The winter teen retreats are almost here…

Join us for February 17-19, 24-26, 2012!

Some of the most exciting events at NBBI have been our annual Teen Retreats held over two different weekends in February. Well over 400 teenager’s crowd our campus over the course of these two weekends to enjoy great singing, hear challenging messages from Gods Word, meet lots of new friends, hang out with our students, and play some wacky and wild games. Listen to what others are saying about our retreats.

“Hey!!! I just wanted to tell you guys that NBBI teen retreat was the best thing ever!!!! It really let me get close to God…I met lots of new people and can’t wait to see them again.”  Retreater

“My daughter attended the youth retreat the first weekend. I just wanted to tell you folks that she had an incredible weekend. She really enjoyed and learned through the teaching/preaching and she had fun with the activities as well. So, thank you NBBI for what you do and the work you all put into the youth for these retreats. She wants to go to NBBI when she is finished high school after spending the weekend there!” Mom of Retreater

NBBI is passionate about training young people in the truth of God’s Word. One of these retreats could be a life-changing experience for you. Are you willing to come and have God do a work in your life? Why not join us for a weekend!

Post by: Matthew Little, NBBI Faculty, Teen Retreat Committee

You can get more information about our teen retreats and sign up online by visiting this link.

http://nbbi.ca/teens

During the second week of March break (March 8-18, 2012) a group of fourteen students, under the direction of Mr. Al Cabral and Mr. Keith McMahon will be travelling to Texas. For more than a decade, teams from NBBI have been assisting Pastor Wally and Jane Morillo with their ministry to teens at both Grace Community Church in Pharr, Texas and HEB Camp located in Leaky, Texas. This spring camp, sponsored by Grace Community Church, largely targets unchurched teens who may be hearing the Gospel for the first time.

Pray with us that God would be pleased to use this outreach to call many to Himself.

February 1    Steve Ranni – Lincoln Baptist Church, Lincoln, NB
February 2    Alex Bourgoin – CEF of Maine
February 7-10    John Romano -  CEF of Maine
February 16-17    John McKim – Friends of Israel
February 21-22    Darel Tozer – The People’s Church, Somerville, NB
February 23-24    John Ward – Word of Life Canada
February 28    Roger Black – Living Waters Bible Conference
February 29    Gaston Jolicour – Gideons International

Below you will find pdf copy of the February 2012 Open Bible Bulletin. If you would like to see all the online articles from our monthly Open Bible Bulletin (current and past) please visit this link:

http://nbbi.ca/category/open-bible-bulletin/

Below is the pdf copy of the January 2012 NBBI Open Bible Bulletin. We will be posting the individual articles separately in the coming days.

(Updated: December 31, 2011)

As our students arrived on our campus in September, it was not long before the bats, balls and gloves came out for our annual softball league. Our league happens to be the most diverse in all of Carleton County. We boast  students from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Argentina, Ecuador, South Korea, Bolivia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We haven’t noticed any major league scouts in the crowd, but it is competitive and fun none-the-less.

We had six teams compete for the coveted championship trophy and the teams gave it their all. In the end the Little’s Legends prevailed against the Muir’s Marlins in the championship game. The players on the winning team were: Devin Groff, Philippe Bélanger, David Hoag, Jared Long, Brianna Redlon, Adam Clark, Young Oh, Justina Barter, Jean-Michel Briere, Natalie Paterson and Christina Johnson.

We also wish to acknowledge Tom MacIntosh, one of our married students, who took upon himself the unpopular task of heading up our umpiring squads. Thank you for your work Tom and thanks to students and staff alike for the memorable year.

Post by: Matthew Little, NBBI Sports Director, Faculty

This summer I worked for six weeks at Living Waters Bible Camp. It was a busy and amazing summer. One of the weeks, I had a cabin of five girls, all of whom I had the previous year, two which were not saved. During the week, with the meeting and devotional times, I could tell the were thinking because of their questions but they had made no decision for Christ. They did not understand the gospel and it was frustrating because I was trying to explain it and they just could not get it. All I could do during that week was pray that God would work!

On Thursday night during campfire, after the gospel was shared again and the invitation to stay was given, all my girls stayed behind and three rededicated their lives to the Lord. One of them just listened to the gospel being presented again but did not make a decision that I know of. The other girl, Danielle, believed the gospel and got saved that night. It was amazing to see God work in her life and also to realize that I can only proclaim the gospel but God does the work in the lives of people.

Natalie is the daughter of Colby (’87) & Lesa (Hosford, ’87) Holmes, grads serving in Argentina, and grandaughter of the late Ronald Holmes (’57) & Margaret (Scott, ’57) Holmes Gualtieri who also served for years in Argentina.

Post by: Natalie Holmes – NBBI Senior Student

Summer maintenance involved mainly working on one of the girls’ dorms “Liberty” which involved demolishing the old shower room then starting from scratch, building all new, with six showers, tiled floors, finished ceiling and walls, new modern lights and tile on the walls. Also, a washroom was added to the bottom floor. This involved taking part of the storage/boiler room and putting in a 13×12 washroom. In it are two toilets and three sinks. On the first floor new counter top, sinks and taps were installed. A new handicap shower was installed. Also, new kitchen cabinets were installed in the lounge area. On the second

floor a new three piece tub was installed along with new counter top, sinks and taps. Also new flooring was installed in two rooms.

I would like to thank all those who came on campus during June to help to get these projects started. Your help is greatly appreciated. I hope this is an encouragement to the young ladies.

Post by: Paul Long, NBBI Maintenance Director

Come and experience the campus life at NBBI on November 10-12, 2011.

If you are a student in grade 11 or higher or an adult that it is interested in Bible school training, come and check us out here at New Brunswick Bible Institute during our annual College for a Day event.

We will begin Thursday, November 10th with registration and a rally.  Friday you will sit in on regular classes, meet our faculty and spend time with our students. Departure will be Saturday morning, November 12th after breakfast.  There is no cost to those attending.  All meals and lodging will be provided by NBBI.

What to bring:

• Bible
• Personal hygiene items
• Casual clothing (including gym shoes for indoor activities)
• Bedding and towels
• Travel documents for those crossing the international border*

*To obtain information about the new passport requirements and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, please visit the following website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_2223.html

Transportation:

NBBI will be sending a 14 passenger van as far south as Augusta, Maine along I-95 on the afternoon of November 10th and again on the morning of the 12th.  Another van will travel east to Truro, Nova Scotia along Hi-way 2 on the same dates.  If you would like to arrange for a ride please indicate it on the registration form and we will contact you with further details.

If you need direction to our campus please visit this page: http://nbbi.ca/directions/

For your convenience you may register online by filling out the form below or by calling our office between 8:00 and 5:00 PM Atlantic (Mon-Fri) at 1-800-771-6224.

We hope to see you here!

Download the brochure here or use our online form below to register.

It is with regret that I write to inform you that Barry and Linda Beebe are leaving NBBI and are seeking God’s direction for ministry. Barry writes, “For the past two months Linda and I have been praying and contemplating God’s will for our lives, whether here at NBBI or elsewhere. The NBBI Board of Directors has met with me and provided direction for the steps that we should take.”

Barry & Linda Beebe are truly faithful servants of the Lord who have ministered at NBBI for 11 years. We will pray earnestly for them as they seek further ministry.

Linda has exercised her gift of hospitality on campus making many of our students welcome in her home. I am reminded of her service to the board of directors at board retreats when she served our meals with elegance, table cloth, finery and all!

We will all miss Barry’s fiery preaching and unique illustrations that included eagles all over the place and a Roman suit of armour complete with 3 swords (2 battle swords and a Bible). Barry has initiated many good changes at NBBI and has represented the Lord and NBBI faithfully.

Barry and Linda, we will pray for you as you seek God’s direction and continue to serve our Lord.

You may contact Barry and Linda by email at: Barry.Beebe@gmail.com

Post by: By Robert Booker, Vice-President

**Editor’s Note: If any of you would like to share something with the Beebes by way of tribute or encouragement, feel free to add it in the comment section below.  We will be sure to forward it along.

Leanna Sparkes, 2011 Graduate

It’s hard to believe that my three years at NBBI are finished. Attending Bible school was never in my plans but they were in His, and the past few years have been amazing!

I was born into a Christian family and was saved at the age of four. I first heard of NBBI when I was invited to a Teen Retreat and it was during my last teen retreat that I knew God was leading me to Bible school.

To sum up the last three years in a few short paragraphs is impossible! Learning from classes, chapels and personal study has been great. While learning how to apply what I had learned to my life may not have always been easy, it was always good. The ministry opportunities at school stretched me and made me grow in ways I never thought they would; and participating in music groups and on mission teams were incredible experiences that I’m so thankful for. You really learn the importance of prayer and what it really means to rely on God and to trust Him with everything.

In the fall I will be attending a school in Nova Scotia and I know that what I have learned over the past years here will help me with whatever God has planned for me.

Again this summer, we will send six students and one staff member to beautiful Bermuda. In partnership with Word of Life Bermuda, these students will be involved in four vacation Bible School programs and three weeks of teen camp. Since September 2010, this team made up of Tyler Hill, Ryan Farrell, Gerald Buchanan, Heidi Clark, Alisha Ardern, Charity Klein and Cynthia Roy have been meeting to pray and prepare for their summer.

In the past, God has blessed our students in huge, amazing ways. God has chosen to use our students to make a life-changing impact in the lives of children and teenagers. As students faithfully pray that God will be preparing lives and hearts to be reached with the Gospel, we know that this summer will be a great experience. Once students have met the people from Bermuda, they quickly realize that this Island’s beauty is simply a perk in this great trip.

Please pray for this team as they head out for eight weeks starting on June 21, 2011.

Post by: Matt Larabie, Dean of Men, Athletic Director

This article appears in the June 2011 Open Bible Bulletin.

Until a new President is installed, Vice-President Robert Booker and the NBBI administration will be handling the affairs of the school under the leadership of the Board of Directors.

We would ask you to pray for God’s continued wisdom as the Board of Directors seeks to find a new President as well as for Barry and Linda Beebe as they begin a new chapter in their life and ministry.

This is my third visit to NBBI and Marlene’s second. Two years ago I spoke at the “Men for God” rally that took place in January. Besides the enthusiasm of the 450 men that weekend, I mostly remember seeing more snow than I’ve ever seen in my whole life, including during all the years we spent in Chicago. Snow that was five or six feet deep in some places. Mountains of snow. But that was nothing, they said. Sometimes they get lots of snow in New Brunswick.

By contrast this week we’ve had no snow, though they said they had 5 1/2 inches in nearby Maine last week. Someone said it could snow as late as June, which ought to be illegal if you ask me. Mostly it’s been clear and chilly or clear and warm, and one morning we had fog rising over the fast-flowing St. John River across the road from the campus.

NBBI started over sixty years ago to provide Bible training for young people in eastern Canada and New England. The school is located in a rather unlikely place. You drive down a country road that follows the winding St. John River, you turn a corner and there it is, a 100-acre campus built on a hillside.

Over the decades hundreds of graduates have gone from NBBI to pastor in towns and villages in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and many of them have gone to Maine and other parts of New England. Still others have served in mission agencies in Canada and the US and around the world.

To me NBBI seems like an outpost on the front lines of Christian ministry. Everyone agrees that the Maritime provinces are not an easy area for the gospel. Churches here tend to be quite small. A church of 300 would be very large indeed. Progress is often slow so you need some grit in your soul to stay at it.

Because we’ve been here before, we have quite a few friends at NBBI. It’s been good to renew our friendship with president Barry Beebe and his wife Linda along with other faculty and staff members. We’ve run into quite a few people who know about Keep Believing Ministries.

I’ve been speaking this week on the miracles of Christ. This morning I give my final message from John 21 entitled “What Christ Does With Failure.” Marlene spoke to the ladies twice. We are joined by the Crutchfields, a very talented and winsome young couple who sing “progressive gospel music.”

After the commencement service we’ll make the five-hour drive from NBBI to Brunswick, Maine for a pastors conference on Tuesday. And, yes, this time we remembered to bring our passports.

We have been very impressed by the spirit here. I noticed immediately that people listen intently as I am preaching. And they love to sing. It’s very clear that the students and the faculty have a close relationship. The services have been building in momentum during the weekend. I know we throw about the term “family spirit” a lot, but at NBBI they really are a family. We’ve had graduates from forty and fifty and even sixty years ago with us at the conference.

It’s been fun to be here this week. From this hillside in New Brunswick, they are training the next generation of Christian leaders. We’re glad to be a small part of the big thing God is doing at NBBI.

Posted by: Ray Pritchard – Keep Believing Ministries

Editor’s Note: To listen or download the 2011 NBBI Spring Conference messages delivered by Dr. Ray Pritchard, visit this link: http://nbbi.ca/category/podcast/ray-pritchard/.

We had 28 students graduating from our one-year program, 13 from the three-year program, and 47 from the fourth year, ABM (B Th) program.

It is our prayer that these graduates will go out and impact the world for Christ.

Upon arrival, our group divided up into several smaller teams. One team ran a DVBS program (with all 425 children) at the AOJ School, other members helped construct water filters and build prefabricated kits for houses and a couple of us spent time in the school’s computer lab fixing equipment and training staff. I also had opportunity to lead a Bible study each afternoon with the AOJ staff.

On the final day in Guatemala, our whole team came together and traveled into a remote mountain village, where we constructed three homes for some grateful families. It brought great joy to our hearts to be able to pray with each family as we dedicated these new homes to the Lord.

Although our time was short, we were privileged to see many children come to faith in Christ, aided in meeting numerous material needs and above all witnessed God at work among the people of Guatemala.

Thank you to all who prayed and gave sacrificially to see this mission trip accomplished. May the Lord get the glory!

Post by: Jack Caron, Missions Director, Web Administrator

(Click on the images in this post for a closer look.)

This article appears in the April 2011 Open Bible Bulletin.

Tara Johnson is the Senior Class Secretary.

I came to NBBI at a later age than most students. I had already graduated from college and had been working for two years. I had always planned to be a career woman, make lots of money, and live a good life. God was somewhere at the end of that list. However, God was working on my heart for about two years and He was changing that list of priorities. I finally surrendered to His will and arrived on campus in September of 2008. Little did I know how much work God still had to do.

Over the last two years, the lesson that I have learned and that I keep learning is that God wants all of me. He wants me to love Him first, and then, out of that will come complete surrender, commitment, and obedience in every area of my life. In my freshmen year, I made a commitment to God that I would go anywhere and do anything for Him. The last two years have not been easy, but He always takes me back to that commitment and reminds me of the cost of serving Him. As a close friend often reminds me, God is trying to shape me into a pearl. That process is not a pleasant one, but without the irritant (a small piece of sand) you would never see the pearl’s true beauty and potential.

As I finish my time at school, I do not know where I will end up. I only know that in five, ten, or forty years I want to be found serving my Lord and Saviour to whom I owe my life. God often reminds me that serving Him costs everything, but He is worth it!

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

Post by: Tara Johnson, Senior Class Secretary

This article appears in the March 2011 Open Bible Bulletin.

Tiszandra Eatman is a fourth year student at NBBI.

On March 12, 2011, ten other NBBI students and I will be travelling to Halifax, Nova Scotia to come alongside a local church plant to reach out and show Christ’s love to the North side. This will include ministering to homeless and street- level communities. In preparation for the trip, the team gathers for half an hour before classes twice a week to focus energy on praying for those in Halifax, those already ministering in Halifax, and team needs. The team also meets together in unity opening God’s Word and preparing spiritually for the trip. I am so thankful for this ministry, as this is my fourth year being a part of the team.

In the past some of the projects the team has been able to do to reach out to the community included providing a free breakfast on Saturday morning for the homeless, handing out free hats and gloves, a free pizza run, cleaning and painting in a men’s shelter, organizing and cleaning a free clothing bin, cleaning a parent center and cleaning a home for a church member. We travelled through Halifax on a prayer tour learning of the city, and specific ways we can continue to keep them in prayer.

This year’s teams members are Tiz Eatmon, Katie Bartlett, Ale Corts, Lanna Sigfusson, Nolan Sigfusson, Shawn Andres, Dustin Davidson, DJ Ault, Ryan Farrell, Philippe Paul and Mike Lush.

Your prayer support is needed and thoroughly appreciated.

Post by: Tiz Eatman, Fourth Year Student

Would you please pray for and, if the Lord enables you, give to this worthy project.

Mailing Address:

New Brunswick Bible Institute
2335 Route 103
Victoria Corner, NB E7P 1C7
Canada

Telephone:

General Office: (506) 375-9000 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Atlantic time)

Mark your calendars for April 28 to May 1, 2011!

Guest Speaker: Dr. Ray Pritchard, President of Keep Believing Ministries

Guest Singers: DW & Jessie Crutchfield

Join us for this exciting time when we conclude our 2010-11 school year with our annual Spring Bible Conference.  Graduation will be on the afternoon of May 1st.

Conference Schedule is as follows:

10:30 am Thur – Sat – Main meeting w/ Ray Pritchard
6:00 pm Thur – Sat – Visual presentation – NBBI Mission Teams
7:30 pm Thur – Sat – Main meeting w/ Ray Pritchard
8:45 am Fri/Sat – Devotional/prayer time

There is no need to register for this conference.  Just come along and enjoy your time.

For a list of area motels, please visit: http://nbbi.ca/poi

Check back for further details in the coming weeks!

In my last year of high school, I had made up my mind not to go to NBBI, because I lived there all my life, but God had other plans for me. I think God had Psalms 119: 9-11 in mind when sending me to NBBI, to learn His Word and live my life devoted to please Him. Now I am in my senior year here and I have enjoyed the past years so much. God has taught me to rely on Him and how great He is. Being involved at school in things like SEM team, praise team, Bermuda missions trips and now as student body president has been challenging, but God is faithful, and I have grown and enjoyed these times so much. I encourage you to keep us students in your prayers as we finish the school year and decide where God is leading us in our future jobs and ministries.

Post by: Samuel Rushton, NBBI Senior Student, Student Body President

This article appears in the February 2011 NBBI Open Bible Bulletin

Texas Mission Team: Matt Larabie, Al Cabral, Etienne Lessard, Douglass Pennington, Josianne Leduc, Katie Fillmore, Isaac Swan, Rebecca Bourque, Charity Klein, Bronson Ellis, Samuel Rusthon, Leanna Sparkes, Sarah Button, Devin Groff, Rachel Goode, Rebecca Bartlett, Tom MacIntosh, Samantha McGraw, Kendra Kay, David Archambault, Kurtis Kent, (missing from photo-James Goode).

It is with great excitement that we are returning to South Texas with a team of students this year. After four consecutive years of taking teams to Texas, we had taken a few years off due to conflicting schedules with the Texas school calendar and ours. However, all that has changed and we are so happy to be able to return.

Out of a smaller “on-campus” student body, we had over forty interested in being part of this team. After having had a few meetings the crowd thinned itself down and we eventually picked a team consisting of nineteen members. The Texas missions trip has been a favourite of many students in the past; not because Texas is the most beautiful place on earth, although it is beautiful and it’s nice to get away during the cold month of March; not because it’s an easy, relaxing and sun-bathing time of hanging out; but because it has been one of the hardest things these students have done. God shows Himself so Mighty and Awesome to the team that no matter how challenging the trip may be at times, it is the best thing many of them have ever done. We have seen many teens and children trust Jesus as Lord and Saviour and we want to be used of God to reach many again this year with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray for us as we head down to Texas on March 10-19, 2011 to be a part of a wonderful camp program in the hill country of Leakey, Texas.

Later y’all!

Post by: Matt Larabie, NBBI Dean of Men, Music Director

This is a video from our last trip to Texas back in 2007.

This article appears in the February 2011 NBBI Open Bible Bulletin

Listen to our chapel messages at: http://nbbi.ca/resources/chapel-messages/

Attention all girls ages 12 -17!  You are invited to a Garden Party at New Brunswick Bible Institute on January 22, 2011 from 10 AM to 2 PM.  Bring along your friends and join us for games, food, devos, and prizes as we journey back to the Garden of Eden and discover the girls that God created us to be!

This event is free of charge and includes lunch!

Use the form below to register and let us know you’re coming:

TOTAL STUDENT BODY (103)

Where do they come from?

Canada (82)

• NB (34)
• NS (16)
• QC (15)
• ON (14)
• AB (1)
• NF (1)
• SK (1)

United States (19)

• ME (12)
• NH (3)
• CT (1)
• IL (1)
• MA (1)
• NY (1)

Argentina (1)

Uruguay (1)

Which class?

• Freshmen (30)
• Juniors (15)
• Seniors (13)
• ABM – B. Th. Program* (45)

*Present ABM graduates receive a Bachelor of Theology degree from Covington Theological Seminary. Past ABM grads who apply, and meet the appropriate requirements also receive this degree.

October is a beautiful month here in the St. John River Valley.  We have been enjoying God’s handiwork all around us these past few weeks.  It is also a very busy month on campus as we have entered our second module of study and various missionaries and Christian leaders have been and will be on campus ministering in chapel and in the classroom.

Pastor John & Lillian Boyd of Temple Baptist Church in Cambridge, Ontario are currently teaching a two week course to our seniors on pastoral ministry and ladies’ ministry. Gary Stairs and Barry Speck, Word of Life leaders in Canada, are also teaching a two week course on Youth Ministries.

Last week, after returning from an enjoyable Thanksgiving break, our softball season came to an exciting end as Meed’s Mavericks defeated Caron’s Cardinals for the world series softball championship here on campus.

Our students are doing a great job with regards to their studies, student training and Christian service assignments.  We are blessed to have these young men and women here being trained in the Word of God.  They are a great encouragement to us.

My wife Linda and I were able to have a special Sunday morning of ministry at Nasonworth Baptist Church, Nasonworth, NB, just outside of Fredericton.  Pastor Dave Gray and his wife Irma were away celebrating their 40th anniversary of marriage and ministry.  It was a delight to fellowship with God’s people, see how God is working in this local church and their receptiveness to the Word of God as I preached.  We are thankful for the many local Bible believing churches that we are able to support as a school so their men and women can be trained and discipled for Christian living and ministry.

I am currently teaching a course to our freshmen students on “The 10 Pillars of Evangelism”.  We have been talking about prayer evangelism and how it is patterned in the Gospels, the Old Testament, the book of Acts and the church letters.  We have been focusing on whether our prayers make a difference with regards to evangelism, conviction of sin and the process of someone coming to repentance in our Lord Jesus Christ.  These certainly our questions we need to sort out in our minds and hearts from the Word of God so we will be genuine in our commitment to evangelism and the spreading of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Post by: Dr. R. Barry Beebe, NBBI President

• Temple Baptist Church – Cambridge, ON
• Word of Life Fellowship Canada

A fallen leaf's view of the NBBI campus

Greetings from the banks of the St. John River Valley in New Brunswick. …and what a beautiful morning it has been. A thick frost and heavy fog greeted us as we arose this morning. Each blade of grass seemed to shiver in its new-found white coat, and the sun peeped over the hill in the distance as if to say… “Patience… I will warm you up soon enough.”

Before long, the sun began to climb into the sky, and the much welcomed warmth caused each blade of grass to shed its cold, white coat and stand at attention in the glimmering sunlight. Sure enough… a perfect day!

And the mist over the river that appeared for a little time, has now vanished away.  It was beautiful to look down across the mowed field behind our house… out over the river… where the fluffy white fog blanketed the calm, still waters of the St. John River. A bald eagle soaring high over-head, peered down into the fog, finding it difficult to spot breakfast.

And then… Just Like That… the mist vanished!  No lingering; just gone!  I paused for a moment, and realized the significance of the moment.  A gentle reminder from God that life is short, and that our days on this earth are numbered. This too, will all-too-quickly fade away.

With that in mind, let’s agree to Make Today Count. Let’s Finish Well.

Enjoy these days!

Post by: Dan Robins, NBBI Business Manager

Dr. R. Barry Beebe, President of NBBI

I travelled this past weekend with our music director, Matthieu Larabie to East Wilton, Maine for a missions conference at East Wilton Union Church. Pastor Steve Park and his wife Colleen are doing a good job leading this congregation and pointing them toward evangelism and missions. God’s people were blessed with Matthieu’s music ministry, testimony and presentation of New Brunswick Bible Institute. I spoke on the three lost things found in Luke 15:1-32… a lost sheep, lost silver and the lost son. We were excited to know that one man came to know Christ as his Saviour and the hearts of others were spoken to. We met Marco and Jenni and their two children who are on their way to Mexico with BMW. Jenni is from the East Wilton Church and Marco is a native of Mexico. What a blessing to hear of their vision to start a church in Mexico and reach people for Christ. Someone gave this young couple $2000 towards the purchase of a vehicle to use while they are on deputation – what an amazing gift. It is so good to see God raise up a new generation of servants for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saturday morning was spent on a mission work project at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp where Bob and Donna Sloma and their family have been faithfully serving the Lord. What a beautiful location, situated near the top of Blueberry Mountain in Weld, Maine at Mount Blue State Park. The lake was beautiful and the various mountains surrounding the lake were gorgeous in the fall colours of red, yellow, orange and gold. We met a middle-aged couple there from New Jersey who are considering moving to Maine and being part of the camping ministry at Blueberry Mountain. God is calling people to set out in full-time Christian service. This was also a great weekend to present the ministry of New Brunswick Bible Institute to those we have had fellowship with in times past as well as meeting new folks for the first time.

Back here at NBBI, our students have finished the first module of study and have written their first set of exams and are soon to begin their next set of studies.

God is good and we thank Him for His great faithfulness to us and His mercies which are new every morning.

• Biblical Ministries Worldwide
• Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp and Conference Center
• Mount Blue State Park

Gary Long was our Kids' Quest speaker

Three great events transpired over the past weekend.  Friday and Saturday we had our annual Kids Quest here on campus.  We had a good number of children aged 7-12, as well as leaders, join us for special Bible rallies, music, games, sports, contests, swimming, etc. Missionary, Gary Long, with Canadian Sunday School Mission, was our keynote speaker. Our staff committee, along with our students, worked very hard in ministering to these young people.  I am sure many hearts were encouraged and blessed.

NBBI Kids' Quest 2010

I have heard that some children trusted Christ as Saviour.  We are thankful to local churches and their youth workers who come each year to be part of Kids’ Quest.

The second special event was “Youth Wars” at the Peoples Church in Truro, Nova Scotia. Youth Pastor Bruce Steeves and other youth pastors in the Maritimes joined together for this very special activity. Again this year we were able to send four of our students to assist in the running of the various activities as well as to minister to young people and promote the ministry of New Brunswick Bible Institute.  Our students gave away about 30 NBBI t-shirts as well as literature to encourage young men and women to consider a biblical education.  They also were able to be involved in Sunday morning activities, giving testimonies in the morning service and working in the junior church program.

Food for the soul... Kraft Dinner

Youth Pastor Bruce Steeves and other youth pastors in the town, have, for a number of years, conducted “Kraft Dinner Day” each Thursday of the school year.  Junior and senior high school students are invited for a free meal and to connect with Christian young people, youth pastors and their helpers.  Each year this “Kraft Thursday” has been growing.  I understand they now have reached as many as 600 teenagers this fall with a “Kraft Dinner” meal.  What a great way to make connections with hundreds of unsaved teens who need the Lord Jesus Christ.

The third special event of this weekend was when Matt Larabie, our music director, along with two of our students and myself visited the Dyer Brook Community Church in Dyer Brook, Maine.  Pastor Andy Harthorne and his wife Cher are both graduates of NBBI and they, along with their four lovely children, have been serving at this church for a number of years.  It was a great honour to be able to preach the Word of God and promote the ministry of New Brunswick Bible Institute.

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

Matt Larabie sang and our two students gave personal testimony of the work of Jesus Christ in their lives.  We certainly appreciated the fellowship of this church family. They certainly seem to have a vision for their area as they expand their church sanctuary and reach out in their community for Christ.  It is exciting to see God use our grads in such effective ways.

Last week a number of our staff members joined together to attend the “Signature Sound” Gospel concert in Houlton, Maine.  Over 1000 people gathered together to hear some great old and new songs from this unique quartet.  They are on a two year tour in honour of the former Cathedral Quartet.  It was a special night to be ministered to.

Post by: Dr. R. Barry Beebe, NBBI President

• NBBI Kids’ Quest 2010 – Facebook Photos
• The People’s Church – Truro, NS
• Dyer Brook Community Church – Dyer Brook, ME
• Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

If you are a student in grade 11 or higher or an adult that it is interested in Bible school training, come and check us out here at New Brunswick Bible Institute during our annual College for a Day event.

We will begin Thursday, November 11th in the evening and close out our time together on Saturday, November 13th in the morning after breakfast. Further details will be posted soon with a list of activities and a schedule.   There is no cost to those attending.  All meals and lodging will be provided by NBBI.

What to bring:

• Bible
• Personal hygiene items
• Casual clothing (including gym shoes for indoor activities)
• Bedding and towels
• Travel documents for those crossing the international border*

*To obtain information about the new passport requirements and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, please visit the following website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Transportation:

NBBI will be sending a 14 passenger van as far south as Augusta, Maine along I-95 on the afternoon of November 11th and again on the morning of the 13th.  Another van will travel east to Truro, Nova Scotia along Hi-way 2 on the same dates.  If you would like to arrange for a ride please indicate it on the registration form and we will contact you with further details.

If you need direction to our campus please visit this page: http://nbbi.ca/directions/

For your convenience you may register online by filling out the form below or by calling our office between 8:00 and 5:00 PM Atlantic (Mon-Fri) at 1-800-771-6224.

We hope to see you here!

Download the brochure here or use our online form below to register.

Kurtis and Cindy Kent

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Kurtis Kent has been hired on our staff. He will serve as our full-time chef and Director of Food Services. He will also assist in our maintenance department during the summer months. Kurtis graduated from NBBI in 2008 and has since served part-time in our maintenance department and then full-time in pastoral ministry. Joining Kurtis is his wife, Cindy and sons, Dawson, Jacob and Micah.

We are also happy to welcome Mr. Derek McKinnon as a part-time faculty member in our English department. Derek works with social services, has trained as a lawyer and is finishing his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Rice University. Derek and his wife Laurie (Fraser ’94) have four sons, Josiah, Timothy, Isaiah and Gideon.

Thanks to all those who prayed for or gave financially to Vacation with a Vision and a special thanks to those who gave their time to help accomplish these projects.

Post by: Paul Long, NBBI Maintenance Director

We just had a beautiful fall weekend here on the NBBI campus.  The second week of the school year is traditionally “Harvest Fest” for our student body, organized by the student council.  They had an enjoyable time going to the Hunter Brothers’ Farm in Florenceville to make their way through the corn maize, as well as a hay ride and then other activities here on campus.  It concluded with a bonfire, song and testimony time at Riverside Park.

Some of our students did ministry this weekend at Tay Valley Bible Camp for their floor hockey tournament.  I heard that a number of young people came to know Christ as their Saviour.

I was privileged once again to speak at the Master’s Men’s Breakfast at the People’s Church in Somerville, NB.  I spoke on the priorities of a Christian man, those priorities being:  the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost); the family (wife, children, relatives) and the ministry (our local church, community and career).  Pastor Darel Tozer has organized the Master’s Men program to develop a stronger comradary of men in the church, to disciple other men, to do community service activities and promote evangelistic and missionary programs.

We are  looking forward to this third week of classes.  We have a number of missionaries and Christian workers who will be doing chapel sessions, as well as teaching some classes.

Our freshmen students are doing their devotional readings in the Gospel of John.  I read this morning in John 4 regarding Jesus’ witness to the woman at the well.  How He made a personal contact with her asking for her assistance in drawing water and using the water and the well to illustrate the gift of eternal life, new life within us springing up constantly to refresh our hearts and souls.  The Lord first spoke to her about the gift, then He spoke to her about her sin and finally, He spoke to her about the reality of Himself being the Messiah who is to be worshiped above all.  What a great impact her conversion had on her town as many came to faith in Christ through her testimony and other came to hear Jesus speak and believe upon His name.

Jesus overcame the obstacles of His weariness, of the Jew/Samaritan conflict, of the gender difficulties in that ancient culture and in religious differences regarding Jacob and his children and whether worship is in the mountains of Samaria or Jerusalem.  The Lord Jesus stayed focused on the gift of eternal life as being the main issue.  As a result, though the Samaritan woman tried, at times, to change the conversation, she ultimately confessed Christ as the Messiah.

As we journey through life, may we also take advantage of opportunities to share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Post by: Dr. R. Barry Beebe, NBBI President

• For pictures of our “Harvest Fest” activities visit: http://facebook.com/nbbi.ca
• Tay Valley Bible Camp
• Hunter Brothers’ Farm

Challenging the students to be good soldiers in the armour of God

We  have finished our first week of studies here at NBBI.  It is very encouraging to see and hear the excitement of our students, especially our freshmen as they are introduced to new classes, making new friends and eagerly accepting their responsibilities and duties for this school year.  It is always a challenge to get to know the names of our new students, learn where they are from, find out why God has led them to NBBI and what their heart beat is for Christ.

I was privileged to speak a number of times in chapel about the good fight of faith. I spoke on being a good soldier, following our good Commander, wearing the good armour of God, fighting for the good faith and standing against the evil enemy of good.  We have a Christian soldier’s armour display at the front of our chapel to symbolize Christ, His finished work at the cross and the spiritual clothing He has provided for us to win victories over our enemies.

I taught the book of Job for Old Testament Synthesis last week and we observed how Job, in that ancient day, through the grace of his God, was able to stand against all of the spiritual, physical, financial, family and marital attacks that come upon him.

I also have been teaching in our Evangelism classes regarding New Testament evangelism so aptly described in the four Great Commission statements of our Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelism class seems to be energized for this task and are in the process of sending a letter of testimony to an unsaved loved one, friend or acquaintance.  We are praying that God will touch many hearts.

Softball season begins here at NBBI soon.  We have six teams that will be competing, three in the National league and three in the American league.  This year it is my privilege to coach Beebes’ Battalion.  This is always a great way to get to know our new students and work together for the goal of winning, as well as being supportive team members.

Post by: Dr. R. Barry Beebe, NBBI President

2010-2011 Chapel Messages

Graduation 2010 - 1st Year Grads

Graduation 2010 - 3rd Year Grads

Graduation 2010 - 4th Year Grads

]]> http://nbbi.ca/2010/05/27/graduation-2010/feed/ 0 http://nbbi.ca/2010/05/04/new-nbbi-promo-video-added/ http://nbbi.ca/2010/05/04/new-nbbi-promo-video-added/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 04:36:50 +0000 NBBI http://nbbi.ca/?p=2143

Deanna Stearns, ABM/BTh Student

by Deanna Stearns, ABM (Bachelor of Theology) Student

“Deanna, would you be satisfied with only Me?” This is the question that has been on my heart and in my mind these last few months here at school. In thinking of all that God has brought me through these last (almost) four years of school here at NBBI and all that God has for me in the future I ask myself the question, “Am I satisfied and secure with Jesus alone?”

This actually was brought to my mind again the other day. Many of you who know me know that I use forearm crutches. These are what I rely on to get around and stay mobile. As I was walking the other day, one of the pins that holds them together fell out, and one of my crutches quickly broke as a result! This may seem a little bit strange, but even in this I was reminded that things of this life that I am secure in will not last. Just as my crutch broke, things that we become dependent on, other than God, will let us down and will “break”.

As I think about the end of my training here at school and the unknown future that is ahead of me, it is the prayer of my heart that whatever close friends I have to say good-bye to, whatever changes lie ahead, and whatever difficulties I may face, that I will be truly satisfied in my relationship with Christ. He is my Rock and my strength.

I ask you now…”What are you satisfied and secure in?” Whether your satisfaction is in cars, money, friendships, and even your family, please know that you will be let down! In Jesus is the only place where you will find true satisfaction. Let go of the “crutches” in your life and be satisfied in Him! “And ye are complete in Him…” Colossians 2:10.

This article appears in the April 2010 Open Bible Bulletin.

1. A $500 early registration scholarship available to all incoming freshmen who register by March 31st for the upcoming school year. (APPLY ONLINE NOW!)

2. A $500 early registration scholarship available to all upper classmen who re-register by May 31st for the upcoming school year. (APPLY ONLINE NOW!)

3. A $1,000 summer ministry scholarship available to upper classmen who work full time (for 8 weeks or more) at Christian camps, local churches or other Christian ministries. (APPLY ONLINE NOW!)

4. A $1,000 ministry scholarship for full time Christian workers who have been in ministry for 5 years or more, and who wish to take the Advanced Biblical Ministries fourth year program in their area of service. (APPLY ONLINE NOW!)

Check out all our scholarships and apply online at: http://nbbi.ca/admissions/scholarships/

Halifax Missions Team

Pray for our Halifax missions team which will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia on March break.

Members of the team are: Left to right, top row: David Beauchemin, James Newcombe. Middle row: Andrew Ardern, Kayla Lambertson, Sharayah Banks. Bottom row: Tiszandra Eatmon, Ivy Fogarty, Kendra Kay, Brianna Cross and Deanna Stearns.

MFG 2010 - Fire Department Presentations

Several hundred men from the Maritimes, New England and as far away as Saskatchewan flooded onto the NBBI campus for a challenging, yet rewarding, Men for God Rally this weekend. Lives were touched, as Dr. Michael Loftis, President of ABWE- Harrisburg, opened the Word of God and spoke directly, without hesitation, to our attentive men.

Tremendous fellowship, great food, uplifting music and good open laughter were enjoyed by each man who attended. High Meadow Quartet ministered with great effectiveness during each rally.  What a taste of heaven!

A friendly "Hose Rolling" competition

The Firefighter theme was a huge success as area firemen demonstrated the jaws of life, thermal imaging equipment and firefighter skills.  The Hartland Fire Department used the rescue equipment in our gymnasium to completely cut apart a car, and carry it piece by piece outdoors… all in under 20 minutes! The Woodstock Fire Team used a thermal imaging camera to “rescue” a man in a dark, smoke-filled room off stage, while a video feed from the camera was shown on the big screen in the auditorium.

Dr. Michael Loftis challenged us to be "Battle Ready Men."

NBBI seized this opportunity to make presentations and show our support to both the Hartland and Woodstock firemen, for their dedicated and tireless service to our communities.

Here, in the final rally, Dr. Loftis challenges the men to the key of spiritual success.  Now, we must “steal away” and reflect upon all that God has done in and through His faithful servant.

What a GREAT weekend!

Post by: Danny Robins, NBBI Business Manager

Order the 6 CD set of the conference messages by following this link.  You may also listen free to a mp3 version of the opening night’s session.

For photos of the 2010 MFG conference please visit us on  Facebook.

Andrew Ardern, NBBI Student Body President

Kids’ Quest, Teen Retreats, Fall and Spring Conferences, College for a Day and Vacation With A Vision – before becoming a student here, I attended them all. I remember the first time I stepped on campus, having a very hard time navigating the campus. I remember being led to my seat at dinner by Mr. Wiggins with his flags. I also remember staying in the dorm with some students at different retreats and thinking they were very old. I am still in contact with some of those former students, some challenged me during devotions before bed and some shared with me what they had learned in class that week.

At one Spring Conference, the men’s quartet sang the song, “A Few Good Men” by the Gaither Vocal Band. I was probably only around twelve at the time but I was deeply moved by that song and vowed to be one of those few good men whom God can depend on. At that time I knew I would be attending NBBI.

Years passed and I finally arrived on campus as a freshman. That year was a hard year for me as I struggled with different heart issues of which I was not ready to let go. Although it was a painful experience at times, I stuck to it and God taught me many lessons that year.

Last year was my junior year. That year I grew immensely and learned many lessons. God began to change my heart and develop me. I was also privileged to have a couple of classmates invest in me and strive to see me succeed.

As this year began, I was elected Student Body President. It has been a great privilege to lead the students this year. I do not know exactly what the future holds for me. However, I do not think I will know the value NBBI will have had on my life until I get to Heaven.

This article appears in the February 2010 Open Bible Bulletin.

NBBI SEM Ministry Skit

By Dr. Robert Booker, Vice President of NBBI

It has been my privilege this year to head up the Practical Christian Service involving our students. PCS is the responsibility of every student, that is, to do some kind of ministry every week during the school year.

Twelve of our students travel regularly on weekends with singing groups, five others are in the Special Events Ministry concentrating on youth and youth rallies. All of the rest of our students are active in local churches and their youth groups, Awana and Sunday Schools. Some of our men lead services, do visitation and preach on a regular basis. Four students hold Good News Clubs in the public schools and another four visit two Senior Citizens’ homes regularly. Still another four hold jail services for both men and women. The distance we travel ranges from Grand Falls to beyond Fredericton, New Brunswick and across the border into Houlton, Presque Isle and Perham, Maine.

At the beginning of the year I challenged our students to seek to have a stretching ministry experience with PCS. I challenged them to be active, work hard, pray for souls and serve the local church in any way possible. We thank the Lord that, as of December 6th, two people have received Christ as Saviour through this outreach.

I trust our students are learning, in a very practical way, how to put their Bible knowledge to use and how rewarding it is to serve our Lord and to serve others.

Please pray for the many people that are reached by PCS and for the students who faithfully reach out to them.

This article appears in the February 2010 Open Bible Bulletin.

By Mark Bredin

(This address was originally given at the 50th anniversary celebration of NBBI in October 1994.)

I am going to read from the Word of God in Deuteronomy chapter 8, pick out three verses from this passage and on them hang my thoughts as I seek to review with you, the history of New Brunswick Bible Institute.

All Scripture is not about us and this passage is not about us; it’s about a people called Israel. But all Scripture is for us and this passage is for us and the principles that are here set forth are just as applicable today as they were when they were commanded.

“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”

Well, there is our first thought. God commanded the Israelites to remember the past. Two dangers confront us when we begin to think about the past. The first is that we forget it altogether, and God warns these people against that. He uses this word `remember’ here, “remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee.” I know that Paul said we are to “forget” those things which are behind, in Philippians 3, but let me quote a good friend of mine commenting on that passage,

“To what things does the apostle refer when he speaks about forgetting those things that are behind? Did he forget the precious dealings of God with his soul throughout the whole of his wilderness journey? To that idea he would flatly say `perish the thought’! We believe he refers to all those things which have no connection with Christ. The things in which the heart might rest and nature might glory. Paul or any other child of God or servant of Christ should never forget a single scene, or a single circumstance in his whole earthly journey, which in anyway is illustrative of the goodness and the loving kindness, the tender mercy, or the faithfulness of God.”

Why, may we ask, was Israel charged to remember all the way which the Lord their God had led them? It was assuredly to draw out their hearts in praise for the past and to strengthen their confidence in God for the future.

Verse 5 of this passage says, “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.” We are not only to remember the past, we are also to consider the present. The verb `chasteneth’ is in the present tense and in Hebrews we read, “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Verse 7 says, “For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valley and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey.” We are not only to remember the past and consider the present but it seems to me, we are also to anticipate the future.

First of all, let us briefly think about the past, the past as it has to do with NBBI! How far back does NBBI go? Well, from a practical point of view, the first students arrived here in October of 1944. There were just a few on the staff, John and Maureen Parschauer, and a young lady by the name of Helen Dosso. They were all graduates of a small Bible school in Saskatchewan which I will talk about in a few moments. Helen Dosso eventually went off to Nepal, as a missionary, to spend her life with Christ out there. The Parschauers went off to Germany after ten years here at NBBI. So we have to arrive at the conclusion that this must have been a missionary school, for the first three teachers went to the mission field!

Let me take you back to those early days. The first official board meeting of NBBI was held on November 13, 1944, just a week or two after those first ten students arrived. But let us go back still further to November 13, 1856. What does that date have to do with NBBI? On that day, in the small village of Kelso, Scotland, a young man was born by the name of William Johnston Millar. Unknown to him or to any other, apart from God, this young man was destined to become one of the fathers of the Bible school movement in Canada. I call him the grandfather of NBBI.

D.L. Moody

In 1876, when he was just 20 years of age, D.L. Moody landed in Glasgow, Scotland and young William Millar attended his meetings, heard the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus and this is what I read about him, “He yielded himself to the claims of Christ and for the next 56 years until he went to heaven he demonstrated that that was a reality in his life.” He went to Africa for a short time, served in Scotland and in 1910 sailed for Canada. He was then 54 years of age and he only had another 22 years to live. In my humble opinion, these were probably the most fruitful years of his life.

Mr. Millar served with T.T. Shields for a short while at Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto, Ontario and then left to go out West. He was a Baptist pastor who concluded his last pastorate in a small town called Congress, sixty miles south of the city of Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. He had a practice in his ministry that when he concluded a pastorate he conducted two weeks of special meetings. He himself was the evangelist, and in that two weeks, after his last pastorate, there were twenty or thirty people saved. Among them were two young men who were to have a very profound influence on this school. One of them was Herbert Peeler and the other was Ed Erickson.

William J. Millar

Let me read you a little bit about Ed. “He was born in 1909 of hardy pioneering Scandinavian parents, and spent the first 21 years of his life on a farm in Vanguard, Saskatchewan, just ten miles from Pambrun. At the age of 16 his father died and Ed had to quit school, take care of his mother and the nine other children in the family. He had no formal schooling after sixteen.” Listen to what we read about him! “Liquor, the dance floor and a merry, godless living became the pattern of his life, until one day in Vanguard he was invited to some gospel meetings that were being held there.” Who do you suppose the preacher was? It was William Millar. And William Millar led Ed to Christ, as he had already done in the case of Herbert Peeler. I’ll tell you more about them a little later.

After Mr. Millar concluded his pastorate in Congress, he got on a northbound train and headed for Moosejaw. He planned to transfer to the Transcanada train and go out to Vancouver where he would take another train down to California. He was then 72 years of age. When he got off the train and was walking the platform in Moosejaw, two business men who had heard he was coming went down to the train station, walked up to Mr. Millar and said, “Mr. Millar, God has burdened our hearts to start a Bible school, and we want you to be the teacher.” Right on the spot he accepted the challenge and the Moosejaw Bible Institute was born.

Herbert W. Peeler

The school lasted for only four years. Keep in mind that the Great Depression was on in those days. Anyway, the school started and who do you think went to school that fall – Ed Erickson and Herbert Peeler. You couldn’t get a greater contrast. Brother Peeler was a genius as far as academics are concerned. Ed, remember, had to leave school when he was a teenager. He struggled in every class and through every exam. Peeler got an average of 94% in his Bible school career. Ed was a straight “C” at 71%. But do you know what, friends? God gave Herbert Peeler the gift of teaching and He gave Ed Erickson the gift of evangelism.

Ed applied to the Canadian Sunday School Mission after his first year at Bible School. One of the questions asked was, “What will you do if we don’t accept you?” Ed answered, “I’ll go anyway.” Out he went to many of the small school houses scattered all over the Prairies. Sometimes his beloved friend, Herbert Peeler travelled with him. They were there preaching the glorious gospel the night that John Parschauer, his brother William and his sister Tina were saved! The Parschauers were in a dance band at that time. On the way down to the meetings they put up posters announcing a dance, on the way back they tore them all down and they never played for another dance. Rather, they yielded their lives to the Lord Jesus! The Moosejaw Bible Institute closed its doors in 1932. There was no money to carry on!

There were two families down in Pambrun who had a vital interest in the Moosejaw Bible Institute, the Dicksons and Maureen Parschauer’s mother and father, the Gambles. They sent word to Mr. Millar after the school closed and told him that there were many young converts in their area. They invited him to come down and have Bible classes over the winter. This 76 year old man, and his young student, Herbert Peeler, who just graduated from school, took the train down to Pambrun where six girls decided to take the courses they offered. Suddenly, Mr. Millar had a stroke and within a week or two he was in heaven. Now the responsibility of this school rested on the young man who just graduated. He taught those girls that first winter, but there were young men clamouring to come also. There was a tall, skinny fellow from Pontex, just a few miles down the road named Ken Robins. His brother had attended Moosejaw, but had died suddenly. I think the death of his young brother was one of the things that arrested Ken and eventually resulted in his coming to Christ.

How were they going to house these boys? They didn’t have any buildings. But about three miles down the road, there was an old schoolhouse for sale. Mr. Dickson put in an offer of $200 for it, even though he didn’t have a dollar in his pocket. The offer was accepted. Now what was he going to do? He phoned his banker and told him, “We have a problem. We bought a building for $200 but we don’t have any money. Will you take my cheque for $200, honour the cheque and in 90 days I’ll pay you?” The banker said, “I know you well. I’ll accept your cheque.” So they moved this little one room schoolhouse into Pambrun, partitioned off the back ten feet to make two bedrooms and a narrow hallway, and turned the 6′ x 6′ porch into a kitchen. Ken Robins, John Parschauer and two other young men landed there to join the six girls. The year was 1933.

John and Ken roomed together in one of the small bedrooms for three years. I saw a picture the other day in which the four boys were standing behind a blackboard. They had made a sign and as soon as I looked at it I could see Ken Robins all over it! In his beautiful handwriting he wrote, “Champion Cooks of Canada!” Then he drew a great big pot with one handle. Underneath it was the word “porridge.” The fellows had to cook for themselves in those early days and they had lots of turnips and porridge. The girls were in the other little building doing their own cooking as well.

It was my privilege recently to see that building. They had a full blown Bible school going. There were two bedrooms in the back of the old schoolhouse, a cook house in the front and a chapel and the classroom in the middle. They had ten students and one wonderful teacher, Herbert Peeler! Last May, just after he had resigned from teaching, Mr. Peeler told me that he had taught for 60 years during which time he had never missed one class! When I met him, slept in his home and chatted with him, I said to myself, “I know now why NBBI had such wonderful men of God in its beginnings such as John Parschauer and Ken Robins!” So in 1933 that small school started.

How interesting! There was at that same time a young fellow by the name of Mark Bredin. Ken and I were born in the same year. I was living in the town of Orangeville, Ontario and was out peddling bread, the best bread in town, “Bredins’ Bread.” A fellow asked me, “What are you doing Sunday?” I went up to the door with my basket of bread, buns, cakes, tarts, cookies and you name it we had it, and I said, “Well I work on Sunday.” We always baked a day ahead in those days. I worked seven days a week and I got the big wage of $7 plus board for that work. The only secular job I ever had in my life paid a dollar a day. That was great preparation for the work of God, great preparation for coming to NBBI! I thought I was a millionaire when I came here and made $75.00 a month. That was big money when you consider that at the first official board meeting of the Moosejaw Bible Institute, they passed a motion granting Mr. Millar $40 a month. He was the only teacher they had and he taught all day long for $40 a month. In that same meeting they passed another motion in which they inducted a man by the name of A.L. Stewart as the President of the Board. A.L. Stewart was my wife’s uncle. The Bredins are connected to A.L. Stewart, a wonderful man of God. By the way, in that second class in Pambrun there was another fellow named Stewart, Art Stewart. He was a cousin to my wife. He became a evangelist for God. I guess that’s why God brought us here.

So off into the work of God they went. Ken and John roomed together for three years and then went out into the work of God. They both got their eyes on the two young girls who eventually became their wives. By the way, Ken Robins graduated in the spring, and joined the staff in the fall. From the very first year of his graduation until the year of his death, he was a teacher in Bible schools. John joined the staff of the Briercrest Bible Institute.

We’d better back up for a minute. Another young man, in 1927, had come up from the States to the city of Winnipeg. He had a great passion to reach boys and girls for Christ, and out of his ministry the Canadian Sunday School Mission was born. What a combination, friends! I heard a veteran missionary from Germany who was at the very first camp at the Canadian Sunday School Mission. She told me that at that camp they had two tents, one was for the sinners and the other was for the saints. All the kids who weren’t saved went into “the sinners’ tent.” As soon as they got saved, the very day, they transferred them over to “the saints’ tent!” Get them saved and then teach them the Word of God and how to live for Christ. It is no marvel to me that the three Western Provinces of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba had more Bible schools per capita than any place in the world. They also sent more missionaries per capita to the foreign fields than any place in the world. Authorities tell us that 75% of all evangelical missionaries come out of the Bible school movement in North America. We shouldn’t be ashamed to be a Bible School friends. I’m not ashamed of it. I believe that the Bible School movement has done more to reach this needy world for Christ than any other movement.

Eventually, after teaching at Millar Memorial Bible Institute for some years, Ken and Ruth were married and travelled to Winnipeg. Ken became the director of the Canadian Sunday School Mission for Manitoba. John was interested in the Canadian Sunday School Mission as well, but how in the world did he get all the way down to New Brunswick?

The year was 1938 and the place was in the backwoods of Juniper, New Brunswick. It was a “don’t blink your eye when you go through, or you’ll miss it” type of place! There was a woods camp up there with a man running it by the name Clayton B. Clark. At that time, he was a godless person. Into the camp one day in 1938, walked a young missionary. He was a Shantyman by the name of Ken McLellan whom I had the privilege of meeting some years later. He visited me up in Northern Quebec and I remember him so well, a wonderful man of God. He asked Mr. Clark for the privilege of having a meeting with his men. Mr. Clark said, “Yes you can have a meeting but don’t count me in, I will not be there!” Ken McLellan eventually said to him, “Mr. Clark it’s your choice, but if you continue on this course you’ll end up in hell.” That was a short, brief, to the point sermon! God the Holy Spirit took that word of exhortation to Mr. Clark’s heart and in a short while he was in the hospital with lots of time to think about it. God began to convict him of his lost state. As soon as he got out of the hospital he hurried over to his uncle’s place at the top of the Hartland Hill. His uncle, Mr. Wells Shaw was a Primitive Baptist preacher. Mr. Clark yielded his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, in New Brunswick, just five years after the boys graduated from the Bible school out west.

Mr. W. J. Hill, from the Saint John, New Brunswick area, was out west and met up with the director of CSSM, Mr. Aikenhead. Mr. Aikenhead found out he was from New Brunswick and was very interested in him as he wanted this mission to stretch right across Canada. The only name that Hill could come up with was the name of C.B. Clark. He said, “When you go to New Brunswick, get a ticket to Hartland, and ask for a man by the name of C.B. Clark.” That’s exactly what happened and that explains why NBBI is located in a place called Victoria, N.B., rather than St. John or Halifax or Moncton!

The very next year two young ladies, Gladys Wakeland and Alberta Davis came down. They stayed for a year and travelled by bicycle all around the back roads of this area, visiting schools and reaching boys and girls for Christ, initiating the work of the Canadian Sunday School Mission. Because of their efforts, the mission decided to send a man to pioneer the work. Who did they think of? Well, they thought of a man who was a pioneer, John Parschauer. While He was in Saskatchewan, teaching at the Briercrest Bible Institute, they invited him to come to New Brunswick.

Let me read what he wrote to me just a short while ago, “I arrived in Hartland in the spring of 1943. I was unofficially engaged to Maureen. I stayed with Clayton Clark that year and he offered me a car and told me that there was no church or Sunday School out back or East of Hartland.” So, Mr. Parschauer began his ministry. This is what he said about it here, “After that, I visited many public schools – invited myself in. I sang a couple of choruses and made known the Bible memory contest.” For learning 33 Bible verses each child would get a New Testament and if they memorized 300 verses, they could come to camp for a week for free! So CSSM came into action down here.

Ed came along in 1944 with Mr. Peeler and had a V.B.S. down in Sackville, NB in the Main Street Baptist Church (one of the oldest Baptist churches in Canada). In that campaign some were saved who became the first students at NBBI. Mr. Erickson, Mr. Peeler, Mr. Parschauer and Mr. Robins were also there! Because they needed V.B.S. workers and could not get them, they decided to start a Bible school. John went back after that first year, married Maureen and in 1944 they landed in Hartland. Mr. Clark had an empty house in Rosedale and NBBI started. There were just three teachers, John and Maureen Parschauer, and Helen Dosso, and ten students. The next year the campus was moved to Victoria, and Ken and Ruth came along to help. The very next year the Bredins blew in. Ruth, Mildred and I have been here since. My beloved friend Ken has gone on before to Heaven.

What do you need to have a Bible School? First of all, you need to have a faithful God. That means He is true to His Word, He answers prayer and He stands behind His promises. Then you need to have a man of God. That’s how the Moosejaw Bible Institute, the Millar Memorial Bible Institute, the Briercrest School and Prairie Bible Institute came into being and that’s how New Brunswick Bible Institute got started. John Parschauer came to Victoria, N.B. along with his godly wife, Maureen.

Then you need a board, a group of men to assume the leadership of the organization. Well, that board was already established. It was the board of the Canadian Sunday School Mission. It also became the first board of the New Brunswick Bible Institute and consisted of: C.B. Clark, Chairman; William Fraser, Treasurer; C.E. Rideout (a potato dealer in Hartland,) Vice Chairman; Gurston Day (who had a little transportation business in Hartland;) and Zanner Orser. How could I forget Mr. Orser? He was blind and when he prayed you could hear him a block away. How he cried out to God in those board meetings. Finally, John Parschauer was also on that board. Ken Robins became part of the board in 1945.

A very interesting gentleman by the name William `Billy’ McGee, born right across the river, went to Houlton, Maine as a young man. God caused him to prosper in his business and he was very frugal in his life. Billy McGee had prayed for years that God would start a Bible school in Houlton. He supported Bible schools all over the place such as Moody Bible Institute, a school down in Los Angeles and London Bible Institute when it started. When NBBI was born he said this is the answer to my prayer and I now turn all my interest away from every other school to NBBI.

He was a shrewd business man, he always had a deal in his hands. When they bought this property in Victoria for $4,000, Billy McGee said, “I’ll give you $2,000; you raise $2,000. For every dollar you raise, I’ll give you a dollar.” That was his scheme. Everytime we had a big deal. Every dollar you raise I’ll give you one. I don’t know how many thousands of thousands of dollars he gave to NBBI. He came to live with us the last year of his life. That was the deal – I’ll build your house, if you let me live there. The little house on the hill cost $6,000. He gave us $3,000, and we had a room there for Billy McGee. He had a very quaint saying. He used to write to us who were on the board saying, “Do what can.” That was his favourite expression. When he went home to heaven, he left the residue of his estate to NBBI. At that very same moment, the property across the road came up for sale and there was more than enough money in his estate to buy it. People had prayed for years that NBBI might have that place, but the old lady who owned it said, “I’ll burn it down before they get it!” We bought the ten acres of land and the two buildings for $9000. Billy McGee bought it with his money after he went to heaven.

In 1946 Bill Simonson, Wilbur Brownrigg, Robert McLean and I all became part of the board. A little later Walter Whitehouse joined us. His beloved wife got saved and she began to pray for Walter. Eventually after one year he got saved and became one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Church in Somerville. Glen Duff joined the board in 1952. He is now our present Chairman. Then came Emery Tozer and Ivan Smith and, of course, many, many more since.

Every one of the original board members that I sat with and prayed with and discussed with, apart from John Parschauer, is in heaven today.

You not only have to have a man and a board, but you also have to have a staff. I told you how God had prepared the original staff, two young men from Saskatchewan and their wives, then Mildred and I. We were having Youth for Christ meetings in Halifax in those days, and I was the director. I was always looking for speakers. Lindsay Johnstone, who was in the first class of this school, blew into Halifax and came in one night saying he was giving his testimony! He said, “Jack Wyrtzen asked me!” Jack was our speaker that night.

Lindsay told us about this school and eventually we invited John Parschauer to speak at our rally. I can remember John, Maureen and little Donna coming in that old Chevy. They found out my wife was an English teacher which they were in desperate need of, so they hired her and had to take me in the deal! (By the way, the same year that John Parschauer ended up down here in N.B., I also came through New Brunswick. I was headed for Halifax. I had never been East before in my life and the day after I landed, I met the best girl in Nova Scotia! And the Lord, in His mercy, gave her to me as my wonderful wife.) Then Ernie Klassen and Harold Duff came along, and I better not forget these two men and their wives, Clarence and Shirley Knowles and my beloved neighbours and friends, Joe and Gladys Kerr. Clarence came on staff on the very day he finished his first year at Bible school. He was student and staff. Then when he graduated he joined us full-time. I marvel at them. No matter how early I got up, I saw Clarence heading out for the barn to milk the cows when all the students were on vacation. I saw Joe getting that old machine out to plough the yard. I saw them as they trained young people outside the classroom. The students learned a thousand lessons from these men which they couldn’t have from us, however brilliant we were as teachers!

Then an Irishman by the name of Bob Dowie came along. He became a member of the “big three.” You see, some of the big three had dropped off! Ken, John and I were the original big three. John left and Harold Duff, Ken and I became the “big three.” Then Mr. Duff left and Bob Dowie took his place.

I better not forget to mention Marion Young and Marion Graham. I used to say to Marion Young, “I have three consciences: the first is inside of me, my wife is the second and you are the third!” What my wife couldn’t tell me to do, Marion Young sure managed to.

You’ve got a man, you’ve got a board and you’ve got a staff. Of course, you need students, don’t you? I went out the other day and just looked around at the photos in the foyer. I often do that. Let me draw to your attention a few names from those early classes. Med Wry. If you knew Med, you will remember his favourite saying, “Thus saith the Lord!” He was a great evangelist for God, a great lover of young people and a great worker at camps, in the woods and wherever else he could preach the gospel. Med is in heaven now! John Jones was also in that first class, along with his wife, Faith. In the second class was Ken Garnett! Ken is in heaven now as well. That was a wonderful class. There were six in that class and five of them went to the mission field, the highest percentage of any class that ever graduated from NBBI! They went to six different countries; Bolivia, Panama, South Africa, Brazil, Chad and France.

In 1949, Verna Lawson was born in a little place out back of Woodstock. Verna was saved in the Woodstock Baptist Church. She was the first graduate of NBBI to go to the great subcontinent of India. Fern Dunnett, went to heaven just a few months ago. She had gone to the Sudan in Africa and served the Lord until she was invalided home. In the next year Sterling and Joyce Clark went to British Guyana, South America. In 1952, who could forget Jean Shepherd – vivacious Jean? To receive one of her prayer letters was to be lifted to the heavenlies. She is now retired from the mission field, after serving all those years in Ethiopia. Then, Wilbur Matthews went to the revival meetings up in Sillikers. He got saved, his sister got saved and his brother got saved. The three of them all went into the service of God. Wilbur went to Kenya to serve the Lord. I was there just after the revival, and also had the joy of teaching others who were saved. Gene Tozer and his little wife, Nita came. They were saved that week too. I tell you, God did more in one week than we can do in ten years, in the moving of the Spirit of God. Bob Dunlop and Marge were in that class. A Missionary Pastor is what I call him, a great preacher of the Word of God.

The next year, in 1954, Mable Ayer was the first to go to HCJB in Ecuador. She also went to heaven just a few months ago. Out of the first eight classes, fifteen grads are now in heaven! Isn’t that amazing. There are three former staff members in heaven, Ken Robins, Maureen Parschauer and Loela McClure, who was a secretary here for a short time.

And what more shall I say. For time would fail me to tell of Edgar Garnett, Vi Hope, Don Wilson, Carroll Hill and Ronello Knightly. They were around here in the days of wooden ships and iron men. They were giants. I remember Carroll and Ronello swimming in the St. John river with the ice cakes floating by! God sent them up north. Carroll, is the director of the largest Indian mission in Canada. Ronello, a fellow who had such a struggle with his studies, is a field director out west for the same mission.

I could tell you a few things about men by the names of John Hoag, Bob Booker, Dave Doherty, John Boyd and John McKim. And then there are Wayne Carter and Eric Rozelle, my wonderful friends. They are also in heaven! Marianne Carter called me on the anniversary of her dear husband’s funeral. I remember when she was just a little girl. She gave her life to be a missionary. Then I got to thinking about all those campus kids. The Robins, the Dowies and the Knowles, they produced a Bible school by themselves!

I wrote this down, “What a joy, what a privilege to be a teacher.” I have spoken of just a few students. There are so many others, including many of you who are graduates.

The Bible school movement is now well into its second century. The first Bible school in North America was founded in New York in 1882. Listen to its name, “The Missionary College for Home and Foreign Missionaries and Evangelists.” What a name! Who do you suppose founded that school? Well, he was a Canadian and a Maritimer, if you will. He was born on P.E.I. and his name was A.B. Simpson. D.L. Moody also came along and he founded the Moody Bible Institute just four or five years later. And all of that followed a very significant event. In 1858 there was mighty revival in the Eastern United States. I am told that American churches added 1 million converts within a space of 18 months!

Let me quote, “As Bible institutes, we enter the second century and we not only enjoy great success, but we face severest tests.” This was a message given at the 100th anniversary of Moody Bible Institute by its Vice President, Dr. Kenneth Hanna. He said “We are now living in the down side of expansion. More schools are competing for fewer students. Bible college enrolments have declined by 11.9% in the last four years.” So I guess we better just settle it. Do the best job we can with what we’ve got. Teach them the Word of God. Teach them to do the will of God. Students expect education that leads to employability and if that’s why our students are here, they are in the wrong place. The reason for this place is to train young men and women to serve the Lord.

“A permissive society has also taken its toll on evangelicals,” says Pollster, George Gallup, Jr. After doing a survey, he wrote these words, “There is no doubt that religion is growing, but we find there is very little difference in ethical behaviour between church goers and those who are not active religiously.” Righteousness is not growing, friends!

Here’s what Dr. Hanna said we should do as we face the second 100 years of Bible school ministry:

1. “We must reaffirm our historic purpose. God has raised up a distinctive kind of school to meet the spiritual needs around the world. Each institution must carefully examine why it came into being. Bible schools dare not change their mission. The future belongs to those who know who they are and why they exist.” Those are good words for us at NBBI.
2. “We must sharpen our focus. With limited resources they must learn to do a few things well. Broadening the program to attract students is often self-defeating. In the process, distinctions are blurred and quality diluted. Successful Bible schools must specialize. They must know who and what their students are. Historically, Bible schools have given ordinary people a chance to learn the Word of God and become servants of Christ.” That is certainly true and has been for all these years at NBBI.

“We must be servants in the institutions.” By love, serve! The old adage of find the need and fill it still applies. “Bible schools that identify and meet the real spiritual needs of people are still in demand, so are their graduates.”

This is what he told his audience at Moody Bible Institute. I think they are excellent words for all of us at the New Brunswick Bible Institute; for board members, for staff members, for students and even for those of us who are retirees, as we face the future!

This message (edited for length) was given by Mark Bredin at our 50th anniversary celebration in October of 1994

FREE* Concert @ NBBI Monday, November 30th, 2009 @ 7:30 PM

Geoff Moore is one of the most beloved artists in Christian music. For over 20 years he has played music all over the world. First with his long time band “The Distance”, and now as a solo artist.

Geoff is a multi-Grammy nominated and Dove Award winner. And through his relationship with Compassion, Geoff has been an advocate for the poor – both in his professional and personal lives.

Geoff has recently released his 16^th album “Speak to Me”, and he’s going to be here with us at NBBI.  .

Please  join us as we welcome Geoff Moore representing Compassion on Monday night November 30th, at 7:30pm.

Links:

Compassion – http://www.compassion.com

Geoff Moore – http://www.geoffmoore.com