PRBI Fall Trumpet 2021

Trumpet Fa l l

PEACE RIVER BIBLE INSTITUTE

2 0 2 1

College Update You may be wondering why the long blonde hair guy from Newsboys United is on the cover of this issue. On September 10, 2021, we hosted a fantastic outdoor concert for our community with Phil Joel of Newsboys United on our campus. It was a great night of food (trucks), fellowship, and a festival-style music concert. If you weren’t able to make it, let me assure you that you missed out! (Ensure that you subscribe to our PRBI Facebook page for advance notice of more events like this one.)

As the pictures to the left suggest, we completed a massive cosmetic upgrade in our dormitories this summer.

Our facilities at PRBI are a critical component of our ministry. While many other post-secondary schools are continuing with an online focus, PRBI remains committed to providing an on-campus-in-dorms learning encounter that we believe creates ministry-ready students.

For this reason, we invested over $100,000 into our dorms this summer (paint, flooring, lights, and blinds). Behind the scenes, we also invested in renewing our boilers and hot water tanks in these facilities, and right now we are in the middle of a much-needed storm sewer installation.

Paint fades, carpet frays, lights burn out, blinds seize, boilers corrode, and hot water tanks fail, but the learning and relationships that unfold in our facilities and on our campus (even at a concert) truly last. Not to mention, our students do really appreciate it when we keep things updated!

Would you consider making a special gift to PRBI to help us with our operational expenses? Thank you for supporting PRBI. Jeremy Johnston Director of Operations

A Place to Reflect

Kim Cairns President

In a previous edition of the Trumpet, I suggested that Bible College is a place where young people can search for answers to the big questions of life. It is a place to explore Christ, to deepen their relationship with Him and to listen for His call. Bible College is also a place to reflect on how to live one’s life. It is a place to form a coherent and cohesive Christian worldview that will be sustainable for all one’s days.

Although a Bible College education is not the only means to develop a Christian worldview, it is an excellent place to reflect upon the foundational principles of the Christian faith and a safe place to explore the inconsistencies of the competing worldviews vying for one’s attention.

and Sanford distinguish between “confessional beliefs, ideas that remain exclusively on the intellectual level, and convictional beliefs, beliefs that are reflected in our actions.” If there is a pitfall to Bible College, it is that a student would become skilled at being able to confess their faith but not give attention to how they live their faith. The task before us is the challenge of narrowing the gap that exists between what we confess and how we live. Our discipleship discussions are a great place to explore this gap. In a like-minded and supportive community, we can hold each other accountable so that our ideas become more in sync with our actions.

The journey of worldview reflection is not as straight-forward as one might think, and it is possible for a young person to attend Bible College and miss the opportunity to scrutinize their beliefs. Wilkens

Developing a coherent and cohesive Christian worldview will also mean exposing the lies we have embraced from competing worldviews. It is easy to distinguish assumptions contrary to faith such as atheism,

but more insidious are the ideas that are promoted by culture and often hidden unless we deeply reflect upon our Christian convictions. Some of the more powerful worldviews influencing us today are individualism, moral relativism, consumerism, and naturalism to mention a few.

Reflection is necessary to get past the surface ideas to the core beliefs that affect our actions and to expose the false ideas that infiltrate our belief system. The starting place for addressing our worldview is not behaviour. Reforming a student’s behaviour through rules will be ineffective in developing a sustainable worldview. We must begin with the heart, which includes more than feelings and emotions.

From a Biblical perspective it “also encompasses wisdom, desire and will, spirituality and intellect.” Paul in Romans shows us the path to take: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ro 12:2).

He warns us about being shaped by the world or, more literally, by the patterns of this age. The antidote is not a list of behavioral changes but transformation (of the heart) by the renewing of the mind, replacing false beliefs with God’s truth. The result is a coherent and cohesive worldview.

In other words, God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.

The role of the Bible College is to help students develop a robust Christian worldview sufficient to meet the challenges they will face in life. But is this enough? Sadly, you probably know of a young person who attended Bible College and later walked away from the faith. Research shows that students who maintain their faith post college consistently practice three things. First, they have established strong Christian convictions not merely confessions.

Second, they have developed a relationship with a mentor who has integrated their beliefs and actions.

And third, they meet regularly with peers who are living out their Christian faith.

We all have this gap between our beliefs and our actions, me included. It is a lifelong challenge to seek congruency between our confessions and our convictions. I encourage you to reflect upon your convictions, considering God’s truth. I also urge you to become a role model in a young adult’s life, encouraging them to live a coherent and cohesive Christian worldview.

[1] Wilkens, Steve., and Sanford, Mark L. Hidden Worldviews Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives. 2009. p. 22 [2] Ibid, p.15

Financial Update Peace River Bible Institute Statement of Operations and Budget July 2021 - August 2021 Revenue

tudent Revenue Student

General Income Sales

Fees & Other Programs

& Non-Program Fees & Services

esidence Rental Rental

Income

onation - Undesignated Donations

- Undesignated - Designated Total Donations

onation - Designated Donations

Total Revenue

Expenses

Income To Date

Annual Budget

% of Budget To Date

98,600

666,100

15%

53,576

24,550

218%

19,415

145,845

13%

75,625 50 75,675

800,000 76,200 876,200

9% 0% 9%

247,266

1,712,695

14%

Expenses To Date

Annual Budget

% of Budget To Date

cademics

Academics

1,891

24,235

8%

tudent Life

Campus Life

1,987

47,000

4%

7,671

94,228

8%

ood Services Food

Services

evelopment

Promotion & Development

27,150

127,000

21%

dmissions

Admissions

10,404

62,050

17%

178,189

1,394,067

13%

14,549

100,000

15%

5,000

6,000

83% 0%

dministrationAdministration

Maintenance

Facilities & Maintenance

tudent Aid

Special Project

tudent Aid

Student Aid

-

15,000

thers

Others

-

-

Total Expenses Net Income (Loss) Excludes Amortization Expense

246,841 425

1,869,580 (156,885)

13%

2021-2022 Team Members

Scott Butler

Kim Cairns President

Brad Cowie Academic Dean

Katrina Finke Admissions Manager

Alex Gao Business Office Manager

Jason Gayoway Faculty

Jill Gayoway Business Associate

Dave Groff Medical Leave

Jeremy Johnston Director of Operations

Anne Laursen Dean of Women

Vanessa Retzlaff Kitchen Manager

Josh Rigby Dean of Men

Faculty

Shaelyn Wiebe Halla Wilson Custodian Communications Manager

One Size Fits All “My whole spiritual life changed when I started journaling. It was the missing piece. Finally, I felt like I was truly connecting with God in a lifetransforming way. Many great spiritual figures of Christian history practiced some form of journaling. If you want to take your walk with Jesus to a whole new level, you need to start journaling.

I am convinced that journaling is the key to a vibrant spiritual life.”

Something inside me cringes when I hear statements like this. It’s not that I’m against journaling. I can see its value as a spiritual practice. I have journaled. But here’s the problem: journaling just doesn’t seem to work for me, at least it hasn’t yet. I have tried various forms of journaling over the years, mostly spurred to action by statements similar to the ones above. But what I have invariably experienced is that eventually journaling – for me - becomes a distraction rather than a help. I find

Brad Cowie Academic Dean myself increasingly focused on the act of journaling rather than the deep reflection and communion with God that journaling is intended to facilitate. I don’t see myself taking up journaling again. Nevertheless, I still feel a tinge a guilt whenever someone starts talking up journaling as the “it-factor”- the secret sauce of true spirituality.

My experience with journaling is just one an example of a dilemma that we frequently encounter in discipleship: does one-size fit everyone? Can we reduce spiritual growth to a specific set of mandatory steps, truths, or practices? Is there a formula for spirituality that guarantees one’s walk with Jesus will improve dramatically if one just puts it into practice? Shouldn’t what works for me work for you too?

Churches wrestle with this: whenever a new resource, movement, or revival

circulates, leaders feel the pull to drop everything and embrace the secret once lost but now finally revealed.

Individual Christians wrestle with the nagging feeling that they are missing that elusive, life-changing, Spirit-anointed Rite that empowers life-changing encounters with Christ (of course now we know that it’s … drum roll please … journaling!)

Disciple-makers find themselves paralyzed by countless resources and systems, fearing that choosing the wrong study guide will doom the poor soul under their guidance to spiritual barrenness. Even PRBI faces this dilemma—what works great with one student falls flat with the next.

by accident. I consider myself an intermediate-level guitar player.

One of the biggest barriers to improvement is the tendency for guitarists like me – having reached a comfortable level of competence – to become unintentional in our practice.

We play songs we already know, and only learn songs that require a similar level of skill. We might pick up a few new tricks coincidently and improve incrementally, but often we just settle into a comfortable rut. Breaking out of this rut requires a reinvestment in deliberate practice that drills down on specific skills, techniques, and goals. In the same way, undirected spirituality can settle into the “good enough” of the comfortable and familiar but never stretch other dimensions of spiritually that could profoundly transform us.

Some abandon all systems and strategies. “Stop trying to force people into a box,” they say. “Be free.

At the opposite Do whatever makes you “Can we reduce extreme is the cookie feel close to God.” There spiritual growth cutter approach, is actually a lot here that I agree with. No to a specific set where one way (my way) is assumed to of mandatory two relationships are identical. I don’t even steps, truths, or fit everyone, and one size is forced on relate to my wife, son, practices?” all. We legalistically and daughter in the same way – each relationship has its impose structures or strategies on own shape and dynamics, and they others whether or not it actually are definitely not interchangeable! helps them grow. It worked for me, it Who am I to tell someone else how should work for you, is our attitude. I am a firm believer in strategies and to love Jesus? structures, even standardization.

The danger is that this approach can A basic discipleship template – a become so unfocused and random strategy, curriculum, resource, or that spiritual growth happens only plan – is a valuable tool. But I must

remember that this template is a tool, not a rule.

It is critical that we discern between core principles and specific practices.

For example, you would be hard pressed to find a discipleship book that doesn’t recommend regular mediation on Scripture, usually stated as “you can’t grow unless you read your Bible daily”. But if daily Bible-reading is a non-negotiable part of spiritual growth, what about all those times and places where almost nobody had a personal Bible, and many couldn’t read anyway? Can only literate people can become mature Christians? (While we’re on the topic, do audio-Bibles count?) You see, there is a difference between the vital principle of regular Scripture-engagement and the rule that says, “Thou shalt read the Bible this way.”

Another example is small groups vs. classes vs. one-on-one discipleship models. Clearly, vital Christian community can be a powerful catalyst of spiritual growth. But the form which that community takes is flexible: there are pros and cons to each form and one size does not fit all people or situations. I must be careful not to judge or impose my preferred method on others.

Of course, this is one reason why relationship is such a vital part of

discipleship. To come alongside another requires me to know them enough to discern what fits them, even if it doesn’t fit me. It doesn’t mean I must abandon my templates, strategies, and methods, but it does mean that I must hold them loosely as tools, not rules.

We are blessed with two millennia of Christian wisdom and more discipleship materials than can possibly be consumed in a lifetime.

We are wise to listen to the collective wisdom of the Church about principles, disciplines, structures, and actions that have proven themselves effective in developing mature disciples. But we must also guard against our tendency to put our faith in programs, curricula, structures, or secrets, instead of the power of a Spirit-powered relationship with God. In the end, it is God who transforms.

So, if journaling works for you, by all means keep journaling. And if journaling doesn’t work for you … it’s okay to connect with God another way. Jesus wants your heart, not your memoirs. (And this essay wasn’t really about journaling anyway).

Brad is an alumnus of PRBI (1984-88) and has served as PRBI faculty since 2008 and as Academic Dean since 2019. Brad and his wife, Barb, have two grown children.

Phil Joel Concert — September 10th, 2021

News and Updates Butler, Scott (Staff ‘15-present) & Jane (Staff ‘16-’21) along with big brother, Chester, are delighted to share the news of the birth of their daughter, Ivy Jane, on March 19, 2021. Scott is currently a faculty member at PRBI and Jane is busy at home with Chester and Ivy. With hazel eyes like Daddy, Ivy loves to jump, laugh, and snuggle with her big brother.

Gao, Alex (Staff ‘15- present) & Carissa (g ‘15) are pleased to announce the birth of Sophia Rose. Sophia, the fifth child of Alex and Carissa, was born on May 4, 2021. Alex is the Business Office Manager at PRBI and Carissa is homemaking. They are all loving life with little Sophia in the mix.

Retzlaff, Vanessa (Staff ‘18-present) & Sam (g ’20) adopted Cash Samuel into their family in August 2020 and his adoption became official in June this year. Vanessa is the Kitchen Manager at PRBI and Sam is at home with the boys. They are happily settling into being a family of five.

Circle of

Friends 2022

February 4th, 2022 In-Person at PRBI

GET INVOLVED

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.

MONTHLY GIVING

BE A PRAYER PARTNER

LEGACY GIVING

SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES

REFER A STUDENT

Our vision is that every student encounters Christ in ways that transform their life, energize their church and impact their world.

WWW.PRBI.EDU/GIVE

Contact Us www.prbi.edu

prbi@prbi.edu

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

PRBI - Peace River Bible Institute

780-568-3962

If you would like an update included in the News and Updates section, please let us know.

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

Stay Tuned

prbi.edu/YouthAlert