks of the programme, we would so appreciate your prayers for energy and joy with both our studies and experiences! And we’ll be praying for you as you enter the final weeks of the semester!

Sincerely, Alley

Alley is a third-year history major If you don’t see her around Crandall this fall, she has most likely permanently moved into Blackwell’s Bookshop

Four Years Later: March 13, 2020

Do you remember where you were?

It is an interesting coincidence that this issue of the Beacon is being published on this date - exactly four years after New Brunswick first went into lockdown - it’s hard to believe it’s already been four years.

I remember where I was when I heard we were going into lock-down.

For many of us, Covid had a profound impact on our day-to-day lives and our experience of the world on wider scale.

At times throughout Covid, it felt like it would never end. The phrase “new normal“ was anything but comforting. The fact of the matter is it happened; it changed us and the world we live in.

But even when it seemed hopeless, it wasn‘t the end.

The Case for the Resurrection

by Evan Carr

The Church declares on Easter morning, He is risen …. He is risen indeed!

Easter is early this year, and it is just around the corner. For Christians, Easter is foundational to our faith since it commemorates and celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 15, The Apostle Paul says that the resurrection is of utmost importance to Christianity. In fact, if there was no resurrection, Christians should be the most pitied because their faith would be futile, they would be unforgiven, and there would be no hope after death (vv. 14-19). Yet Christianity is predicated on the hope of a tomorrow. So what historical facts exist that support the claim of the resurrection?

Firstly, the composition date of the New Testament is significant. Most ancient accounts like the biography of Alexander the Great or Homer’s Iliad were written centuries after the original work or the original historical event – lots of time for witnesses to die off and legend to grow.

However, many scholars affirm that the entire New Testament, was completed before and by AD 100, and some were written much earlier. There is even evidence that Mark’s passion narrative was written before AD 37. It would be unprecedented for legend to distort an account as early as this.1 Keep in mind the eyewitnesses (both skeptic and believer) would have been alive at this point. Even more, the creed recited by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 was likely composed only a few years after Jesus’ crucifixion and delivered to Paul in Damascus or Jerusalem.1 This, again, is huge in terms of ancient historical accounts.

Secondly, the account of the resurrection in the Gospels have embarrassing content. It typically wouldn’t occur to someone making up a myth to include central details that would be scoffed at by readers. For instance, we see that women are the ones to discover the empty tomb while the men were scattered in fear (Matthew 26:56; 28; John 20:19). In first century Israel, the testimony of women was viewed as so worthless that they weren’t allowed to testify in court.[1] So to make up a resurrection hoax featuring men in hiding and women the initial discoverers would be unbelievable to readers. This indicates, therefore, that this account is true.

Further, the claim of the empty tomb itself is a strong piece of evidence. If the claim was false, people would point to the body in the tomb. However, both the skeptics and believers affirmed an empty tomb.1 If the body was stolen, as the authorities claimed, people would have eventually found it and could display it (Matthew 28:11-15). But this also does not happen, indicating that the account of the disciples is true.

Finally, the transformation of the disciples is important to consider. When Jesus is arrested, the disciples flee (Matthew 26:56). The cause was dead. They didn’t want to get in trouble with the authorities so much to the point that Peter denies Jesus three times (e.g., Luke 22:54-65).

However, within a matter of weeks we see the disciples, formally frozen in fear, boldly proclaiming the gospel in articulate and bold ways that impressed even the religious leaders (Acts 2; 4:13). Would people die for something that they completely made up? Therefore, the change from fear to boldness in the followers of Jesus demonstrates that Jesus rose from the dead and is continuing to transform lives today.

So we can celebrate Easter knowing with confidence that Jesus did rise from the dead. This means that there is life after death, hope of a resurrection, and hope of salvation. All we have to do is believe that he died for our sins and rose from the dead, confess our sins and repent, and receive his forgiveness (e.g., 1 John 1:9; Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Acts 2:37-38; Romans 10:9-11; Ephesians 2). It is the greatest (true) story ever told. How has Jesus’ resurrection changed your life?

To learn more about evidence for Jesus, his death, and resurrection, come to Ratio Christi and visit our website: https://ratiochristi.org/. We meet Mondays at 11:30 am and Thursdays at 6:00 pm in SH 218. On March 28 at 6:00 pm in SH 218, we have our last prof talk of the year featuring Dr. Bruce Fawcett. Make sure to attend and hear what he has to say!

[1] Strobel, L. 2016. The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation for the Evidence of Jesus. Grand Rapids. Zondervan. Pp. 308, 321; 324-325.

Evan Carr is a third year Science student who is looking forward to Spring.

Doris Wagner: A Part of Crandall’s History

by Mari Kadri

With this month being Women’s History Month, it seems fitting to share the story of Doris Wagner.

Doris was one of the first people to attend Crandall University - which at the time was called the United Baptist Bible Training School (UBBTS for short) - 75 years ago. Doris originally from Yarmouth, set out for Moncton on September 27, 1949 with the hope to “upgrade [her] education.” She had had to drop out of high school after completing grade 10 to help her father with their family restaurant. Now, seven years later after leaving school, her family restaurant had been sold and there was nothing standing in the way of her education.

Upon her arrival to Moncton, she was met at the train station by Rev. Brinton (yes, as in Brinton Auditorium), who was the first principal of the school.

The first class of students was quite a bit smaller than we are use to - nines students in total made up the class. The school at that time was quite small, but after all, it was the institution’s first year! In fact, to show just how new the school really was, Doris recounted that the first three days of classes were held at First Baptist Church in downtown Moncton because the paint in the new UBBTS building had yet to dry.

In that first UBBTS building, there were not classrooms like we have now: “All classes were held at the school, in the big dinning room, next to the kitchen. It was a multipurpose room for just about everything. It was dining room, class room, chapel, choir or group singing as well as for some sports such as ping pong on the big table.” (Editor’s note: we don’t recommend that you follow after their footsteps and play ping pong in the cafeteria!)

Despite it being 75 years ago, some things don’t change that much. Doris recounted several instances from her years at UBBTS that could have very well happened today at Crandall. From laughing fits in dorm room, to her friends giving her a random nickname of “George” with no explanation. She also recounted a time she and some friends were walking in the woods out back of the school, only for her to step on an ant hill!

She also recounted several extra-curricular activities that she was involved in, which included Student Council, Yearbook, Choir, and even the School Newspaper - the Beacon!

Doris Wagner’s graduation photo

Doris told of the first graduation at UBBTS - the first graduate of the school was Jean Betts: "Jean had already completed high school, so only had to take the two year course,” Doris explained. “This was history - graduating at First Baptist Church in Moncton."

Even in the beginning year of the then UBBTS there was growth. The school that began with nine students in the first semester, would grow to 60 students by the beginning of Doris’ third year. For context, Crandall will have a projected 1,800 students next Fall.

“This experience of being a pioneer student during the beginning of our Bible school was a time of testing, growing, and learning together, and the future of U.B.B.T.S. would be determined largely [by] how we the first students conducted ourselves, at school, in the community, and where we would serve in summer ministry.” - Doris Wagner

Doris herself would go on to graduate on May 30, 1952 amid excitement and nervousness.

Doris reflected on her time at UBBTS, saying, “I arrived with two suitcases and a box of bedding. Now I was leaving with a new trunk, to take all my books, notes after three years. Now began a new chapter in my life - where would God lead me!"

Doris’ journal of her time at Crandall is a fascinating account of her time here. It connects us with the past of our school and those who came before us.

If you would like to know more about Doris’ story, you can read excerpts from her journal, which was donated to Crandall, in Faith and Education: A History of Crandall University by Bruce Fawcett and Gilda Ryder.

Mari Kadri is a fourth-year English major with a not-so-secret passion for history

a place for remembering

The Year Before

by Bekah Swanson

The year before, before it all,

Was one we spent with friends.

Was full of fun and travelling...

We never dreamed of ends

Each day was still a day

Each night was still as long

Each moment still a blessing

Each choice could still go wrong

The year before was bright

With laughter and surprise

The year before was so much more...

A feast to hindsight’s eyes

Yes, “before” was very different

Things have changed quite a lot

But beneath the change that we can see

We can still have what’s sought

With freedom, love, and happiness, Peace, and future “sure”

We lived each day without a thought

That year would be “before”

The giggles and the laughs

The hugs with loved ones dear

The moments of uncertainty

Sprinkled through each passing year

But perhaps we’ve all been blinded

Spotting phantoms of what “was”

When, what was, is not so gone

Because... Beneath the buzz...

So be thankful for the “after”

Find the joy despite the tears

Cause, you never know when the days you’re in

Become the “before years”

a place for hope

At the Foot of the Cross

by Elisha Reimer

At the foot of the cross

I lay my heart down

Broken and weary

And not sure of what I've found

Filled with pain

And fear within

But I needed a savior

And that's when I saw him

At the foot of the manger

I hear a baby cry

Hungry with tears in his eyes

I wasn't expecting

Something quite this small

But I needed a savior

And he knew his call

At the foot of the boy

The adults gather round

In awe of the wisdom they had found

So much knowledge

For someone so young

But I needed a savior

And he knew why he had come

At the foot of the master

The crowds gather around

Hungry and yearning

For the words they had found

Words of Hope

And words of peace

Well how was I to know

That they would set me free

At the foot of the cross

I lay my heart down

Broken and weary

And not sure of what I've found

Filled with pain

And fear within

But I needed a savior

And that's when I saw him

At the foot of the throne

I can barely stand

So I fall to my knees

And raise my hands

I lift my voice and worship

And worship the king

Because that's who he is

And he died for me

a place for reflection

Easter Sunday

by Anonymous

In the past, holidays were a dreaded day

Filled with shouts and filled with uncertainty

The expected outcome was always a shock to me

I hoped year after year that things would change

Year after year, things remained the same

I dreamed of peace, I dreamed of happiness

Though out of reach

I dreamed of joy, I dreamed of kindness

Fast-forward to another dreaded holiday

But this time with a new family

The difference was miles away

An unexpected outcome was my new reality

A dream I never thought would be fulfilled Came into being

For the first time I experienced true family

I want to feel that again

The feeling of home, of love, and peace

I’m afraid it was a fleeting feeling that will disappear

Left in only my memory, year after year

I don’t want to go back to when this was just a dream

Because it is so much better in reality

“You’re family now, you can’t get rid of us that easily.”

Good, because I don’t ever want to lose the family

That I gained through Calvary