“What will I get?” It is a question we often hear from prospective students when they are first exploring PRBI. On one level, it is a fair question. Life is full of choices, and students want to know what they will gain from investing time, money, and effort in a Bible college education. But here at PRBI, the way we answer that question may surprise you.
Of course, we could list off the benefits. And there are many. However, more often than not, we respond with another question: “What do you want?”
Why? Because discipleship is not one-size-fits-all. God works uniquely in each student’s life, and PRBI becomes the place where those desires, questions, and longings
can be shaped by the truth of His Word and the power of His Spirit. As the conversation unfolds, students usually begin to identify one or more of our fundamental values. That opens the door to deep discussions, and then often to momentous and life-altering commitments.
So, what will you get at PRBI? Let us explore some of the opportunities waiting for you here.
An Encounter With Christ
The heart of PRBI has always been about Jesus. At the core of every class, chapel, and discipleship group is the desire that you will not only learn about Christ but truly encounter Him. Academic training is important, but knowledge without transformation falls short of our vision. Here, you
Kim Cairns President
will be encouraged to grow in relationship with Christ, to hear His voice, and to let Him shape your life.
Biblical Training in God’s Word
The Word of God is life-changing, and at PRBI you will be immersed in it. You will definitely not just skim the surface. Our biblical training equips you to handle Scripture carefully and apply it faithfully. Whether it is Old Testament history, the teachings of Jesus, or the letters of Paul, you will see how God’s truth speaks directly to your life. This training is not just about knowledge; it is about equipping you with principles that transform how you live, think, and serve.
Understanding Worldviews
We live in a time of competing ideas.
Many students come with questions about how the Christian worldview compares with what they hear in culture, media, or even in classrooms elsewhere. At PRBI, you will learn how to distinguish biblical truth from the shifting values of society. We want you to leave with the ability to both think critically and stand confidently in your faith.
A Community That Walks Together
College life is more than textbooks and lectures; it is about the people who walk alongside you. PRBI is a community of like-minded believers who will support and encourage you on your journey. It is a place where you can ask hard questions, share joys and struggles, and know that you are not alone. Many graduates testify that the friendships they
formed here have lasted a lifetime. In a world where genuine community can be hard to find, PRBI offers a place where you truly belong.
Discovering God’s Direction College is often a season of asking “What is next?” At PRBI, you will be encouraged to discern God’s direction for your life. This might mean discovering where you fit in kingdom service or it might mean clarifying how your gifts can serve Christ in the broader marketplace and community. Our goal is not to push you into a mould, but to help you prayerfully discover your unique place in God’s story.
A Global Perspective
God’s work is not limited to our classrooms or even our country. At PRBI, you will be exposed to the global work of God through our partners serving around the world.
You will catch a vision for missions, justice, and cross-cultural ministry that stretches your horizons and ignites passion for kingdom impact beyond your comfort zones.
The Bigger Question
So, what will you get at PRBI? The honest answer is this: you will get more than you can imagine, but not always in the way you expect. You will grow in Christ. You will be rooted in God’s Word. You will be shaped by the community. You will gain a vision for the church and the world.
But maybe the better question is not “What will I get?” but “What does God want to do in me?”
If you know of someone ready to explore that question, PRBI might just be the place where their vision becomes clear, and their future in Christ comes into focus.
Friday, November 21 at 7 pm
Sunday, November 23 at 2 pm
College News
It was a busy summer on campus with many important projects and preparations for the year ahead. One of the most visible changes was the upgrades to our administrative offices. Fresh paint and new carpeting were completed early in the break, and repairs to the foyer and front doors gave the entrance a much-needed facelift. The new layout provides extra space for events and gatherings, and we are excited for the improved experience this brings.
Several major infrastructure projects were also completed. Repairs to the sewer system and front doors addressed urgent safety and maintenance concerns, while preventative inspections uncovered two significant issues just in time. One major line on campus was replaced before the school year began, and the Ruark building’s sewer line was also repaired. While these projects came with substantial costs, we are grateful they were discovered early and completed before classes resumed.
Jeremy Johnston Vice President
Looking ahead, we are excited for upcoming events. Impact Week returns in October, bringing mission representatives to campus and a special keynote session featuring James Seibert of InterVarsity. September also marked the beginning of the Alumni Choir and the On Ramp to Preaching Learning for Life course. In November, the community will gather for our Christmas production, Charlie Brown Christmas. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, this production will share the central message that Jesus is the true reason for Christmas. With both alumni and student choirs combining, it promises to be a moving and memorable celebration.
Please pray for PRBI as we equip students and prepare them for ministry this school year. Pray that many young men and women respond faithfully to God’s call into vocational ministry.
Enrolment this fall has matched last year’s numbers, with strong retention among returning students and a diverse mix of new arrivals. Among them are several middleaged students and young married couples, adding to the depth of community life. Recruitment efforts at summer camps proved fruitful, and most accepted students had already visited campus at least once, strengthening their commitment before the year began.
Shortcuts and Longsuffering
Grandma was furious when she heard Canada was switching to metric time. Turns out it was a perfectly placed April Fools’ Day joke on the radio. People can be a bit touchy about time.
I think a lot about time these days, spending hours jogging down gravel roads only to shave a few minutes off some mountain race. Two years back, after a half-marathon in Hinton, I had to enjoy the summit view on my friend’s iPhone because I had not bothered to look for myself – opting instead to speed by and gaze intently at the results sheet. I suppose like Grandma Butler, I do not want anything messing with my time!
In the last year, our faculty has given much attention to questions of time and shortcuts. Just like that, artificial intelligence startups have reshaped the technological landscape and pledged to save
us time in unprecedented ways. The Logos company encourages its users to “redeem the time you have” with their powerful research and preparation software. Likewise, ChurchLinks is “freeing pastors for ministry” by offloading demanding administrative tasks to their “innovative solutions.” Now students have discovered a myriad of tools uniquely suited for study and forced educators to cover their bases philosophically and practically. Even as a college instructor, I can relate to the temptation to skip the arduous process of composition; this article was hatched from a strong temptation to have AI write it for me.
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A lot of people find enormous value in these sophisticated tools. What I wonder is why we are so opposed to things taking a long time.
It seems like technology and technique have long been trying to solve something we have all
just accepted is a problem. If “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Pe 3:8), you and I inherently choose the latter. Certainly, there is a case to be made for efficiency in the workplace and the wise stewardship of time as a resource but we must also recognize that our attitude reflects a cultural value rooted in the larger Western ideal of aggressive productivity. This is the same value that started the gruelling eighteenth-century factory workday with the piercing sound of a steam whistle… and an eight o’clock morning class in Watt Memorial with an equally jarring electronic bell.
As I have amassed more and more miles running, I have realized that time is the truest, most basic currency. We say “time is money” because often we exchange it for pay cheques through the medium of work and expertise but we also exchange it for many other
commodities. Our time can be turned into healing, fitness, closeness, or distance. I cannot really calculate a dollar value for the wellbeing of my children but I know that hours away from Dad can create problems. While it is not always quite as simple for everyone, time is ours to turn into almost anything we want, valuable or not.
Ultimately, it is the rate of exchange that will catch you up. Even the highest-level trail running coaches insist that low-intensity, highvolume work is the most essential component of training for elite racers. This means that first place finishers have spent a huge amount of their year running ridiculously slowly, at least at first. You have to put in the miles to teach your body to metabolize and strengthen – and it simply takes time.
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Many of the discussions about AI have hashed up the predictable
Scott Butler Faculty
and rational criticisms that arose when the calculator was invented. If we outsource our reasoning and creativity to the computer, soon we ourselves will not be able to reason and create – use it or lose it! If our young learners never cultivate those skills to begin with, they will have nothing to lose.
What I have in mind is beyond pedagogy. How can we grow depth of character in a world that exclaims, “I need patience, and I need it now”? Patience is a pointed example but I think each of the fruits of the Spirit can apply. Fast patience is like self-love, popular in culture but ultimately self-defeating.
In Exodus 34:6, the King James Version translates patience as “longsuffering.” It comes as God declares His own name before Moses. I would suggest that inside this rich word from centuries past is both the goal and the journey to it. The New American Standard Bible words it a bit differently: He is “…slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth.” Neither translation shies away from linking truth and faithfulness to what is characteristically long and slow. Even in this age of AI, we cannot fail to make the connection ourselves. If you want to cultivate patience, you need to endure situations in which you must be patient. Despite all our efforts, we can no more replace time
on the journey to maturity than skip exercise on the way to fitness. There are no shortcuts to longsuffering.
In Alberta, most people take their holidays in our famed second season: construction season. It is a wonderful time of year when streets are adorned with diamonds of fluorescent orange and retroreflective sashes – and the scent of diesel exhaust lingers over the freshly laid tar. I recently came upon some construction on a street in downtown Lacombe but quickly turned away. Instead of waiting a few minutes I swiftly embarked on an improvised route that took us twice the distance and required nimble fingers on Google Maps to traverse. After a rushed tour of suburban streets, I chuckled as we emerged onto the main road immediately behind the vehicle we had been behind at the construction stop.
Traffic preferences aside, this story serves to illustrate my own need to take this lesson to heart. AI and the hype that flanks it on all sides offers the old values of our culture in a new package. Students, ministers, and believers of any age must still and steady themselves to pay the price of time to acquire wisdom (Pr 4:7) and resolve anew to put our times in His hands (Ps 31:15).
A Tribute to Nelson Senft
This summer, our community experienced the deep loss of Nelson Senft, who went home to be with the Lord on July 7, 2025. Nelson was a faithful pastor, teacher, and friend whose steady presence and quiet encouragement left a lasting mark on many lives.
For nearly three decades, Nelson shepherded the congregation of La Glace Bible Fellowship Church with compassion and wisdom. His ministry extended beyond the pulpit, shaping students and families alike through his teaching, discipleship, and care. At PRBI, Nelson faithfully taught courses semester after semester. Thursday afternoons often found him grabbing a coffee before class, or stopping by for a quick, encouraging conversation. His thoughtful words and gentle spirit were a blessing to both colleagues and students.
Nelson’s legacy was reflected in the gathering at his memorial service, where alumni, former staff, and students traveled from far and wide to honour him. Their presence was a testimony to the far-reaching influence of his teaching and friendship. While the impact of his ministry cannot be measured in numbers, it is evident in the lives of those who have been drawn closer to Christ through his example.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Margaret and the Senft family, as well as to the La Glace church family, who are deeply feeling the loss of their shepherd. Nelson will be remembered not only for his leadership and love for God’s Word, but also for his kindness, quick wit, and care for people. His influence will continue to echo through the lives he touched.
Peace River Bible Institute is recognized as a degree-granting Bible College by the Province of Alberta. Building on Christ as our foundation, PRBI values Biblical Training, Authentic Relationships, Kingdom Service, and Strategic Partnerships. Our vision is that every student encounters Christ in ways that transform their life, energize their church, and impact their world. We are a Bible College for Life! For more information on our Mission, Vision, and Values, go to www.prbi.edu.
You can also give online at www.prbi.edu/give or to etransfer visit www.prbi.edu/etransfer for more information.
The TRUMPET is the magazine of Peace River Bible Institute. It is comprised of contributions from faculty, staff, alumni, and students who are passionate about making disciples in their churches and communities. If you have any comments, please email us at development@prbi.edu. Printed in Canada.
you can now give via etransfer. Visit www.prbi.edu/etransfer for more info.
