PRBI Fall Trumpet 2019

Trumpet Fa l l

PEACE RIVER BIBLE INSTITUTE

2 0 1 9

President’s Message: Waldie Neufeld

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

- Proverbs 16:9

College News Planning for PRBI’s future has been a key priority this summer. Like the Proverb suggests, we can make plans, but the Lord determines our steps. The following outlines just a few of those steps.

The Board of Directors decided: - That we need to clarify our vision as a college and tasked the internal Leadership Team to lead this process.

- That they are confident in the current Leadership Team and offered the position of President to Kim Cairns, which he has accepted. A more permanent role will allow more time to focus on the longterm vision for PRBI. In light of this, the internal Leadership Team made some further adjustments: - Kim has promoted Brad Cowie to Academic Dean. As a result, Brad will also join the Leadership Team. This change will free Kim up to oversee the major donor fundraising.

- Jeremy will shift his role and will become our Director of Operations. He will now oversee Development (minus major donor fundraising), the Business Office, Maintenance and the Kitchen.

- As a result, we are planning to hire a part-time fund raiser.

Praise the Lord with us for providing in all of these areas! Pray that as we continue to make plans for the college the Lord would direct our steps.

Dennis Landis Board Chairman

2

PRBI: A Centre for Learning How does one learn? In his book Building a Discipling Culture, Mike Breen answers, “There seem to be three different ways that we learn, but unequivocally, we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time: 1) Classroom/ Lecture passing on of information, 2) Apprenticeship, 3) Immersion.”1 Classroom learning is the transference of knowledge, information and facts from a teacher to a student. If a student studies to become a plumber, they learn all kinds of information about plumbing a bathroom from books and the classroom. However, reading about plumbing doesn’t guarantee that the student can plumb a bathroom. Apprenticeship is required to learn how to do plumbing.

An apprentice works with a master plumber in a worksite setting, where classroom knowledge is put into practice. To truly excel at plumbing, a student will immerse themselves in a culture of plumbers. Here they learn intuitively, from the experiences of other plumbers, all of the nuances of great plumbing.

3

Kim Cairns

The Greek word for a disciple (mathetes) is translated as learner. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus invites, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn (mathete) from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” The core of discipleship is to learn from Christ.

How did the first disciples learn?

Do we see the dynamic interplay between classroom, apprenticeship and immersion learning in the gospel account? Admittedly, you will not find a verse defining discipleship with this language. You will, however, find Jesus using all three in His discipling.

He did not often have use of a traditional classroom, yet He taught about the kingdom of God in many settings on numerous occasions. His Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5) is a wellknown example. He called twelve to follow Him, and He gave them onthe-job training in how to live and serve in God’s kingdom. Jesus not only taught His apprentices about servant leadership, He demonstrated it by assuming the role of a servant and washing their feet (Jn 13:5). The

Gospels indicate that the disciples were almost always with Jesus and on several occasions, He retreated to be alone with them. The disciples were immersed in a setting learning from the master not only the skills of leadership but also the nuances of one who truly loved the Father and His neighbour.

The first disciples learned facts from Jesus their Rabbi (teacher) about the kingdom of God. Through on-the-job training, they learned the skills of an effective kingdom servant. And while spending significant time with Jesus, they acquired a greater capacity to love God and the world around them.

PRBI is uniquely positioned to offer the dynamic interplay of learning that Breen writes about in his book and that we see lived out in the gospel account. At its core, PRBI is an academic institution. We offer more than 30 courses per semester so that students can learn through lectures and assignments the facts about their Christian faith. The classroom and the chapel setting are where the students will learn about God, His Word, His church, their faith, and the basis of a Christian worldview.

We are not satisfied if students simply gain knowledge. Grades are not nearly as important as learning.

Classroom and chapel learning can be put into practice through mentoring relationships. All staff mentor student leaders. Student leaders disciple other students. Hands-on opportunities to apply what is being learned through lectures abound. All students are encouraged to participate in field

education. Students in our four-year program complete internships in churches, camps and mission field contexts. Faculty and staff offices are open to any student to explore questions of faith and to model what faith in Jesus looks like.

As most of our students live on campus, they are immersed in a culture of learning. It is often through these informal encounters in the dorm, the offices, the sports field, or practical work experience that students pick up the nuances of what it means to be a disciple and how to disciple someone else in the faith. It is our objective to send students back into their local churches to multiply themselves.

We exist as a learning centre for this purpose.

But what about you? Do you observe these three ways of learning in your life?

Do you regularly find an opportunity to learn about your faith? Are you being mentored or are you mentoring the next generation in what it means to be a kingdom servant? Do you spend time consistently with people of the faith so that you can intuitively learn how to love God more deeply and serve your neighbour more effectively? Jesus calls all of us to be learners of Him. Kim Cairns President Kim has served as a member of the PRBI faculty since 2009 and as President since 2019. He is married to Kimberly and they have four adult children.

[1] Mike Breen, Building a Discipling Culture, (3DM Publishing, 2016), 21.

4

Race to the Bottom “Aim for the bubbles,” he said, and he was exactly right.

I have learned a couple of valuable lessons at Hummingbird Falls, and humility has been at the centre of both. The first is to never swim under a low-head dam during the surge of spring melt in the mountains.

The second also has to do with overestimating my own abilities, but one I learned without having nearly drowned.

5

It was a gorgeous summer evening when my cousin Joey and I hiked up to our favourite spot on the falls.

The fast-flowing river is carved deep into the bedrock so that you do not see it until you have reached its very edge. As we approached that edge, we were met by a man pulling

Scott Butler

himself out of the water and up the steep bank. Apparently, he had the same crazy idea of fun as us: fall down through a narrow crevice into freezing cold water!

Immediately, the man launched into an animated lecture about exactly where and how to jump: “Aim for the bubbles!” and “Make sure you pin dive!” he said. Joey paid close attention and asked some followup questions. I hung back, smugly, thinking that if anything, we should be telling this guy how to navigate the falls.

I must have huffed or said something that revealed my pride because as we parted my cousin said to me plainly, “We should listen to this guy; he may know something we don’t.” I shook

my head at myself and agreed – wise words. It has been said that “no man steps in the same river twice” and we were about to jump into one we had just walked up to! This kind stranger had nothing but our safety in mind.

Yet, in my race to the bottom of that river, I had let my pride get a head start.

In Romans 14 and 15, Paul teaches an important lesson about knowledge and how to treat people. In that congregation were two types of people, both of which exhibited a sort of ‘we know better’ pride with the potential to tear up the unity of the church. On the one side were those he calls “the weak in faith.” These were not people rapt with doubt or spiritually immature. Rather, they were Christians whose faith seems to hold them in and against certain practices. In the context of pagan Rome, these believers abstained from eating meat (Ro 14:2b) and drinking wine (14:21) and respected a specific religious calendar (14:9).

These folks generally found comfort in rules and rigidity and tended to ‘despise’ (14:3; KJV) or ‘look down on’ (NIV) fellow believers who did not. Those believers, a group with which Paul identifies (14:14), held all food clean and all days the same.

He labels them “the strong.” They too had a tendency to stand above their fellows and cast judgement on them.

So who is right? If you were reading Romans through for the first time, you may fully expect to have the matter settled in one chapter. After

all, Paul has just meticulously crafted some eleven full chapters of solid Christian doctrine revolving around the very topics of law and freedom.

You may simply read the moniker “weak of faith” and think the question is essentially answered from the outset. Not so.

Surprisingly, Paul does not settle on either side being right. What is corrected is not doctrine, exactly, but the damaging potential of pride in a community of believers. He does this in three steps.

The first is to make clear exactly who it is that these Christians are accountable to. In the absence of a clear-cut answer, what rushes in from all sides to fill the resulting vacuum but human pride? Here, both groups assume their own high ground and consider themselves in the place of authority to look down on the other.

How quickly and easily we take God’s place for ourselves. Paul’s corrective is to point out that each person, no matter their position, is accountable to God. To paraphrase Romans 14:7-12: ‘We neither live nor die to ourselves, but these things are in the hand of the Lord and it is therefore to the Lord alone that each one is accountable.’ In short, kindly set yourself off of His throne.

The second step is to establish more clearly how the accountability works. Here is where Christians living in a postmodern age may become a bit uncomfortable. When pride is removed, what remains

6

is the individual believer’s clear conscience before his Lord and God. This is what Paul is saying when he takes the issues at hand (meat and calendar specifically) and instructs each Roman to be “fully convinced in their own minds” (14:5b). Take note that this is not modern subjective ethics or ‘if it feels good, do it’ kind of thinking. A firm standard for obedience is established but it operates on a personal level made possible by the closeness of the Spirit of God known in the New Covenant (see Ro 8:9, 27).

The third step is all about making this work in community and is what Paul spends most of these two chapters addressing. Even as we trace the epistle from the beginning, we find out that the force of all its doctrine is not to produce more rules so much as a kind of people. It does not divide the church into categories of right and wrong here but gathers it together into a body of people who will act on one principle: ‘what is best 7

for your neighbour?’ (15:2) The weak are cautioned against holding their brothers and sisters to their own standard; the strong are encouraged to do nothing that would pull a brother or sister over the line of their own conscious accountability to the Lord. Through those acts the church finds harmony and God’s name is glorified.

A random man in a mountain stream had my best interest at heart.

Replacing my year-old knowledge with his own first-hand trip to the bottom, he ensured my cousin and I had a safe and fun (and absolutely freezing!) time. In simplest terms this is Christ-like love: not looking down from on high for the chance to be right but racing to the bottom for the chance to serve.

Scott Butler Faculty Scott has served as PRBI faculty since 2015.

Scott and his wife, Jane, have one young son.

2019-2020 Team Members Scott Butler Kim Cairns Brad Cowie Katrina Friesen

Shanda Fuller Alex Gao Jason Gayoway Jill Gayoway

Cornie Giesbrecht Dave Groff Jeremy Johnston Anne Laursen

Shelley Martindale Sam McColman Sharon Milner Jon Osborne

Jesse Raugust Vanessa Retzlaff Ashley Wilson

Halla Wilson Jillian Wilson

8

9

Water Balloon Mania was a huge success!

Financial Update Peace River Bible Institute Statement of Operations and Budget Jul 2018 - June 2019 (Unaudited) Revenue

ent Revenue Student

eral Income Sales

Fees & Other Programs

& Non-Program Fees & Services

dence Rental Rental

Income

tion - Undesignated Donations

- Undesignated - Designated Total Donations

tion - Designated Donations

Total Revenue

Expenses

Income To Date

Annual Budget

1,048,803

1,083,000

97%

127,022

107,800

118%

210,651

194,355

108%

782,195 146,363 928,558

868,230 223,500 1,091,730

90% 65% 85%

2,315,034

2,476,885

93%

Expenses To Date

Annual Budget

% of Budget To Date

% of Budget To Date

emics

Academics

403,865

414,652

97%

ent Life

Campus Life

353,420

442,542

80%

295,453

292,425

101%

Services Food

Services

lopment

Promotion & Development

377,096

400,112

94%

issions

Admissions

178,738

173,507

103%

593,096

587,200

101%

144,811

145,447

100%

inistrationAdministration

tenance

Facilities & Maintenance

ent Aid

Special Project

5,523

6,000

92%

ent Aid

Student Aid

6,622

15,000

44%

rs

Others

-

-

Total Expenses Net Income (Loss)

2,358,624 (43,590)

2,476,885

95%

-

Excludes Amortization Expense

10

God’s Provision God provides. But does it depend on where He has called you?

There is a prevalent mindset among people that most artists will never make enough money to live on, much less support a family. This is starting to change, but the image of the starving, eclectic artist going mad while in a creative flurry of activity still holds a lot of sway today. But what if that doesn’t need to be true? What if God calls the artist AND provides for his or her living through art? An amazing idea!

However, one can run up against the attitude that if someone is a Christian artist, they should not be charging for such a gift.

Shouldn’t a gift like that be used to encourage the body or evangelize the lost? If that’s true, how can a Christian artist dare to charge money for sharing their gift?

11

Shanda Fuller Let’s look at this. We pay a pastor for shepherding the flock. We pay an accountant for their gift and training with numbers. We pay counsellors for the help they give others. Of course we do!

We wouldn’t expect a floor layer to pay for the training, materials and supplies, plus lay all of the tile for free, would we? “A worker is worth his wages” (Lk 10:7). We can all agree on that. What about the artist, then? Just because something is pretty doesn’t mean it should be free. We are not just paying for paint and a canvas.

We are paying for the workplace, marketing, experience, training, time, quality products and the heart and soul that goes into creating something worth keeping.

God may call some artists to use their art solely in a volunteer ministry, which is wonderful! But

if God calls an artist into ministry or to the marketplace, will He not also provide for their needs through their calling? Isn’t it true that He provides for nearly everyone through paycheques, through sales and/or through gifts?

And yet, even the Christian artist can get caught up in believing the lie that unless by some marvelous chance, an artist will never make money with their art while they are still alive. But what does God say?

He says in Matthew 6 not to worry about food, clothes and tomorrow.

He says to “…seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33). Where He calls, He provides. Read 2 Corinthians 9.

It’s not some ethereal, pie-in-thesky thing. He calls us to use what’s in our hands, to use the skills He has given to us (Mt 25:14-30), and to then trust him with the results (Pr 3:5-6). So, whether that’s floorlaying or visual art, He brings the increase. He lays it on people’s hearts to buy. He provides for people to purchase flooring and to purchase art. We were never built to carry the burden of being in charge of our provision. We were “created to follow Him (Mt 16:24). We were “created…to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ep 2:10). I believe that includes our vocations and using our gifts for His glory (Cl 3:17). Who is God? He is our Creator and our Provider.

I am slowly learning to let go of my stress and anxiety around financial issues. God is teaching me to trust in Him and His provision.

He is helping me replace the lies I have believed for years with the truth regarding provision, art and my worth as an artist, wife, and mother. God has not called me to be a full-time artist in this season, but I am privileged to speak into the lives of young men and women in part through teaching art here at PRBI. He has given me many opportunities to bless others with the artistic skills He has given me, and He’s never left me without canvas and paint.

God provides for His children wherever He calls. Here at PRBI and elsewhere, when we train our hearts and minds to follow Christ, to love one another and to replace lies with truth, it impacts every area of our lives and the lives of the people around us.

So, whether God calls you to be an artist, a student, a preacher, a teacher, an executive or a flooring installer, you can trust Him to provide.

Shanda Fuller Registrar/Librarian Shanda is an alumnus of PRBI (1995-99) and has served on staff since 2017. She and her husband, Dave, have two teenage children.

12

Equipped to Help Greetings from Prince George, in northern BC! I never thought I would be living back in my hometown after my time at PRBI. It was a hard decision, but I can see now how God made it possible. I needed to figure out who I was again and what God was calling me to do. I began attending Westwood MB Church, which has been a good place to find healing and to learn what it means to be home, especially since everything was new and different, and I had to rebuild relationships as well as find new ones. In my time with the church, I have helped with the youth group, and I’ve just recently been asked to co-lead part of an “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” course, which is reminding me of my days teaching alongside Darrell Gerber. I also 13

Brandi Hall

serve at our Information Kiosk, where I love meeting and greeting people attending the services – be they first-time visitors or long-time members.

May 28, 2016 was an incredibly significant day in my life. I graduated with my diploma of Social Work!

And that meant I could work as a front-line worker. My coursework at PRBI was a good steppingstone into this program. In my social work studies we talked about grief and loss, about the social structure of families, and I even had a class called “Helping People.” I can clearly see how the classes I took at PRBI and for my diploma all came together and, most importantly, I can clearly see God’s hand in leading me to the two organizations I have been blessed to work at.

I chose to go the practicum route and that resulted in me working at St. Patrick’s House, a halfway house for men. It was an amazing opportunity. I knew God called me to do my practicum there because I needed to lean in and do something out of my comfort level rather than do something simple and easy. St. Patrick’s House strives to ensure that offenders released into the community are equipped with the skills and resources they need to stay clean and sober and become successful and productive members of society. It was such a great experience!

After my practicum concluded, I met with my boss at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre (where I have been for almost 10 years now!

WOW!) and asked if we could figure out a way for me to work alongside our families. We ended up writing a grant application for a Family Resource Worker position in our early intervention program. And we got the grant!

I have had the privilege of working with families who are high risk and going through the worst of the worst. Many of their children have experienced trauma and/or have been removed for a time from their home. I get to walk with them and their children in their journey of life.

I am currently working with four single Dads who are raising their children, but who have never been allowed to be a Dad, and who do not

really even know how to be a Dad to their children. I also work with a number of young single Moms who have grown up in care. In working with all of these people, they need to know I am there to listen and not to judge what is going on. They need someone who they can trust and who can be a support to them and their children.

I also serve as a voice and a support when these Moms and Dads are going into court or trying to make changes in their lives while working within the Ministry of Children and Family Development system. I have seen the pressures these families fall under, and how that will cause them to fall back into old patterns. It can be frustrating, but part of my job is to be there and to walk with them through all of the mud and craziness they call life. I also get to work with a team of coworkers who share the same vision for these kiddos, and who yearn to break the cycles of addiction, abuse, and everything else that these families experience.

I will end with this: this work is wild, crazy and insane, and I have a huge passion for this craziness! I have learned that God gives us all that we need to handle what He calls us to do. Looking back, I can see how being at PRBI helped prepare me for this!

Brandi Hall PRBI Alumnus 14

2019 Freshmen Sarah Anderson Davis Bell Garion Bell Justin Bergen Nancy Bergen Arianne Bosma Chloe Boulianne Maddy Brooks Nicole Clark Aurora Dillabough Adele Fossen Dylan Genereux Miranda Giesbrecht Melody Hagstrom Alexa Harder Kade Harewood Ben Harms Peter Harms Nicole Heinrichs Tyler Jacobs Noah Keim Eric Krieger Hanz Lewis Matt MacDonald Caleb Mohan Ethan Nichol Travis Nicholson-Pasieka David Petker Alyssa Reimer Jen Reimer Julia Sandford Josh Schulz Troy Semenyna Kyle Shearer Caleb Thiessen Nate Trudeau Jocelyn Turenne Randie Twoyoungmen Heidi Voight

Mikayla Whiteside Rebecca Wicker David Wilson

15

Alumni & Staff News BIRTHS DYCK, Nolan (g ‘11, staff ‘12–’19) & Sandra (g ‘07, staff ‘07-09, ‘11-’15), are pleased to share the birth of their baby boy Nash Keaton, who was born on August 19, 2019 at 3:37 a.m. and weighing 6 lbs. They are living in Clairmont, AB. Sandra is on maternity leave from working with our current MP, Chris Warkentin. Nolan is currently discovering opportunities for the future. They are both very excited about having Nash in their lives and he has been an incredibly fun experience so far, even with the late nights!

HANGHOFER, Zach (Student) & Marilyn, are happy to announce the birth of their second child Zion Dre, who was born on May 30, 2019. They are living in Sexsmith, AB. Zach is in his second year of studies at PRBI and Marilyn is at home working on a degree online. After the first couple of tough months they have all (including big brother Boaz) adjusted well to having Zion around. They are currently enjoying the toothless smiles!

HEINRICKS, Mitchell (ug ‘14) & Sarah (ug ‘14), are delighted to announce the birth of their first child, Oliver Eli, born Feb 11, 2019 weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and being 20.5 inches long. Mitchell is a Red Seal Journeyman Electrician and has recently taken on more responsibilities at work so he has been kept busy. Mitchell has been working on recording his second album, and it’s coming along great! Sarah has been completely enjoying being a mom. Between going for walks, mommy/baby dates, and brunching & maintaining our home, she is living her dream! They feel so blessed with Oliver; he is such a funny, happy, energetic little man. It sometimes seems he is 6 months going on 6 years with how fast the time has gone, but they’re learning to savour every moment. He is an answer to a lot of prayers and they are striving to be the best examples they can be for him and their future children! God is so good.

16

WEDDINGS GOERTZEN, Jerome & Emily (Willms, g ’16) were married on June 22, 2019, and are living in Grande Prairie, AB. Jerome is doing residential drafting and Emily is working as a receptionist. They are enjoying getting to know each other more and look forward to many more adventures!

KEIM, Tyler & Chelsie (Denison, g ’18) got married on June 29, 2019, and are currently living in Carstairs, AB. Tyler is a journeyman mechanic working at a mechanic shop in Didsbury, and Chelsie just finished her job as a house cleaner and is in the process of starting her own pet care business on the side! They are loving being able to get to know each other deeper as they spend all aspects of their lives together, as well as growing closer to God as a couple while striving to glorify Him each day through their marriage.

UPDATES KIRSCHNER, Ashlee (g ‘09, staff ‘09-’10) writes: I am utterly delighted to inform my dear PRBI friends of the recent release of my first book, Longevity: Creating and Sustaining a Lifelong Faith (available via Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats).

This book is my raw and unpolished story of following Christ.

Although I felt underqualified and inadequate, I finally realized maybe other people struggle through the same things I do. Maybe they doubt the logical credibility of Jesus. Maybe they feel God has abandoned or forgotten them. Maybe they also feel like they never measure up in a church of perfect people. And so, I wrote.

Longevity is my story of being met by an overwhelmingly good God in every part of my messy, hurting life. It is God’s story of faithfulness and reliability when confronted with all my worries and doubts.

And although PRBI is not spoken of much throughout my book, know that it is foundational. PRBI completely revolutionized my walk with Christ and everything that followed that time period is testament to that fact. Thank you!

To order or connect, e-mail me at hello@ashleekirschner.com or visit ashleekirschner.com, my blog. Blessings!

17

About PRBI Peace River Bible Institute is a Canadian Degree Granting Bible College in Sexsmith, Alberta, founded in 1933. PRBI is known for quality academics and its highly relational culture that purposefully fosters an atmosphere of spiritual growth.

PRBI has a distinct commitment to train students in a thorough knowledge of the Word of God and to train students to become disciple-makers whether at home or abroad. PRBI’s educational model purposefully integrates the academic learning experience with an experiential learning component making us a Bible College for Life.

Our vision is to train believers to become disciple-makers who know God, model His character, and are able to build into others the life-changing principles of His Word.

Like Us On Facebook! www.facebook.com/acollegeforlife

PRBI - Peace River Bible Institute

If you know of an alumnus who has passed away, please let us know.

Contact Us www.prbi.edu

prbi@prbi.edu

780-568-3962

COMING EVENTS October 28 - November 1 Reading Break

February 7 Circle of Friends Banquet

November 4-8 Impact Week

February 28 - March 1 eView

The TRUMPET is the magazine of Peace River Bible Institute that is comprised of contributions from faculty, staff, alumni, and students who are passionate about making disciples in their churches and communities. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (Copyright 1995 by The Lockman Foundation).

All rights reserved. If you would have any comments please email us at development@prbi.edu. Printed in Canada.

18

OCT

Sunday, October 6, 6:30p.m.

6

JOIN US FOR Kim Cairn’s

PRESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION SERVICE at Peace River Bible Institute McNaughton Auditorium