ALUMNI MEETINGS
New Brunswick
AFTER 42 YEARS OF SERVICE
Bible institute GOD’S PURPOSE
OUR PASSION
WITH WILBUR MATTHEWS June 4, 2015, 7:00 pm at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Albert Dean, 870 Route 170, Oak Bay, NB.
OPEN BIBLE
June 8, 2015, 7:00 pm at the home of Pastor & Mrs. Mitch Whittington, 125 Summerhill Drive, Moncton, NB.
VOL. 56 NO. 6 JUNE 2015
FAMILY FILE
BULLETIN
KEEP UP WITH OUR GRADS
BIRTHS
FOCUS
March 29, 2015 - to Shawn (’11) and Ale (Corts ’11) Andres, a son, Seth Lucas.
BY KEITH MCMAHON
THE GRUDGE
HOME WITH THE LORD John Watson, NBBI graduate of 1962, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 29th after preaching the morning service earlier in the day. He and his wife Rosine (Fairley ’62) were married for 52 years. ALUMNEWS YOSHITO & EMI TOIDA
Yoshito graduated from our Associate program in 2006. Emi graduated from the Advanced Biblical Ministries, B.Th., program in 2005. In 2008 Yoshito and Emi were married. In 2010 Yoshito graduated from a theological seminary in Japan and then pastored until 2013. Yoshito and Emi now live in Charlotte, North Carolina where Yoshito started working as a Japanese Web Announcer at Bible Broadcasting Network this past November. 4
RETIREMENT - JOHN & HEATHER HOAG Chancellor, John Hoag joined the NBBI staff in 1972. In 1978 he became Principal Under Appointment and in 1979 he took over as Principal. In that position he served faithfully, leading our team for 25 years. In 2002, Mr. Hoag began to hand over the reigns of leadership and in April of 2003 he became NBBI’s first Chancellor. While handing over his administrative duties, he continued to teach and travel for the school in a fulltime capacity. During the Saturday night meeting of our Spring Bible Conference, Mr. & Mrs.
Hoag were honoured for their 42 years of service. The Hoags’ daughters, Dawn and Dodi sang and their son, David gave tribute to his father. President, Matthew Little presented Mr. Hoag with a plaque and gift from the Board of Directors, and long-time friend and co-worker, Bob Booker shared a few memories from their time of service together. All were invited to the dining hall afterwards for cake and refreshments. In Mr. Hoag’s retirement, he will continue to teach Church History at NBBI and travel as the Lord allows. Thank you for your years of service!
LADIES’ CONFERENCE October 16-17, 2015 with author and speaker, Cynthia Heald, coming up
New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB Canada E7P 1C7 Phone: (506)375-9000 Fax: (506)375-1800 Website: nbbi.ca Email: nbbi@nbbi.ca
Editor........................................Larry Rushton Writers........NBBI Faculty, Staff & Students Typist........................................Brenda Cabral Layout & design.............................Larry Rushton Copy proof.................................... Rose Meed Printer....................................... Merritt Press
Printed in Canada
April 7, 2015 - to Gerald (Assoc. ’11) and Rachel (Goode, Assoc. ’09) Buchanan, a son, Kiet Evan James.
Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40012001
April 1, 2015 - to Deven (attended ’05-’08) and Heather (MacRaild ’05) MacDonald, a daughter, Evelyn Ashley.
A number of years ago I directed some of our students in a skit entitled “The Grudge.” The essence of the skit was that a person was holding a grudge (personified by an unseen, continuously growing, hideous creature that was being hidden away in the person’s closet). In the skit, the “grudge police” showed up to remove it from the premises, because “it is not lawful for individuals to harbour grudges.” The person being questioned about harbouring the grudge initially denied it but was soon found out. Once the grudge was identified it had to be eliminated. According to the skit, and as we observe in real life, the way grudges are eliminated is by forbearing with or, if needful, forgiving the one who has offended us. This skit is a bit humorous to be sure. But the message it communicates is no laughing matter. Likely there have been times when each of us has been guilty of harbouring a grudge against another. The problem with holding a grudge, as small and innocent as it may appear to us, is that it tends to grow...and do great harm to us and others. Hebrews 12:14-15 provides us with wise insight on grudge-holding: “Follow peace with all men...Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Our tendency, at times, might be to harbour a grudge against an individual who has either wronged us, or at least we have perceived that we’ve been wronged. Colossians 3:12-13 quietly reminds believers of their obligation before God to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” As I sat at my desk writing this article a student came and knocked on my door. She shared with me that she had been meditating on Psalm 103, and had been learning with great joy, that God wasn’t mad at her for how she had lived prior to surrendering to the Lord. She stated that for the longest time she thought God must be mad at her for disappointing Him, so long ago. Through her reading of the Scriptures she realized that, according to verse 10-14: “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth
that we are dust.” I wish you could have seen the look of sincere relief on this student’s face as she came to grips with God’s incredible mercy towards her. I guess God isn’t harbouring any grudges against us for our frail, feeble missteps...and so probably we shouldn’t harbour any grudges against others.
ON THE ROAD
STAFF ITINERARIES
MATTHEW LITTLE June 24 - July 3 Camp Good News Livermore Falls, ME CYIA Camp
VacationVision with a
Why not join us this year for our Vacation With A Vision program? The dates are June 28-July 3, and July 5-10, 2015.
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PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE
BY MATTHEW LITTLE
A Tribute to John Hoag There have only been a handful of people who, I can truly say, have impacted my life at a deep level. You see, you can impress people from a distance but you can only impact people up close. I have had the privilege, over the past number of years, of serving the Lord alongside my father-in-law, John Hoag. We have travelled many miles together, worked alongside students and taught the Word of God together. Along this journey, I have borne evidence to the faithful, godly ministry of this man. As I contemplate the impact of John Hoag’s ministry, three words come to mind. 1. Confidence - This is not self-confidence but a confidence in who God is and what God had called him to do. A person can handle all that life brings his way if he believes that God is faithful and God
has called him there. “Faithful is He that calleth you who also will do it.” We live in a culture which is not sure of anything and often we take pride in that. Mr. Hoag knows that God is faithful, knew God’s call was upon his life and knew that with God all things are possible. 2. Conviction - Mr. Hoag is a man of conviction. Peter Marsha, a Scottish preacher, once said, “Give us clear vision that we may know where we stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.” Often, what a man might stand for today may prove to be negotiable tomorrow. Mr. Hoag believed God’s Word fully; stood on it boldly and would not waver no matter what the tides of popular opinions were saying. I have admired and do admire him for that. I would rather know what a man believes and disagree with him than not know what he believes.
3. Consistency - Consistency is a rare gem today and I have evidenced this in Mr. Hoag’s life. He has taught the Word of God at NBBI for over 40 years and has remained a model of consistency. Many today change their beliefs like they change their shoes but with Mr. Hoag, “What you see is what you get.” I am thankful and the ministry of NBBI is thankful for the faithful ministry of Mr. Hoag. In speaking to the believers at Philippi Paul said, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17). Like Paul, who poured out his life like a drink offering for the sake of believers to whom he ministered, Mr. Hoag has poured a lifetime of faithful service into the ministry of NBBI. He has left a powerful example to follow and I am truly thankful for it.
Associate Diploma of Biblical and Theological Studies 2
Diploma of Biblical and Theological Studies
Diploma of Advanced Biblical Ministries Bachelor of Theology Degree 3