PRBI Trumpet - Winter 2016

Trumpet W i n t e r

2 0 1 6

Developing Servant Leaders

PEACE RIVER BIBLE INSTITUTE

President’s Message: Waldie Neufeld

President’s Message Go to Bible School? How will that help?

In the fall Trumpet, I focused on the foundational value provided by attending a Bible college, emphasizing that Bible schools grant students an opportunity to develop a closer walk with God. In this Trumpet, I am suggesting PRBI develops or enhances a student’s leadership abilities, in preparation for any future leadership whether in the church or the workplace.

Students have ample opportunities to lead both on and off campus, making their training at PRBI a great place to develop character.

Let me begin by saying, leadership has a decidedly spiritual side to it,1 in which Jesus led the way (Mk 10:42-45). Leadership involves more than simply giving direction or giving orders; it nurtures relationships, growth and development.2 Blanchard and Hodges echoed similar sentiments, stating “leadership starts on the inside,” which most leadership workshops avoid, yet 1

Waldie Neufeld

Jesus tackled.3 Jesus called for self-denial (Mk 8:34), other-centered focus (9:37), and culminated in a plea for servant-leadership (10:42-45). Many Christian authors and some non-Christian authors4 emphasize the necessity of an internal journey for leadership development. It is more than skills or a position/title.

In Paul’s letters, we find many places where he concentrated on the internal side of leadership development.

In his letter to Titus, Paul reminded Titus that he left him in Crete to appoint elders in every city. Yet it would appear from the required character list that his appointing of elders went beyond simply skill development (Tt 1:5-9). He listed eighteen characteristics, the last of which is “holding fast the faithful Word.” Ironically, there are seventeen character traits prior to being faithful to the Word, which evidence how important character became in the Gospel enterprise. Throughout this list, Paul stressed the need for character,

Developing Servant Leaders discernment, and the Word, emphasizing the value of integrity to the Gospel (1:9).

Character, or the lack thereof, determines our effectiveness, whether in the church or not.5 One only has to mention the current FIFA (international soccer organization) scandal to emphasize the importance of character and discernment in the workplace. Members of FIFA are being tried for bribery and other offences in the awarding of where the World Cup of soccer gets played. Even within the church world, we are all well aware that people of faith fail in a variety of ways, which should give us cause for concern, and stresses the importance for this type of training.

PRBI then can become an integral place for addressing leadership issues like character, discernment, and obviously a knowledge of God’s Word. Our Bible college degree works on more than simply Bible knowledge. PRBI makes disciples. Disciple-making, according to

Jesus’ model, develops integral servantleaders (Mk 10:42-45). We have a unique opportunity to prepare students for jobs through character development, mentoring, etc., based on truth and grace.

For example, student work gives ample opportunity for students and staff to step into the lives of students in regards to timeliness, their word, their work habits, their skill levels, their treatment of others, etc. It is here that character gets revealed and can be grown. Yes, it requires supervisors to step in to these opportune moments, to grow character in students’ hearts. Integrity does not just happen, it gets formed through life experiences and the give and take of relationships.

The apostles built upon this dictum, for when they were looking for people to handle the needs of the community, they chose men who were “… of good reputation, full of the Spirit, and of wisdom …” (Ac 6:3). PRBI’s disciplemaking seeks to grow willing students 2

in their integrity. Leadership skills then develop through the classroom and hands on experiences like sports, student work, Field Education, etc. PRBI does have classes on leadership, but it is the disciplemaking culture, the whole milieu of PRBI, that develops a leader.

We are often reminded about students’ growing leadership abilities as they get involved in our Grande Prairie community or at home. A recent student landed a promotion because of his willingness to guide employees, even deal with the hard stuff in their lives. He became the lead hand on the site and the former lead hand now works for him.

Something happens when God’s Word touches the head and then the heart.

Disciple-making develops discerning integral leaders, leaders who can discern the direction a church should go, the value of building into employees, or choosing what kind of education suits best for a changing world.

We still can train the next generation of leaders by teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded, connecting them with the living God through relationships, and by giving them a solid foundation in their faith through 3

His Word. We can encourage young people to try a year or two, or more of PRBI to bolster that area of life. Integral leaders grow through the process of iron sharpening iron (Pr 27:17). The process takes God’s Word lived out in real life situations. We can invest in colleges like PRBI who provide a sound biblical foundation and experience for our future leaders. Please, come alongside PRBI’s spiritual mentoring, by investing in one life at a time!

Waldie Neufeld, Ph.D. President Waldie has been at PRBI for 25 years. He especially enjoys teaching the Gospel of Mark on disciple-making. He and his wife, Sharon, have four children and 13 grandchildren.

[1] Leonard Doohan, Spiritual Leadership (New York: Paulist Press, 2007), 109.

[2] Margaret Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2006), 39.

[3] Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead Like Jesus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 20, 39.

[4] Wheatly, Leadership and the New Science, 119.

[5] Henry Cloud, Integrity (New York: Harper-Collins, 2006), 149.

come see for

Before you decide

eview 2016 Bible institute Institute Peace River bible

March 10-12 Grade 10+

Register by February 26 at www.prbi.edu/eviewregistration

all who attend receive a $500 bursary!

Peace River Bible Institute / eview@prbi.edu 9601 100 Street / Sexsmith, AB / 780-568-3962

From Our Faculty One of the intriguing trends of our time is delayed adolescence. A significant percentage of young adults continue to live with their parents well into their twenties, and sometimes thirties. A number of factors have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. Certainly economics plays a role. The sparsity of well-paying entry level jobs, the high cost of housing, and the expense (and debt) of post-secondary education all make the prospect of leaving the financial security of home daunting.

Another factor is psychological and cultural. While young adults certainly enjoy the privileges of adulthood, they may not feel ready to take on the more sobering responsibilities like marriage, family, career, and financial self-sufficiency.

Such a mind-set may be reinforced by parents who are apprehensive about their children striking out on their own, perceived lack of respect from older adults, and even peers whose “live while 5

Brad Cowie

you’re young” attitude views responsibility as the end of freedom. There is a mindset in our culture that says that one should not take on the responsibilities of full adulthood until one is “ready”.

The pop-wisdom of such a strategy may seem obvious, but we also must ask the question: How, precisely, does one get “ready” to take on adulthood? Like the classic employment dilemma in which one cannot get a job without having experience and cannot get experience without having a job, is it possible that while one cannot tackle adulthood until they mature, one also cannot mature until they tackle adulthood? It has been pointed out by some social scholars that the responsibilities we often delay until we are “ready”—marriage, family, financial responsibility—are in fact the activities that grow us into adulthood. In other words, you don’t grow up before you take on adult responsibility; rather, you grow up by taking on adult responsibility.

Maturing Through Ministry

While you are welcome to debate this fascinating social phenomenon of delayed adulthood around your dinner table, I raise it for another purpose. I believe that these dynamics of social maturity are similar to the dynamics of spiritual maturity. That is, sometimes the things that can help fuel spiritual maturity are the very things we delay until we feel more mature. A good example of this is kingdom ministry.

It seems to be a common perception in the church that ministry is something reserved for more experienced Christians. I have seen numerous discipleship flowcharts that sequence Christian growth roughly like this: Believe – Grow – Serve. This sequence implies that Christian maturity comes in stages. First, one must come to belief in Christ. Next, once belief is established, the believer must learn how to grow—which usually means things like personal devotions, going to church, and correcting moral

shortcomings. Then, and only then does a believer reach a stage of suitable spiritual maturity where it is safe to let them serve by doing Kingdom ministry.

I don’t know whether this implication is intended, but it is what the flowchart suggests. And, in many churches, this is how the process is used.

Young and relatively immature believers— including our children and youth, who are doubly immature—are restricted from service for fear that, in their immaturity, they might “do it wrong”. Once again, on the surface, this makes sense. But, upon closer inspection, is this really the best way to envision the relationship between maturity and ministry?

Certainly, the Bible restricts certain types of ministry—especially leadership roles—to those who have first been tested and found to be sufficiently mature and reliable. I have no argument with that. But might this be the exception rather than the rule? Did Christ truly intend 6

that only mature Christians be entrusted with “important ministry work”?

Part of our answer emerges from our perspective on ministry itself.

What is the nature of Kingdom service?

Is ministry something that God entrusts to only the most trustworthy of saints because the work is so critical that God cannot afford to risk employing the young or immature Christian for fear that they will destroy all the fragile work that Christians have managed to accomplish?

Or is Kingdom work something that God Himself engages in by His own sovereign design and power, and then invites His people into, not because He needs us but because He wants to share with us the joy of being part of what He is doing? Is Christ nervously wringing his hands, hoping against hope that we won’t mess up His plan with our sin and incompetence, or is He confidently building an unshakable Kingdom and calling out to us, “Follow me and I will change your world”? What if, at its core, ministry isn’t really about what you can do for God, but about what God can do in and through you? Who qualifies for such a task as this (cf. 2 Co 3:5-6; 4:7)?

Another part of our answer lies in reflecting on what ministry actually does in us when we serve. When we engage in active service for God we open ourselves up to numerous avenues of potential spiritual growth. One of the graduation requirements for every student at PRBI is that they participate in Field Education.

Field Education involves students investing approximately three hours per week in active ministry in a local church or community organization outside of PRBI. Many students serve in church ministries, such as children’s, youth, or worship programs. Other students participate in community opportunities like the local fire department, Big Brothers Big Sisters, seniors’ homes, women’s shelters, hospital 7

visitation, or prison ministry. One of my privileges as Field Education Director at PRBI is that I get to read volumes of student evaluations of their Field Ed experiences. Every year I read comments like the following: “I am learning . . .

- to depend on God rather than myself.”

- how to submit to authority.”

- how to get along with others.”

- that I don’t always have to get my way.”

- how to work with a team and how to work through differences and conflicts.”

- that it’s not about me, it’s about Jesus.”

- to be bolder in my faith.”

- how to love others in practical ways.”

- how to be a servant.”

- how to love people that I don’t find easy to love.”

- how to teach others God’s truth.”

- that it’s good to have my faith stretched.”

- that I don’t have to be perfect in order to serve.”

- what I am gifted (or not gifted) for.”

- to understand God’s call on my life.”

- the importance of prayer.”

- to appreciate the church.”

- that I still have some growing to do.”

- about faithfulness and commitment.”

- that God can even use me.” 1

Ministry is a Great Commandment activity: it engages heart, soul, mind, strength, and love for our neighbour. It

compels us to love, follow, and trust God Often, it is through the bumps, bruises, to empower us and work on our behalf as joys, fumbles, successes, and failures of we attempt to engage in a work that is far tangible service that they will learn some beyond our capacity. It shapes and clarifies of their most valuable spiritual lessons and our passions, values, and goals, as it calls grow up in their faith. us to give our lives to something bigger Does every young Christian rise to than our own petty fiefdoms. It hones the challenge and serve well? Of course not our minds, forcing us to draw on the truth (although I am pleased to report that the and wisdom of Scripture, overwhelming majority of “Service is Christian community, and our students really do make the Holy Spirit in order to Christianity with an effort to serve well). Does serve effectively. It demands everyone who gets involved our strength, enthusiasm, hands and feet, in in a ministry automatically effort, skills, and resources. It real time with real grow spiritually as a result? puts us face to face with our Again, no. Ministry is not people.” neighbour and commands a magic formula and not us, “Love them because I love them; love everyone who serves does so with the them as I have loved you.” Sounds like right attitude. spiritual growth to me!

But, if we are looking for ways The Reveal study – a survey of to grow, and ways to help others grow, 1000 churches to identify key catalysts of there are few growth opportunities that spiritual growth—drew this conclusion can match the potential of active service. about the link between service and spiritual After all, Christianity is not just a set of growth: “The top-ranked factors in all ideas to believe; it is a life to be lived. three movements [i.e. the three different Service is Christianity with hands and feet, phases of spiritual growth studied] start in real time with real people. Service takes with the word serve…. When we serve as our faith and makes it concrete, giving it [Jesus’] hands and feet, whether within a tangible expression that bears fruit both church ministry or outside the church, we in us, as we learn to follow the Spirit’s lead, grow to be more like Jesus. Interestingly, and through us, as we touch one another serving experiences appear to be even with genuine acts of love and service. more significant to spiritual development Let’s stop telling people to grow than organized small groups….The up before they can serve. Instead, let’s get implication for church leaders is that we people serving so they can grow up. must encourage people to serve—in any capacity, in whatever valid opportunity Brad Cowie their gifts and interests lead them to.

Faculty Serving should be a high priority for our Brad is an alumnus of PRBI (1984-88) churches, since such experiences appear and has served as PRBI faculty since 2008. to be more conducive to spiritual growth Brad and his wife, Barb, have two children. than blockbuster weekend services.”2

In other words, if we want young Christians—whether young in age or in [1] These comments are amalgamations of comments from students, and have been faith—to grow, one of the best things we in my own words. can do is find them a place where they [2] rephrased Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson, Move can invest themselves in Kingdom work.

(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 116.

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Connect

PRBI Team Members

What is your favourite sport to play?

What’s the best gift you have received?

Growing up I played mostly basketball, but when I went to Ireland I started to pick up soccer, as that is the sport to play in Europe. I love soccer because it involves team work and lots of creativity on the field. With practice and improved skill, I can learn to position myself better and make good passes that will help the whole team improve.

I started hockey when I was 11 years old.

I could barely skate and I was the worst player on my team. My Uncle Don, who I admired as a hockey player, gave me a Koho hockey stick as a Christmas present.

It didn’t make me a better player, but it did encourage me to keep going.

What are some ways you disciple your toddler?

Do you prefer formal or informal discipleship?

My girl is only two years old and I am amazed at the amount of stuff that sticks with her. Some things we try to do is to have a prayer time before meals and at bed times. She takes a turn and says a simple prayer like, “Thank you God, amen.”

Having pastored the last few years, I have been involved in discipling through preaching, leading small groups, and one-to-one conversations. I believe all are important and have their place.

I’m not sure I have a preference. I am content for God to use me however He desires.

- Alex Gao Associate Director of Admin. Services

- Dave Groff Executive Assistant

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What was your first job?

What is your favourite book?

Growing up on a dairy farm, everyone had to help out. At the age of 7 my dad had already taught me to milk the cows, drive tractor, and help with the feeding and cleaning in the barn. On weekends I often did a lot so my dad could rest.

Currently it would be “The Circle Maker”

by Mark Batterson. It is teaching me that instead of settling for “smaller prayers” that fit my logic I should instead pray big dreams—the ones that when answered have no explanation except that it was my God who is able to do immeasurably more.

What can I do from home to make disciples of all nations?

In sponsoring third world children, I knew this commitment would be more than financial support, but rather a discipleship focused relationship. Barriers of cultural differences, language and distance have been a challenge. However, I have learned that the opportunity for discipleship has no limits where there are willing hearts!

- Anne Laursen Admissions Manager

Do you prefer formal or informal discipleship?

While I do both it is the informal times of conversation that I appreciate the most. Being able to just listen in regular conversation and then ask questions that get others thinking and finding their own answers fills my heart.

- Colleen Hiebert Kitchen Administrator

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

What does your ideal day look like?

The hardest thing is to open up my heart and admit past failures and current struggles, even in a safe environment.

Often my pride gets in the way and I find it hard to accept that aside from accepting Christ’s atonement I really am inherently evil. Yet to accept this is crucial to my freedom and continual surrender to Christ.

My ideal day almost certainly involves being under water at some point. I love to swim and snorkel in fresh water and especially under waterfalls in the back-country of Alberta or wherever I find myself. Most recently I’ve enjoyed collecting lost fishhooks under the Red Willow Falls west of Beaverlodge, Alberta.

What gives life to your discipleship times?

How do you handle different personalities in discipleship?

God’s grace. When I realize that I need so much grace in my everyday life, God challenges me to show the same grace to others around me. Once a relationship experiences this, the depth, honesty, and effectiveness of discipleship increases.

I see such a range of personalities among Jesus’ twelve disciples. It is exciting for me to get to know people today who fall along a similar range and discover the ways God has fit together those people for the great commission.

- Cornie Giesbrecht Maintenance Manager

- Scott Butler Faculty 10

PRBI Student Spotlight When I was preparing to come to PRBI there were many aspects of college life that I was looking forward to. I was excited and anxious.

One area of anxiety was academics. The fact that I was going to a Bible School might imply that I would be looking forward to classes, but that was not the case. I was nervous, scared, and anything but prepared for what would take place. But what I found was that my classes taught me, challenged me, and encouraged me. God has revealed Himself to me many times in the midst of classes that I lacked understanding and clarity.

Another area that I was partially worried about was the connections I would make with fellow students. As it turns out, in just a short time I had already begun to learn authenticity and the intentionality of true friendships. I’ve been completely overjoyed to experience real friendship here at PRBI.

God has also proved Himself trustworthy. Whether His provision is in academics, understanding, relational connections, or purely the grace I so freely receive every day, I can continually trust Him to provide for all my needs.

Halla Aitken 1st Year There is only one way for me to describe my second year at PRBI and that is that the honeymoon is certainly over. Now, I do not mean this in a negative way at all. Much like in marriage, the first year seems to breeze by. You enjoy a whirlwind of adventures that lead you to new experiences. You are on top of the world and you feel you could conquer anything. However, as time passes by you begin to realize that there is more that needs to be done. Fun and adventures still occur and remain important but responsibilities increase and reality hits.

Reality hit me this year when I discovered that no matter how much you know, there is still much more to be learned. The good news here is that you are surrounded by many friends and the PRBI Team Members that have gone through, or are going through the same challenges in life. Knowing you are not alone in this is a beautiful thing and it has been fundamental as I grow and learn this year. I am also being challenged in classes with assignments, and outside class with relationships. I find that as I take on these challenges and increased responsibilities my desire to live as Christ lived, and to lead and encourage others to do the same, increases as well.

Cody Barendregt 2nd Year 11

What has God done in your life?

Bible school was supposed to answer all of my questions. The profs were supposed to tell me what I as a “good Christian” should believe. I was to spend the next four years memorizing facts and information that would enable me to save the whole world. I felt that somehow through that I would finally become less of a disappointment to God. Oh the depths of my naiveté.

What I did not expect to find was a world with far more grey areas than I was comfortable with. The students and PRBI Team Members did not have all of the answers, but were in love with Jesus regardless, and served a God who in His perfection and glory and magnificent power would still want to reach down into my confused and frantic heart, and love me.

While attending PRBI these last three years I have seen the solid biblical teaching from classes and chapels being reinforced and acted out within the community. I have begun to understand what a true relationship with God, and with others, is to look like. I am so thankful that God has used my time here to draw me closer to Himself and deeper into truth.

Emily Peters 3rd Year I came back for my fourth year so that I could give back to PRBI all that PRBI had given to me in my first three years. I came back with the hope, expectation, and excitement that I could instill in others the same exponential change that had happened in me. I had the mentality that I had reached the pinnacle of the mountain in my relationship with God and that I no longer needed to work on growing. I did not view growing in Christ as a life-long journey. I was so wrong

about that.

First of all, I could never repay all that PRBI has taught me. Second, it is not my responsibility to change the people around me, but I can allow God to use me to disciple others in their journey. And finally, I have discovered that I am not at the top of the mountain. I humbly walk with God every day and open myself to all He wants to teach me through-out my life. I am thankful to those at PRBI that have given me direction and have built into me the life-changing principles of God’s Word. I am excited to follow in His steps. The journey continues.

Jesse Raugust 4th Year 12

President’s Message: Waldie Neufeld

Development Message On the day I am writing this article I mustered up enough courage to crash a 55+ event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, which turned out to be an amazing event! I say crash because you would have had to double my current age to make me eligible to attend this event. When I arrived I was graciously welcomed in and invited to stay for lunch, which I did not expect or mind at all.

The reason I went to this 55+ event was to hear about the heritage of the George and Nellie Balisky family from the Peace Country. Brothers Dan and Paul Balisky shared beautifully about how their parents shaped their faith in God and how that faith sparked many years of the 10 children making disciples of all nations. Though Dan and Paul did not say it quite this way, what I took away from their presentation was that the Balisky family was a family who took God’s call of disciple-making seriously—and they still do to this day.

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Jeremy Johnston

Seven of the 10 Balisky children went overseas as long-term missionaries— several of them being alumni of PRBI. When these seven Balisky children went, they knew they weren’t coming home for furlough until their (often) 4-year term was over. Many of them served their whole careers as missionaries. It is really an amazing story of God’s call on one family. If you were to add up all of the years these seven were serving as missionaries overseas, it would equal over 200 years! What an impact just one family can have! So who were these Balisky children?

(1) Ralph Balisky, the oldest, went first and served in Nigeria. The picture above is of Ralph’s wife Jean at the Sexsmith, Alberta, train station where she would have left from.

(2) George and Ruth (Balisky) Foxall went to Nigeria.

7 Missionaries . . . 10 Disciple-makers (3) Kathleen (Balisky) Landis, and her husband Mark served in Honduras and Mexico (Kathleen passed away suddenly while on the field—Christmas, 1974).

(4) Calvin and Barbara Balisky served in Nigeria with SIM. (5) Eileen Balisky served in South Africa with SIM. (6) Dr. Larry Balisky, and his wife Lorraine, served the Lord in Thailand with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in the Saiburi Christian Hospital.

(7) Doctors Paul and Lila Balisky worked on staff at PRBI in 1965-66 after which they went to serve in Ethiopia with SIM.

By now, as I am, you are utterly amazed that seven of the 10 Balisky children went into missions. However, you may be asking, “What happened with

Dan, Bob, and Terry?” or “Why did God call the seven abroad, long-term, but not all 10?” In talking with Jean, a few years ago in preparation for PRBI’s Global Ministries Conference, she answered this question very clearly. She said, “If it weren’t for the three brothers who stayed home and supported the seven, we wouldn’t have made it. Anytime we needed something we would write home to the brothers and they would send it to us, even if it was farm equipment.”

(8) Dan, and his wife Joyce, live in Grande Prairie, Alberta, where Dan spent his career running the local John Deere dealership.

(9) Bob, and his wife Ruth, farmed in the northern Peace Country.

(10) And the youngest sibling in the family, Terry, and his wife, Marcy, farmed in the Grande Prairie area.

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What struck me was that as much as God’s call was on the seven to go, God’s call was also on the three who remained. Though just seven were career missionaries, all 10 were disciple-makers who took God’s call seriously. If you were to add up all of the years these 10 were serving as disciple-makers all over the globe, and here at home, it would equal much more than 200 years! Again, what an impact just one family can have! And the reality is that hundreds, if not thousands, of other PRBI alumni have also taken God’s disciple-making call seriously over these past 80 plus years.

So why did I go to that 55+ gathering today? It was to be inspired — inspired by the impact just one family can have. In turn, it actually inspired me to keep doing what I am doing — which is training young people to become disciple-makers who impact their world for Christ, like those once young Balisky children. With that in mind, I would like to invite you to participate with us in training young people to become disciple-makers through making a donation with the “I love this place!” response slip to the right.

Who knows, perhaps your gift will inspire another family to do over 200 years of missionary service. What I do know is that it will inspire at least one student, one disciple-maker. Your gifts are making a difference!

Jeremy Johnston Director of Development Jeremy (g ‘09) has been on staff at PRBI since 2009. He and his wife Leah have two young children.

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I LOVE T H I S P L AC E !

GET INVOLVED Please fill out the response card to the right for more information or to indicate how you would like to make an impact.

Please mail to: Peace River Bible Institute PO Box 99 Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0

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SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES

STUDENT AID

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I would like to: Receive monthly Prayer Alerts Name on Card: ___________________________________ Receive information on Signature: ______________________________________ starting a scholarship/bursary Receive information about You can also give online at www.prbi.edu/give Legacy Giving Expiry Date (MM/YY): _____________

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Financial Update Peace River Bible Institute Statement of Operations and Budget July 2015 - Nov 2015 Revenue Student Revenue Student General Income Sales

Fees & Other Programs

& Non-Program Fees & Services

Residence Rental Rental

Income

Donation - Undesignated Donations

- Undesignated - Designated Total Donations

Donation - Designated Donations

Total Revenue

Expenses

Income To Date

Annual Budget

% of Budget To Date

404,981

1,010,500

40%

11,386

47,000

24%

84,973

225,020

38%

175,026 84,410 259,436

720,000

36%

760,775

2,002,520

38%

Expenses To Date

Annual Budget

% of Budget To Date

Academics

Academics

176,468

423,857

42%

Student Life

Student Life

99,773

272,222

37%

117,252

249,925

47%

130,027

318,309

41%

72,038

160,159

45%

204,282

521,667

39%

52,423

131,132

40%

Food Services Food

Services

Development

Promotion & Development

Admissions

Admissions

AdministrationAdministration Maintenance

Facilities & Maintenance

Student Aid

Student Aid

Others

Others Total Expenses Net Income (Loss) Excludes Amortization Expense

17

7,000

-

17,417

-

876,679 (115,904)

2,077,271 (74,751)

42%

Admissions One of the first questions people who are unfamiliar with PRBI will ask is, “What is your school like?” It is a simple question on the surface, might even seem shallow, but you see it loaded with so much more when you start unpacking it. If we are carefully listening we might hear them actually asking why they should consider PRBI and what it is like academically, musically athletically, purposefully, or socially. The best answer to this is: “Why not come for a campus visit and see for yourself?”

A few months ago, one particular girl, suppressed with fear and wrapped up in insecurities, took a brave step of courage to come visit PRBI. She trusted that her God was greater than her fears and she pushed herself out of her comfort zone to reach for what was burning in her heart— the desire to know God more, and know who she is in Him. My heart ached a little as I left this very shy girl to our students care for the next couple of days. Up until now, I had been her security at PRBI as we had been in contact prior to her visit.

Now she was handed over to complete strangers! The mother heart in me skips a beat every time I see a young person stretch their wings, ready for takeoff! How would she allow this experience to affect her? Would she let God hold her, carry her, and show her who He is?

I was overwhelmed with how our students and team members embraced our campus visitor, making her feel welcomed and part of our school. The time and care that our student body showed her made her experience at PRBI a significant one. As she left, she specifically noted how accepted she had felt. She saw how God is living and active through the

lives of our students. In just a two-day visit her life was impacted for the greater.

Please cover her and others like her with your prayers as they wrestle with overcoming their fears of making a commitment to pursue what God has placed in their heart.

Come visit! Encourage someone to come and visit! Come experience PRBI in a way that will change you. It can happen in just a few days!

Anne Laursen Admissions Manager Originally from Denmark, Anne (g ‘04) came to Canada as an exchange student and joined the PRBI Team this fall.

Coming to a Town Near You!

Our Admissions Team would love an opportunity to share about PRBI with your group or individual(s).

Contact admissions@prbi.edu or 1-800-959-PRBI (7724)

January 28 – 31 Edmonton, Alberta

March 1 – 6 Southern Alberta

April 8 – 14 Central Alberta

May 19 – 27 Okanagan Valley, BC 18

College News GYM PROJECT UPDATE

The construction of the gym continues to move forward. There have been a few minor delays, but the project is running smoothly. Please pray for our Team Members and volunteers who are involved in the project. They are beginning to make a lot of decisions regarding finishing touches, and they would appreciate your prayers. The anticipated completion date is April 2016 and we will likely have our Grand Opening in September 2016!

DISTURBING THE PEACE YOUTH CONFERENCE (DTP)

Every year, PRBI partners with the Disturbing the Peace (DTP) Conference in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and serves on the planning committee. As a part of the weekend conference this past fall, we had over 500 young people come onto our campus on the Saturday afternoon to take in seminars, do a town-wide service project, and eat supper together. It went very well and was great exposure for PRBI! 23

GLOBAL MINISTRIES CONFERENCE

As you can see from the picture below the conference was well attended by Mission Reps and we enjoyed having them on our campus. We did a few things differently this year which inspired our students to engage with the reps on a deeper level — this was greatly appreciated by reps and students alike. We are excited to announce our speaker for next year will be Michael Ross Watson from the United Kingdom. We are looking forward to what God will teach us through His servant next fall.

TOUR TEAMS

Our two tour teams, Earthen Vessels and Highest Call, will be travelling together for Spring Tour 2016. Combined, they will put on an evening of music and drama for the whole family to enjoy! We are heading west this year to Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

If you are in that area, or the Prince George area, and would like to schedule us for an evening, we would love to hear from you! If your church is interested in hosting our team, please email tourteam@prbi.edu or call the college (780-569-3962) and ask for Jeremy.

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P M A C MMER

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Register your kids today at www.bearlakebiblecamp.org P.O. Box 390 Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0 (780) 567-2293 office@bearlakebiblecamp.org

2015-2016 Upperclassmen

ENROLLMENT UPDATE

FOUNDATIONS (1 YEAR): 34

ACS (2 YEAR): 21

BBS (3 YEAR): 5

BRE (4 YEAR): 22

GENERAL STUDIES: 13

STUDENTS: 95

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Estate to your children

Include an additional ‘child’

Your

Your

$500,000*

$500,000*

Estate

Estate

$146,000 TO CHILD 1

$167,000 TO CHILD 1

$146,000 TO CHILD 2

$167,000 TO CHILD 2 $167,000 TO CHILD 3

$146,000 TO CHILD 3 * after taxes

$125,000 TO CHARITIES

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Alumni & Staff News BIRTHS

BARKMAN, Caleb (g ‘08) & Bobbi (Dzuba, g ‘07) We added a new family member last year. Our third son, Ezekiel Zachary Barkman was born on September 3, 2014.

He brings great joy to our family and tries to keep up with big brothers Ryler and Kenan! Caleb is in his 8th year of ministry at the Grande Prairie Alliance Church as Youth & Young Adults Pastor. We enjoy our busy boys and doing ministry together. We are continually humbled and in awe of the Lord’s guidance and provision as we serve Him.

CURRIE, Chad & Adrienne (Prendergast, g ‘04) Together with big brother Elias we welcomed Genevieve Nicole Currie to our family on March 12, 2015. We are still in Calgary, Alberta, and continue to be blessed by, and involved with, our church family at Hawkwood Baptist. Chad works in office furniture sales, and Adrienne works part-time from home as a travel agent and has a small sewing business as well.

POTTER, Luke (g ‘05) & Kate (Jahnke, g ‘02, Staff, ‘03-’15) Along with older brother, Jude, we were excited to welcome Lily Afton into our family on August 11, 2015. Everyone is adjusting well and enjoying this new blessing.

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UPDATES

GERBER, Darrell (Staff ‘95-present, Medical Leave) Praise the Lord. The past two years of travelling to Edmonton to be part of an experimental drug treatment are coming to an end. Next week (December 3/4) will be my last major trip. Barring any changes, I will now have my checkups back in Grande Prairie. Thank you all who have prayed for me over these past years, and particularly to Jim and Dara Lee Skinner who have graciously provided me a home away from home for the past two years. You have truly been a blessing to me.

As I write this I celebrate my birthday. It is 6 years past the diagnosis of terminal cancer. Though I am definitely not out of the woods yet, it is truly a miracle that I am able to function as I can. Celebrating a birthday reminded me not just of the blessings of the year gone by, but also that as our days are numbered, I am that much closer to the end of life, cancer or not.

May we all continue to find purpose and fulfillment in the things for which Christ came to bring salvation to us.

WEDDINGS HEINRICKS, Mitch (ug ‘14) & Sarah (ug ‘14) are excited to announce that they were married on September 19, 2015. They have settled in Grande Prairie, Alberta, where Mitch has been working towards becoming an electrician and will be going into his second year of schooling in January. Sarah was working as a barista at Second Cup but has now moved on and is working with children at the Cool Aid Society. Together they continue to pursue music and will be releasing a solo album. They are excited to start their lives together and see where the Lord will lead them.

THIELMANN, Danny (g ‘12) & Tasha (Teele, g ‘15) were married on September 26, 2015. They are currently living in Sexsmith, Alberta. Danny works for Parlee Sheds and Shelters, and Tasha is learning the art of homemaking. They are enjoying getting settled into their new place and are looking forward to what life’s journey will bring their way!

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WARKENTIN, Landon (g ‘14) & Stephanie were married on May 23, 2015. They are currently living in Reno, Alberta. They are the owners/operators of Big Rock Pet Boarding Kennels and are enjoying this new adventure together. Stephanie also works at the vet clinic in Grimshaw, Alberta. They are enjoying getting involved in their local church.

YURKEWICH, Kyle (g ‘15) & Katelyn (Peters, ug ‘15) were married September 5, 2015. They are currently living in Sexsmith, Alberta. Kyle is employed at Standard Roofing and Katelyn is working as a nanny. They are enjoying the blessings of marriage and are excited for this new stage of life together.

Email us at development@prbi.edu to submit your updates.

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

COMING EVENTS February 5 Circle of Friends

April 23 Graduation Ceremony

March 10–12 eView

September Gym Grand Opening

About PRBI About PRBI: PRBI 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.

Vision Statement: 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 God’s Word.

CONTACT US www.prbi.edu prbi@prbi.edu 780-568-3962

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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.

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leave a LEGACY make DISCIPLES For over 80 years, our graduates have been making a difference around the world. Continue the tradition of preparing young people to minister in the church and workplace by leaving a legacy to PRBI in your will.

Call our partners at ADVISORS with Purpose today to speak to an estate specialist—this service is provided at no cost or obligation to PRBI’s supporters (1-866-336-3315), or contact stewardship@prbi.edu for more information.