THE OPEN BIBLE
BULLETIN
VOL. 67
ISSUE 11
NOVEMBER 2026
STUDENT ENROLMENT REPORT
IS TRUTH IMPORTANT?
What Do You Need? By Keith McMahon, Acting President
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14
Here’s the thing about Jesus. He loves to ask us to do things that, on our own, we just can’t do. On the eve of His crucifixion, during His upper room discourse, Jesus privately speaks to His disciples, preparing them for what’s coming in the next days, months, and years. As He spoke, Jesus told his followers that, because of their belief, they would have the privileged opportunity, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit, to do greater works than even He Himself did while He was with them. Perhaps the nature of the works would be similar, but the scope and longevity of their ministry would be of greater proportion. His time with them, in person, was coming to an end while their time of ministry was just getting started. Even though He wouldn’t be with them physically, as He had been up to this point, Jesus invites them to ask in His name for all that they will need to effectively serve Him. This is the essence of prayer. Their effectiveness in ministry would be linked to their dependency upon God; something they had learned on previous occasions (Mark 9:2829). These men were about to launch out into new territory and new opportunities, but not alone. They were not to act independently from God, but rather they were to be dependent upon God for their every need. With respect to this context, in the MacArthur Bible Commentary, John MacArthur provides us with the following thoughts: 1. The believer’s prayer should be for His purposes and kingdom, not for selfish reasons.
2. The believer’s prayer should be on the basis of His merits and not any personal merit or worthiness. 3. The believer’s prayer should be in pursuit of His glory alone. My challenge to you is to take some time to consider and reflect upon what God might be asking of you, regarding your service for Him (Eph 2:10). Take time to sit and consider what you think you need to be effective, and simply ask Him because Jesus told us to. That’s how we will get His work done, in His way, and for His glory! This is exactly what we are doing at NBBI. We are asking the Lord to supply what we need for the daily operation of the school. Specifically, we are asking Him to supply our need by means of growing our regular donor base. Could it be that God could use you in response to our prayer?
Is Truth Important? By Dr David Doherty, Faculty
It was Pontius Pilate who asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38). This may have been a sarcastic question, but it is a very serious subject. One’s answer to this matter will be directional for life. In the context of Pilate’s remark, the “truth” is the Word of God, the Bible (Jn. 18:37). The Scriptures are the inscripturated mind of God. They are “God-breathed”, the breath of God (2 Tim. 3:16). Daniel 10:21 refers to “the Scripture of truth.” All of the Bible, in every part, including the grammar, even the punctuation, is God’s truth for us. From the inherent testimony of Scripture, God’s truth is… I. …ENDURING. The psalmist wrote, “…the truth of the LORD endureth for ever…”
(117:2). Again, “For ever, O LORD, thy Word is settled in heaven” (119:89). God’s truth endures to all generations; it endures for ever (Ps. 100:5; 119:160). It will never be lost and need restoring. It should be understood that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, meaning there are no errors of fact or intent. All that we need to live a godly life and as we prepare for eternity is found in the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15-17). All Scripture is equally and supernaturally and verbally inspired! II. …EDIFYING. Acts 20:32 refers to “the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up…” The doctrines, character studies, types, commands, and practical counsel for life are the means that the Holy Spirit uses to cultivate godliness in the lives of believers. Theology, including Eschatology, must never be compromised in any degree. Believers are encouraged to know the
truth, and to know deeply the One who is the Truth (Jn. 8:32; 14:6). Every doctrine is worthy of serious study and strong conviction. Romans 14:5 teaches, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” God’s people have an obligation to search the Scriptures daily, “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (I Pet. 3:15) and to “…earnestly contend for the faith…” (Jude v. 3), without being contentious. God’s Word must be held “with meekness and fear” and spoken in love (Eph. 4:15). May every dear child of God be able to say truthfully, “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors” (Ps. 119:24).
Staff Itineraries Keith McMahon Nov 1 – People’s Church, Somerville, NB
God’s Faithfulness in Enrolment and International Student Allocation We have seen clear evidence of God’s hand at work—not only in our increased enrolment, but also in the area of our international student allocation. His provision and guidance have been especially evident as we have navigated an unexpected challenge this year. In January, we were shocked to learn that NBBI had been allocated only five Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) by the Province of New Brunswick for international students. This was a significant concern, as we had anticipated a greater allocation and had more than five prospective international students hoping to attend NBBI.
Nevertheless, this became another opportunity to trust the Lord. We continued to pray, communicate with government officials, and trust God to work. In August, we were grateful to receive three additional PALs, bringing our total allocation to eight. This provision was such an encouragement to us and to the prospective students who were waiting and hoping for the opportunity to study at NBBI. We are grateful for the prayers of God’s people, both here at NBBI and among our supporting churches and friends. The Lord has been faithful, and this experience reminds us that our confidence
Mike Grant
Nov 14 – River Church, Miramichi, NB Mens Breakfast
must not ultimately be in numbers, government allocations, or our own efforts, but in God Himself. As we look ahead, please continue to pray for wisdom in working with prospective international students and for our 2027 allocation. We are thankful for every student the Lord brings to NBBI and consider it a privilege to be a part of what He is doing in their lives.
By Talitha Grant, Registrar
Est. 1944
HOMEGOINGS Malcolm Stewart (’85), husband of Elizabeth (“Liz” Garnett – ’87), went home to be with the Lord with a smile, at peace, and with his loving family present on July 28, 2026 in South Carolina. A man of many talents, Mac enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and using his gifts to bless those around him.
BIRTH Whether through his craftsmanship, his willingness to lend a helping hand, or his quiet acts of kindness, he left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. At Trinity Baptist Church (Williamston, SC), Mac was known for his warm smile, friendly handshake, and welcoming spirit. He had a way of making everyone feel at home from the moment they walked through the doors.
29-30 5 January
Prayer Updates
Step 1: Download the Echo Prayer App
November
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Men For God 2027 Save the date! More info will be in our next issue!
College For A Day This FREE event is for Grades 10 and up. Come sit in on classes and tour our campus!
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To Kate (Host – ’23) & David Stokdijk (Assoc. ’21), a boy, Hudson Bradley, on July 21, 2026.
Step 2: Follow New Brunswick Bible Institute in the “Feeds” section. Step 3: Use the “Reminders” tool to notify you to pray!
Giving by mail: Canada New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S.A East Hodgdon Bible Church Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828