The Open Bible Bulletin - March, 2023

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MIKE GRANT March 5 Fosterville Baptist Church Fosterville, NB Sunday Service

Births October 3, 2022 - to Moriah (Mohl, Assoc. ’15) and Joseph Weeks, a daughter, Lois Joy. December 3, 2022 - adopted by Natalie Hart (’01), a daughter, Komai Sunil Ruth.

January 13, 2023 - to Benaiah (Assoc. ’20) and Shannon (Willigar, ’20) Said, a son, Ryker James.

Homegoings Pamela (Greene) Dawes, NBBI graduate of 1968, was promoted to Glory on November 8, 2022. Pray for her husband Ernest, their children Jennifer (Kevin) Kinney and Matt (Brandi) Dawes, and their extended families.

Thetis Anna (Peterson) Scott, NBBI graduate of 1961, was promoted to Glory on December 11, 2022. Pray for her children, Stuart and Sondra.

Joyce E. (Fillmore) Lambertson, NBBI graduate of 1959, was promoted to Glory on December 30, 2022. Pray for her husband Milton, and children, Daniel (Selena) Lambertson and Kimberly (Mark Wandel, and their extended families.

VOL. 64 NO. 03 MARCH 2023

Have you ever pondered the thought that God wants you to enjoy Him? But in order to enjoy God we must first know God. In fact, the sharper your understanding of God is the deeper your joy in Him will become. This is why we challenge you to consider giving at least one year of your life to studying God’s Word at NBBI. NBBI will help you gain a firmer foundation in your faith, and give you a proper focus for your future. Why not visit our campus and learn what being a student at NBBI looks like?

H. Elaine VacationVision (Brownrigg) Clark with a

Are you looking for a summer home missions’ opportunity? Look no further than NBBI. Whether you are an individual, family or church group, we would love to have you join us for Vacation with a Vision 2023. The summer months provide us with an opportunity to get various projects done on our campus. Regardless of your skill level, we can use your help. We will feed you, give you accommodations, provide opportunities for fellowship and put you to work. There is no cost on your end, just the sacrifice of your time and talents. Whether you can come for a day or a week, we invite you to partner with the ministry of NBBI in this practical way. Check for further details in the next issue of the Open Bible Bulletin.

Angeline (Angie Ashley) Henderson, NBBI graduate of 1955, was promoted to Glory on January 1, 2023. Pray for her daughter Jane (Keith).

New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB Canada E7P 1C7 Phone: (506)375-9000 Fax: (506)375-1800 Website: nbbi.ca Email: nbbi@nbbi.ca

CHAPEL SPEAKERS

Editor................................................. Larry Rushton Writers.............Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni Typist................................................. Brenda Cabral Layout & design...........................................Larry Rushton Copy proof..............................................Rose Meed Printer.................................................Merritt Press

March 22.................................Merla Gogel SEND International 4

April 6-8, 2023

2023

December 19, 2022 - to Joseph (ABM/ B.Th. ’19) and Ali (Morin, ABM/B.Th. ’19) Fellows, a son, Edmund Ulrich.

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For weekly updates visit us at nbbi.ca/connect

May 25, 1931 - January 19, 2023

FOCUS

BY KEITH MCMAHON God Sees What We Can’t It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of H. Elaine (Brownrigg) Clark of Woodstock, N. B. at the Upper River Valley Hospital on January 19, 2023. Elaine was a long-time friend of New Brunswick Bible Institute and the loving wife of the late Carl F. Clark who had served for several years as a board member here at NBBI. Elaine’s father, the late W. S. Brownrigg, also served as an NBBI board member.

PARTNER WITH US

nbbi.ca/donate

Give online: Click the Donate Now button. Make a one-time gift or choose the recurring option for automatic monthly support.

Give by mail: Send your cheque payable to: New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S. Donors: East Hodgdon Bible Church Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828 Give by e-transfer: Send an e-Transfer via the bank of your choice to nbbibusiness@gmail.com.

For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224).

Recently I purchased some new headlight bulbs for our vehicle. As well, I had the exterior surface of the headlights restored. I was pleased with how the new bulbs and restoration helped. The nights are still dark, but the way forward is a little clearer.

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March 24-26 Mennonite Annual Missions Conference LaCrete, AB Missions Conference

ollege for a

The Lord knows the great value that His light brings to His people. In Isaiah 50, the prophet prophetically described the obedience and trust that God’s Servant (our Lord Jesus) would demonstrate towards His Father in going to the cross.

It is with the Servant’s obedience in mind that the prophet then speaks of a great hope and a great warning to the people of Israel, and indeed to all people. In verses 10-11, Isaiah declares that for those who have been fearing the Lord and have been obedient to Him, though there may be times of darkness (specifically their looming exile in Babylon) ahead for them, their God would provide light. This light is available for all who trust in the Lord and lean upon Him. Life isn’t always easy and, in times of darkness, it’s not always easy to

see our way forward. But, our Lord invites us to trust Him in the darkness and to lean on Him for comfort and guidance. This is the privilege of the believer. Yet in this passage, God makes it clear that those who decide to walk in their own light, the light of their making - they will lie down in sorrow.

God consistently speaks of His willingness to light the way through the darkness for those who will trust Him. This is not hard for Him. Psalm 139:12 tells us that the darkness and the light are both alike to God. This, of course, speaks of His omniscient discernment. Nothing confuses Him. Not so with us. We sometimes find ourselves in very confusing and challenging situations. Look at what He promised Israel: “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 Like Israel, we also need His guidance in those times when we can’t see the way forward. We need His light in our darkness.

Of course, His light comes to us by way of His Word. Notice David’s understanding of this: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and

BULLETIN

a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.

“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust him.” Psalm 18:28,30.

His Word will show us the way ahead, even in our darkest moments.

This new book by David Doherty deals with the question, “Did Jesus Die For You?” It is available from the Open Bible Bookstore for $11.36 CAD. Order your copy by calling (506) 375-2251 or emailing us at bookstore@nbbi. ca.

“I highly commend this Christ-honoring treatise to all readers.” ~ Eugene H. Merrill, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary 1

FIELD TRIP

PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY MIKE GRANT

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

Greater Things Are Coming 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.

In this prodigious passage of Scripture comes a profound truth that packs a powerful punch. Paul dares suggest to his readers that our earthly trials are “light afflictions”. This conclusion goes contrary to human intuition by suggesting that life’s struggles are momentary, easy to bear, insignificant things. But wait a second!

Does this sound right? Most fair-minded believers would respond, “How can Paul be so dismissive of the deep struggles of our human experience?” It must be noted that Paul is comparing life struggles through an eternal perspective. He says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the

things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

(Emphasis mine).

Snuggled into this rich passage is a life-altering thought. Not only are this life’s trials small but they are working in us something so deeply profound, an “…eternal weight of glory.” What is this “weight” of glory? Have you ever heard someone say of another person whose body has been beaten down by sickness, disease etc, “That person is a shadow of their former self.” Well in a real sense our current experience, life and even body are a shadow of our future selves. What is in store for us some day is so much more “weightier” than we could ever imagine.

The word “weight” suggests that which is out of all portion, exceeds all limits and beyond the possibility of being exagger-

NBBI has been privileged to host annual teen retreats on our campus for many years. Thousands of teens have been a part of the retreats and many lives have been changed. Our retreats are more than just great games, delicious food and non-stop fun. We provide an opportunity for teenagers to meet with God in a life-altering way. Don’t miss out on the chance to join us on March 31-April 2, 2023. You can find more information on our website at nbbi.ca/encounter

Speaker

Brent Finchum Brent Finchum is the South-East Regional Coordinator for Word of Life. He and his wife Stacy, and their four children live in Birmingham, Alabama. Through his ministry, he is involved in training ministry leaders and helping them implement strategic, discipleship efforts within their local church. Brent also leads a team of ministry coaches serving alongside local 2

God Is Still Working

ated. What Paul is saying is that it is impossible to overstate or exaggerate this theological truth. Our new “weight of glory” will be an existence patterned after the resurrected body of Jesus Christ.

Some day when you stand in the presence of God you will be more “You” than you ever dreamed possible. The powerful and suppressing weight of sin (Romans 5:12) has been replaced with a weight of glory.

Imagine it. Every blow you experience in this life is a building block for the next (2 Corinthians 4:16).

No wonder Paul said to the believers in Philippi, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.

NBBI

2023 Youth Retreat March 31-April 2

This year has had its ups and downs regarding mission trips. It has been customary for NBBI to send at least one team out on a mission trip each year during March break. Naturally, that halted during the pandemic. Ever since things returned to normal, I began praying and planning for a March trip. A few options were on the table but, one by one, those doors closed. Then we began pursuing a return trip to Ethiopia. However, it seems that it is not the Lord’s timing to go right now. Lord willing, we will be able to go next year in March. We covet your prayers in this.

In the meantime, the Lord allows us to play a supporting role in missions from here. Every Monday, the NBBI students pray for missionaries around the world as well as the people to whom they minister. The Gospel continues to be presented, people continue to come to a saving knowledge of Christ, and God continues to move in the hearts of His people to give of themselves. A church that we are personally connected to in Bolivia organizes trips several times a year to remote communities in the mountains to share the Gospel and to teach new believers. On one such trip in December, this church group ministered to a delegation of adults sent from many different communities. Some attendees had previously heard the Gospel and accepted

Christ, while others had never even heard the Gospel. This church group simultaneously put on a VBS-type program for the children while the adults willingly sat through three days of Bible teaching.

Over 400 children heard the Gospel! The adults wanted the church group to incorporate as many sessions as possible during the three days and begged the Bible teachers to return soon.

My Bolivian friend who went on the trip shared with me that they had no place to sleep during their three days in the village. They had brought Bibles in cardboard boxes to give out and ended up using the cardboard as mattresses on the dirt floor. However, they were so excited by the hunger for God’s Word that their sleeping conditions didn’t matter.

Reports like these serve to not only challenge us but also remind us that God has not ceased to work in hearts and lives.

For those in Grades 7-12 nbbi.ca/encounter churches throughout the southeast region of the United States. Over the past decade of serving churches, Brent has had the opportunity to minister to thousands of students and leaders, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Through his ministry, he endeavours to challenge young people to become wholly-devoted followers of Christ.

Brent’s aspiration is to see this generation rise up and lead a movement that will wake up the church and change the world as we know it.

SPRING BIBLE CONFERENCE

MAY 5-7, 2023

Spring Conference is right around the corner. After three years of not hosting any events on our campus, we are thrilled to invite you back to enjoy great Bible teaching, fellowship and food. We will also have missionaries sharing about what God is doing through their ministries around the world. We will cap it all off with our Commencement Exercises on Sunday, as we honour and send out our current graduates. Our conference

is scheduled for May 5-7.

Our Bible teacher will be Dr. Wendell Calder.

Wendell was born on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada and was born again at an early age in his home church, North Road Baptist Church. He is a 1959 graduate of New Brunswick Bible Institute and began his pastoral ministry the week following

graduation. Wendell pastored a total of 16 years and founded the Woodland Baptist Church, Baileyville, Maine in 1963.

He founded Living Waters Bible Conference in 1970, a ministry which continues to reach all ages with the gospel of Christ. He founded their present ministry of Local Church Evangelism in 1975.

This ministry has taken him to six continents sharing the gospel message. In May, 1982, Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. Wendell and his wife, Joan, reside in Florida.

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