The Open Bible Bulletin - June 2026

THE OPEN BIBLE

BULLETIN

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN VOL.67

ISSUE 6

JUNE 2026

STAFFING UPDATES

On Behalf of NBBI

By Pastor Mitch Whittington - Chairman of the Board of Directors What a glorious time to be serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It seems that the world changes over night and time flies by so quickly. Minutes turn into decades.

What we do in the meantime is what matters (Eph 5:16). God did not give us a life so that we can waste it on frivolous and selfish living. God has given us a window, a moment of opportunity, to hear the gospel and to serve Him. The need is urgent and the time demanding. God has said that there is a time for everything under the sun (Ecc. 3:1-8). It is our time to call a new President to serve at NBBI.

Staffing Updates

Our President for more than the last decade, Matthew Little, has resigned after listening to God call him back to ministry in the local church. May God richly bless River Church and the Little family as Mr. Little steps back into the awesomeness of leading people to God through the local church.

As we search for a new President, Mr. Keith McMahon and Mr. Mike Grant will be filling the roles of Acting President and Acting Vice President, respectively, closely working with the Board of Directors until the roles are filled with God’s men. For now, this is the face of NBBI. We look forward to

Assistant Business Manager

We’re excited to welcome Joshua Banks to NBBI this fall as our Assistant Business Manager. Currently from Charlottetown, PEI and raised in London, Ontario, Joshua holds a Diploma in Accounting Technology and is a graduate of NBBI’s LifeQuest program. He will work alongside our current Business Manager this coming school year before stepping into the role of Business Manager.

We’re also glad to welcome his fiancée, Katelyn Lewis, a Charlottetown native and NBBI graduate (ABM ‘24) currently studying Human Services. Joshua and Katelyn will be married this July in PEI, and we’re thankful to have them joining the NBBI family.

Full-Time Faculty We’re pleased to have Spencer Tapley join NBBI in a full-time faculty role. A graduate of the NBBI (ABM ‘19) Spencer comes to us after serving as Youth Pastor at Devon Park Baptist Church in Fredericton, NB. He has a heart for communicating the truth of the Word and seeing God’s people equipped for a life of ministry. We’re also glad to welcome his wife, Lily, and their daughter Rosie, who we know will quickly become a loved “Kampus Kid,” and we’re thankful to welcome them this summer as part of the NBBI family.

the man God chooses for this amazing and wonderful task. Thank you, Mr. McMahon and Mr. Grant, for serving and taking on this responsibility. NBBI has a wonderful future in spite of the challenges that face us today. As Paul said in Philippians 4, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Pray for NBBI in all these matters.

Student Testimony

Hi! My name is Lana Jepma, and I just graduated from the LifeQuest Program.

I grew up in Ontario and just recently graduated from a public high school.

I started attending NBBI, hoping for a better understanding of the gospel I was living, and a better understanding of my relationship with God. I had heard of NBBI from a few people in my church who had graduated there and loved the experience. I wanted to grow in understanding, beyond the basic Sunday school knowledge I had held on to since I was a kid, and some of the other information I gained here and there in church attendance.

It wasn’t until I started attending classes that I started to form my own opinions, defend my faith, grow in knowledge, and live out my faith. I can now use the gifts God has given me to sincerely live for Him. Since then, God has been blessing me with the amazing opportunities to grow and learn with Him every day. I’ve also had the privilege to make friendships with the phenomenal people around me. I recommend coming here, getting to know God, and the people.

Three Men and Three Imperatives

By Gary Stairs - Part-time faculty

Do this! Just go there! Don’t do that or else! Life is full of inescapable imperatives—things that MUST be done, or consequences might follow!

John’s Gospel narrative presents three different men and three different imperatives. Chapter 2:25 ends with the declaration that Jesus, the omniscient Son of God, “knew what was in man.”

Then Nicodemus enters the narrative as “the Searching Man,” one who had heard about this Jesus of Nazareth but who had never really met Him. This ruler of the Jews approaches at night to get some answers, to satisfy his curiosity, and to unravel the mystery behind the incredible things he was hearing about Jesus. So he begins the conversation with a compliment, an acknowledgment that Jesus was “a

teacher come from God.” To this, Jesus makes a most unusual imperative declaration: “you must be born again” (v.

7). Every man who searches for truth and eternal life must be born again.

Within that conversation, the second man and the second imperative enters John’s narrative. In explaining the meaning of this new birth, John inserts “the Son of Man” (v.14). This man, Jesus, also had an imperative: He “must be lifted up!” God had made that imperative for His Son! If searching men were to find what they truly need, then Jesus had to die for their sins.

Then John places the cousin of Jesus in his narrative. John the Baptist, with his odd dress and message, appears.

This baptizer of Jesus represents “the Serving Man,” one responsible for

sharing Christ’s life-changing message with a “searching world.” The imperative for all serving Christ-followers is humility: “He must increase but I must decrease” (v.30). Lift our Saviour high!

As we carry this life-changing message of the new birth to the world, let us remember the three men and the three imperatives of John 3.

Staff Itineraries Keith McMahon June 1-3 Living Waters Bible Conference, Pastors’ and Christian Workers’ Retreat.

Mike Grant June 22-26 Tay Valley Bible Camp, Staff Training

Let’s Do This Together!

By Keith McMahon - Acting President

I’m not new here, though in some ways, to some of you, I might seem like the “new guy”. Allow me to briefly reintroduce myself.

Thirty-four years ago, in May 1992, my wife, Beth, and I stepped onto the campus of NBBI. This was familiar ground for her, as it was her alma mater. We were newly married and attending a conference. I met several pastors, missionaries and others who had a zeal for our Lord and a love for this school. It was inspiring.

During that week, the Lord made His calling on our lives unmistakably clear.

With the blessing and support of our local church in southern Maine, we returned in July for me to begin classes as a 26 year-old freshman. We both knew this was where God wanted us.

As my four incredible years of study were coming to an end, little did I know that our time on this hallowed campus was just beginning. In the spring of 1996, the Board of

Directors invited us to join the ministry.

this time of transition.

Over the past 30 years, Beth and I have continuously reflected on God’s faithfulness. He has always enabled us to do what He has called us to do. Beth has joyfully served as Dean of Women, and I have had the privilege of teaching various courses and serving in several other capacities. Together, we are grateful to be part of this ministry team.

Just as He has been since 1944, God is still at work at NBBI. In recent days we have been rejoicing as the Lord has been adding some much-needed staff.

Currently we are looking at a strong fall enrollment. We are grateful for the past 82 years of His faithfulness, and if the Lord tarries, we trust there are many more fruitful days ahead.

I have been so very thankful for President Little’s friendship and leadership over these past years. I miss him and his family already. The value they have brought to our school is beyond what I could possibly share in a brief article. God was so good to NBBI by giving them to us for a season.

In this current season, the Board has appointed me as Acting President, alongside Mike Grant as Acting VicePresident. By God’s grace, and with the support of our Board and fellow staff, we will seek to serve faithfully during

My challenge to each of you is to simply take a moment to thank our Lord with us and pray that He would continue to raise up individuals and churches who would be pleased to partner with NBBI in the days ahead. The needs are great, the labourers are few, and the time is short. Let’s do this together!

Family File Births

To Alex (BTh ’22) & Brittney (Weber – BTh ’22) Freeland, a girl, Roselyn Frances, on March 1, 2026.

Homegoings

Robert Irish on March 24, 2025 in Hiram, ME. At the age of 19, Bob accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. After graduating from NBBI (’58), he returned to work at Conway Café (NH), where he met the love of his life, the late Mary Locke. In 1961, they were married and began their ministry at East Parsonsfield Baptist Church (ME) where Bob served as pastor for 54 years. Cherished memories are held by his three sons, Robert Jr., Charles and Mark and their families.

NBBI has a new campus kid, born to Colby (BTh ’22) & Cyan Long, a boy, Arlo Alexander Benson, on March 28, 2026. Brooks and Ellowyn are happy to have a little brother.

Donald Steeves (’61) of Saint John, NB on April 7, 2026. Don and his wife, Thelma (Snider – ’61), served the Lord with Africa Inland Mission in Kenya for 35 years. Don ministered in the mission radio studio, The Voice of Kenya, and became known to the people of Kijabe as the master fix-it man for all electrical and technical things. Later Don and Thelma served for 18 years at Rift Valley Academy where Don introduced the use of computers and wrote a program for the student bank account records. Don will be deeply missed by his wife of 63 years, Thelma, daughter Kathy (Steeves – ’85) (John) Nutford, son Michael (Bernadine), five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Are you interested in teaming up with NBBI? We’re hosting Pathways of Purpose work days on July 18th and 25th, and we’d be thrilled to have you join us! This year, we’re aiming to wrap up the Alumni Park, which includes the gazebo and walkways, and complete renovations on an existing staff home. In addition, we’re working on a few roofing projects and our wood needs to be processed for another winter season.

There are also a number of smaller tasks to attend to. Keeping our campus running is a big job, and we’d be so grateful for your help to make it happen. Prayerfully consider partnering with us for one of these days. To register and find out more: visit nbbi.ca/path

Give Online: nbbi.ca/donate Give by e-transfer: nbbibusiness@ gmail.com For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224)

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

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