We have been following this wonderful story as Jonathan Dowdy, an NBBI Advanced Biblical Ministries graduate of 2007, has been sending us email updates. We wanted to share this with you so that you can praise God with this family and pray for continued growth for this dear child. I asked Jonathan to give us a brief overview of their journey. This is their story. On May 8th God surprised us when our little girl, Rejoice Elizabeth, was born at 24 weeks 1 day gestation. She weighed less than 2 lbs., was quickly intubated, and was flown from Augusta to Bangor, Maine where she spent 106 days in NICU. We watched her have good days and bad days. But even on her bad days, we saw God’s mighty hand doing wonders in her life. God reminded us that His grace is sufficient for each moment (2 Corinthians 12:9). We had the privilege to meet and pray with many other NICU parents, pointing them to Christ. As Rejoice was discharged, her doctor commented, “I think you should know that she has been a ray of sunshine for all of us.” Praise God that even in the hardest days of our lives, He is faithful and will not fail us! He showed us in many ways that her premature birth was exactly what He had planned “that the works of God should be made manifest in [her]” (John 9:3). We are rejoicing that God brought Rejoice home to us, weighing 6 lbs. 4 oz. How excited the boys were to meet their sister for the first time!
BY LARRY RUSHTON
As Registrar at New Brunswick Bible Institute, I am constantly looking at prospective student numbers, comparing month-to-month, year-to-year and watching trends in the educational systems. Moving into this pandemic, we were uncertain how our enrollment would be affected. Well, we now begin another year with the COVID-19 pandemic still holding ground, causing restrictions and regulation to be in place in our province and country. But, in spite of that, God continues to bless and we are able to continue to train young people in the Word of God. Many have asked if COVID-19 has shut us down or made a difference in our enrolment numbers. The answer to the first question is no, it has not shut us down. As I write this article, we are accepting students with no restrictions from all Canadian provinces. We are accepting students from the United States of America, as well. It means a little more paperwork on our part and testing before crossing the border but our US friends are still allowed to enter Canada and study here. We have even welcomed a new student from Brazil this year. For international students who are not fully vaccinated, it means a 14-day isolation period but we are able to accommodate that and provide for their needs. Meals are delivered to the dorms from our kitchen staff and our Deans strive to make it as comfortable for these students as possible. Students who are isolating are able to join classes online during those two weeks and will be able to
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
Jonathan, Ann and their six children live in Unity, Maine. Jonathan serves the Lord with Child Evangelism Fellowship of Maine. 4
OPEN BIBLE BULLETIN
ENROLLMENT IN A PANDEMIC
Editor................................................. Larry Rushton Writers.............Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni Typist................................................. Brenda Cabral Layout & design...........................................Larry Rushton Copy proof..............................................Rose Meed Printer.................................................Merritt Press
For weekly updates visit us at nbbi.ca/connect
attend all classes and activities without restriction once they are released from isolation.
VOL. 62 NO. 11 NOVEMBER 2021
The answer to the second question is a little more difficult to answer. Yes, I believe it has slightly affected our numbers. I know of at least a few students who had decided not to come because of COVID-19. It is also true that our faculty have not been able to be on-the-road, speaking in various churches and camps, representing our school. We also have not been able to hold conferences and retreats which brings many prospective students to our campus. BUT! God is in control! We believe He has brought us the students we have and we are ready to train them to do His will, even if it means, in some ways, we are bound; in some ways we may experience a little discomfort or difficulty.
FOCUS
BY MATTHEW LITTLE
Looking back at last year, we had a terrific year. I believe our students and staff bonded and made it a special year. God gives grace in our struggles and causes us to thrive in the midst of turmoil, for His strength and peace are sufficient! Our retention of students is good and, even though freshman numbers are down slightly, we are forging on, doing the task that God has placed before us and teaching these students to honour God with their lives. We ask you now to pray for us. We are looking forward to another year of blessings from our God and we covet your partnership in this ministry.
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Give online: Click the Donate Now button. Make a one-time gift or choose the recurring option for automatic monthly support. Give by mail: Send your cheque payable to: New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S. Donors: East Hodgdon Bible Church Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828 Give by e-transfer: Send an e-Transfer via the bank of your choice to nbbibusiness@gmail.com. For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224).
Filling The Shoes Of A Spiritual Giant
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FAMILY FILE
I have three daughters, ages 21, 19, and 17. When they were all little, they would entertain my wife and me by trying to wear my shoes. It was humorous, to say the least, to watch a two-year-old tramping around in size 10 sneakers. They did it because they wanted to be like dad. In the same way, most of us can point to spiritual giants in our lives and feel like their shoes are too big to fill. There may be a sense of inadequacy that overwhelms us. Such feelings are warranted if success is based upon what we bring to the table. However, since God is the one who both “calls” and “equips”, these feelings of inadequacy, although genuinely felt, should not prevent the believer from moving forward. We must also consider that God’s plan does not rise or fall with one believer. Chuck Swindoll, in his book on Moses, said, “When a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.” It is wrong to think that God’s work will stop due to the departure of a giant of the faith. In Numbers 14, we are reminded of Moses’ sin of unbelief. God would not permit him to enter the promised land, and instead, he would die on the border of Canaan. What are we as God’s people to do? After all, Moses was the spiritual
giant, who helped deliver the Israelites from Egypt and led them for 40 years through the wilderness. Who would dare think they could ever fill his shoes? Numbers 27 gives us some key principles to consider when tackling the issue of filling the shoes of spiritual giants. First, verse 16 says, “Let the Lord... set a man over the congregation”. As God’s work continues, we must remember that He had called the “Spiritual Giant” Moses and it would be the Lord who would prepare the individual that would replace him. Second, verse 17 says that Moses pleaded with the Lord to replace him with a man “which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” The Lord honoured that request. What truly makes a spiritual giant is not a man or woman with charisma, an individual who is a genius, or one who is preoccupied with his or her own giftedness. God is looking for people who have a shepherd’s heart; individuals who love people, serve people, understand people and will humbly lead them where God wants them to go. If you have those traits you can fill anyone’s shoes.
Finally verse 20 says, “And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.” Moses was commanded to take Joshua and publicly affirm him as the new leader. God was saying, “Moses, support this man”. If you live long enough to be able to pass along a ministry to another, do so and then get out of the way. As great a man as Moses was, Joshua proved to be a spiritual giant also. Don’t let a sense of inadequacy stop you from moving forward in a life of service to God. After all, we should not be nearly as impressed with the servant of God as we should be with the God of that servant.
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