"A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."
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October 2024 Schedule Crandall Memes
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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!
Cast a Ballot, Change the World
Evan Carr
October 21st is New Brunswick’s Election Day! Maybe you don’t care. Like, not at all. I get it.
The political stage seems more polarized than ever. The left is attacking the right, and vice versa. The right accuses the left of radical, woke policies that have led to economic and social instability, while the left contends that the right are backwards-thinking misogynists.
This divisive and nasty arena has repulsed many Christians from politics. In fact, Lifeway research found that in 2024, 23% of American pastors refused to disclose who they will vote for compared to 4% in 2020 and 3% in 2016 (1). In other words, they are less excited about politics.
In Canada, our political stage may be less controversial, but it is still polarizing. Many Christians will have nothing to do with politics, and if it is brought up, they sharply and shortly avoid it, or in the words of theologian Wayne Grudem, they cry, “Do Evangelism, Not Politics” (2). Conversely, others see it as a means to implement and uphold Christian values and freedoms in order to propagate shalom in the world.
Whether we like it or not, politics are integral to our everyday lives, whether it be a trip to the grocery store, gas station, hospital, or university. Politics run our country, and it starts with you and me. We need to be involved in politics as Christians, and I will skim the surface of that claim in what little room I have.
First, the Bible has several examples and principals relating to government.
The Old Testament and New Testament alike promote social and political justice. Micah pleads with the people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Jesus echoes these values. He tells us to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s (Matt. 22:19-21). Government was created and ordained by God (Romans 13:1-7). Since we are stewards of the world, we need to be good stewards of our nation by supporting those who uphold Christian values, and we need to speak out. In fact, complacency is not admired in Scripture. It was a major reason why Israel fell (Zep. 1:12).
There are also many people in the Bible who used their political influence for God’s glory, justice and goodness—read about Esther, Daniel, David, Joseph, Nehemiah, etc. Think about Martin Luther King Jr., William Wilberforce (abolitionist and member of British Parliament), and Bonhoeffer. C. S. Lewis was politically minded (3), and a Crandall alumnus (who happens to be a Christian who holds Christian values) was even premier for a term. You don’t have to be a “somebody” to get involved. It starts with us, the people.
Of course, there is no perfect politician, but usually (or sometimes) there is someone who shares values closer to us than others. If not, maybe you can be the change and enter politics if God so calls you.
Speaking of being the change, politics are integral to Christian life. It was Christians who lobbied for the end to the slave trade. In fact, one bishop claims that “if the abolition of slavery had been left to enlightened secularists in the eighteenth century, we would still be waiting” (4).
The moral and ethical values of the West, though fading, are remnants of a Judeo-Christian foundation. There are many other things in history that Christians spoke out against—getting involved politically/socially—and it led to significant changes that we now enjoy.
You may argue that since we are foreigners in the land (Hebrews 11:9-10, 13, 16), what’s the point? This is a valid concern, as 1 Peter 2:11 states that we are indeed sojourners and exiles. However, Augustine reminds us that we are residents of both the “City of Man” and the “City of God” (2).
While we sojourn here, we need to be conscious, not complacent, about politics and policies. In doing so, we, like our Christian ancestors, can speak up and create lasting change that will benefit others, consequently propagating shalom. It is the voice of the Church that will bring light and life to the ends of the earth. Are you up to the task? It starts with casting your ballot on October 21st.
By the way, if you want to get news from a balanced Christian perspective to familiarize yourself with major issues, get the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) App. It’s free!
Find the nearest voting station to place your vote!
3 Schrivener, Glen. 2022. The Air We Breathe. The Good Book Company. P. 155. 4. Evan Carr is a fourth year Biology major who enjoys reading about and listening to political and social issues through a biblical lens. He is also a member of a certain provincial political party…(ask me later��).
Hallowell, Billy. 2024. Surprising Presidential Election Shift Among Christian Pastors Exposes Tragic Truth About Today’s Politics. CBN News. Retrieved from App.
1. Closson, David. 2020. Politics: How involved should Christians be? Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.billygraham.ca/stories/politics-how-involved-should-christians-be/ 2. Scheiderer, Tim. 2018. Lewis and Politics. The Official Website of C. S. Lewis. Retrieved from: https://www.cslewis.com/lewis-and-politics/
Fall Semester Bucket List
Amy Dykeman
If you’re reading this, then congratulations! You’ve survived (at least) one month at Crandall! Now that you’re in the swing of things, whether it’s your first year or you’re a returning student, here’s a bucket list of sorts to help you get the most out of the fall semester.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CSA EVENTS! Did you enjoy the Welcome Week events? Yeah you did! Don’t worry, there’s a lot more where those came from. Make sure you follow @crandallcsa on Instagram for more specific details!
MAKE STUDY GROUPS! Midterms start a lot sooner than you’d think. Chances are you’ve already talked to some of your classmates, so why not ask some friends to hang out and study? The sooner you get into the habit, the fewer tears you’ll cry mid-October.
FIND A MENTORING GROUP! Looking for something to fill that free space in your schedule on Monday between 11:30 and 12:15? Crandall offers a variety of mentoring groups, each with their own area of focus and a common goal to foster spiritual discussions.
EXPLORE THE TRAILS! The forest trails are now marked with colorful signs courtesy of Crandall’s Biology students. You can find a map by scanning the QR codes at the marked entrances or by checking out @crandallbiology on Instagram! We recommend you do this with a friend or five.
GO TO CHAPEL! Brinton Auditorium is newly renovated, the worship team is phenomenal, and (most importantly) the room is filled with students, staff, and faculty encountering the Holy Spirit. Let chapel be a break in your busy day to connect with God. International Chapel also happens on Friday from 12:30 to 1:00 in MacArthur Chapel.
VISIT YOUR PROFS! Go get those syllabi that have probably been buried beneath newly accumulated notes and textbooks and check out when your professors have their office hours. Your teachers want to connect with you, so don’t be scared to drop in with some questions!
EXPLORE CAMPUS! This is especially for new students. Take some time just to wander the halls, or set up a scavenger hunt for you and your friends! Some notable or fun locations to find would be the Fitness Center, the Prayer Room, the CSA Office, and MacArthur Chapel. Good luck!
PICKLEBALL! Whether you’re an experienced athlete or a total newbie, Pickleball is a great way to get some exercise and connect with students and staff. Head to the gym at 2:00 on any given Friday and give it a shot!
Amy Dykeman is a third-year psychology major who’s in her second year at Crandall but on her fourth year of university overall, so she’s really not sure how to define things anymore.
Crandall 75
Suava Hoffman
This year, Crandall celebrated its 75th birthday! The Crandall community celebrated this momentous occasion with a variety of activities over a weekend in September, including reunions and exciting announcements.
On September 20th, Crandall hosted an anniversary gala with nearly four hundred guests attending the celebration. Crandall’s president, Dr. Fawcett, shared a few words about Crandall’s mission to serve the community, how the school has responded to the growing need for people in the workforce, and the importance of education. Chancellor Simmonds reported on the school’s past seventy-five years, highlighting the school’s defining moments throughout its history and discussing the school’s way of preparing students for their own personal defining moments.
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to alumni and members of the Crandall community, with activities such as a barbeque, reunions, and more.
Most exciting for current students, however, were the announcements made over the weekend: a renovation and refreshment of Colburne House. Announced by Dr. Fawcett, this update to the dorms will be the next big project the university is tackling. More information about this renovation will be available soon!
Featuring Parker Steeves
Wednesday, November 6th
Suava Hoffman is a third-year sociology student who loves chai lattes, books, and fall weather.
Our Camp Experience
Henry Hol
When I (Henry) was asked to write this, I tried thinking of one word to summarize the summer.
But that’s impossible with so many different emotions and events that take place at camp. After putting more thought into it, I thought of these three words: fun, exhausting, and rewarding.
However, before I jump any further into the grand adventure that we had, I should give some context. Alia, Bryce, Emily, Benson, and I were hired by Crandall to lead worship for nine different camps over the summer, as well as to help wherever we could.
After only a week and a half of training, we jumped right into the maritime camp tour. The nine camps we went to were (in this order) Wildwood, Pagweak, Tulakadik, Malagash, Seggie, Snider Mountain, Shiktehawk, Bayside, and Kingswood.
Through the goodness of God, our camp experience was nothing short of transformative. Each camp we visited had a unique charm and community spirit, and we were welcomed with open arms. Most camps even went a step further to bless us by going out of their way to get to know us. This broke the barrier and helped us feel like a part of their team.
From lively campfires to quiet moments of reflection, our music seemed to resonate deeply with everyone we encountered. But music wasn’t even half of what we did over the course of the weeks at camp. We had the opportunity to bless the staff by helping with dishes, maintenance, leading games, or even just being involved with the campers.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. We faced our share of challenges—long drives, lots of practices, and the occasional equipment hiccup. But God met us in these obstacles, which strengthened our bond as a team and deepened our appreciation for the work we were doing.
There were times when we were all exhausted during the long, hot days. Frustration was shown, but the Lord took what we had and multiplied it, always ending the night with songs of praise and joy-filled worship.
One of the highlights was seeing how our music could uplift and inspire. It was amazing to witness the joy and connection that our worship sets brought to the campers and staff. Each song and each interaction reminded us of the power of music in worship and community.
The speakers were blessed by the Lord with incredible messages to share with the campers, and it was through the work of God that the campers were brought into chapel to hear a message they needed and to worship with the songs they needed.
As we wrap up this summer adventure, we carry with us not just memories of beautiful moments, but also a renewed sense of purpose and friendship. We’re grateful for the support from Crandall University and for the chance to serve in such a meaningful way. This job is full of character-building, life-changing moments, and inspires minds that long to worship the Lord.
Here’s to the memories made, the friendships forged, and the faith renewed. We look forward to sharing more of these experiences with our Crandall family and continuing our journey of growth and service. And lastly, we thank the Lord who gave us this blessing to help others and ourselves grow closer to him.
Sincerely,
The Crandall Camp Band (AKA The Rolling Tombstones)
Photo courtesy of @crandallchapel
Mascot Memories: A History of Charlie the Charger
Alley MacDonald
Welcome to a two-part series on the history of Crandall’s mascots! This month, we’ll be taking a look at the origins of Charlie the Charger. How did we become the Crandall Chargers, and not, say, the Crandall Crabs? Let’s look at some not-so-ancient history and find out!
In early 2010, Crandall was in the midst of several significant changes. In addition to the Stultz Hall building project, the school had just changed its name from Atlantic Baptist University to Crandall University and wanted to update the sports teams accordingly.
Four main criteria defined the search for a new name: strength, marketability, regional uniqueness, and alignment with Christian values. Several options were proposed, from the Crandall Saints— featuring a Saint Bernard dog as the mascot—to the Crandall Colts. The image of a horse caught on, and on May 25th, Athletics Director Will Njoku proposed “Charger.”
“A Charger is a strong, swift horse ridden into battle,” he explained. “Charger also refers to electricity/energy/power (our colours and the energy of a horse moving forward exemplify this).” He continued, “The name also elevates the connection to ‘discipline-intensity-unity’…I believe we have a winner this time.”
Success! The Athletics Rebrand Committee adopted the name, and it seemed only natural that the mascot be a horse. Charlie the Charger was born!
Interestingly, at the very same time that Athletics was exploring new name options, another committee was hard at work preparing a Coat of Arms for the university. Traditionally, a Coat of Arms has two supporters, one on either side of the shield. The supporters are often animals such as lions, griffins, or stags. But the Coat of Arms Committee decided on…a horse!
Specifically, the committee decided to use a light draft horse known as a “Canadian.” According to Herb Keirstead, this is the breed that Joseph Crandall himself likely rode as an itinerant preacher, travelling around New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Though Charlie isn’t explicitly linked to Crandall’s Coat of Arms, its symbolism provides him with an interesting connection to history.
Keep an eye out for the second part of Mascot Memories in next month’s edition of The Beacon. We’ll be introducing a rather unofficial mascot, not quite as recognizable as Charlie but just as iconic for students of the late 1990s…
Special thanks to Professor Robert MacDonald for his assistance with the research for this article!
Alley is a fourth-year history major who once spent three months with an assortment of hedgehogs for roommates.
SHALLNOT A place for creativity
Where Jordan Meets Me/Psalms 77
by Abeni Knowles
Consume me like the mouth of Jordan does the Sea And tell me that you’ll teach me to love And to live a life that displays its truth Where Jordan meets the skin I pray for mercy, you’ll meet my heart Where I am in the water Please: take me farther in the stride of the sea
Calm what wind has made me cold Cover what the rain seeks Skin from spirit like Waters from waters Divide me like You did in the beginning I see with the eyes opened; freed That that nature hunkers me down And puts me in the deep. From wave to wave I walk From day to day I remember You who went before me
Northrop Frye
by Elisha Reimer
Northrop Frye
Was a Moncton guy And a man of strong belief
He had a theory
That feels quite eerie But I'll keep the explanation brief
About literary styles
He gives them profiles Based on each season's feel
Comedy with spring Summer is about romancing Warm weather is the thought ideal
Tragedy comes to Autumn Meaning Winter is not rock-bottom Rather it is satire’s very beginning
I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; I will certainly remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work, And on Your deeds with thanksgiving. Your way, God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples By Your power You have redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph Selah
The waters saw You, God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The ocean depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sounded out; Your arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints were not known. You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
As it's fall I thought above-all I’d start where leaves are spinning
So keep an eye
As each month passes by On the overarching theme
Because it will all make sense And give some suspense To the world of Crandall's academe
