The Open Bible Bulletin - June 2023

VisionVacation 2023

Have you ever considered how you might be able to partner with NBBI in helping train today the leaders of tomorrow? If you have some time and a willing heart, we can put you to work. Every year we host Vacation with a Vision, which is an opportunity for God’s people to come to our campus and help us complete some much-needed summer projects. Our facilities are necessary components of our training program. Students enjoy the many improvements we have made to our campus over the years and many of those projects have been completed through our Vacation with a Vision program. Whether you can come for a day, a few days, or a week, we can use your help. We will house you, feed you, and provide you with opportunities to meet other believers and enjoy great fellowship. We also have a children’s program throughout the day for kids age 5-12. We would love for you to prayerfully consider joining us.

June 23-25

Births

FYI

If you are looking for ministry job opportunities, we have listings on our website.

Go to nbbi.ca/jobs

June 28-30

March 24, 2023 - to Lisa (Harms, Assoc. ’17) and Cornelius Klassen, a daughter, Allison Ranae.

Error Correction

We apologize! In the May Open Bible Bulletin’s “President’s Challenge”, the article began... In a recent interview, Pierce Morgan, a famed British journalist.... The correct spelling of his name is Piers Morgan.

April 11, 2023 to Levi (ABM/B.Th. ’21) and Jessica (Freeland, ABM/B.Th. ’18) Younker, a daughter, Mickey Lou.

June

Our Financial Goal: $40,000.

Projects: - Complete the renovation of both bathrooms in Liberty Hall (Ladies’ dorm). This will complete our multiphase dorm project which began in 2019.

- Build an addition onto the dining hall for much-needed storage for tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, etc.

- Process the wood needed for our outdoor wood furnace for the winter of 2023-2024.

- Various painting, carpentry, maintenance projects around campus.

BY MIKE GRANT A Challenge To

Men

In June, we celebrate Father’s Day. I recently read a sobering article that discussed father-absent homes. I’m sure we are all aware of how the number of fatherless homes in North America has grown to very concerning levels. We also know that the absence of a father in a child’s life impacts him or her negatively. Often as these children transition into adolescence, many turn to substance abuse or crime and struggle with depression or even suicide. It’s easy to get upset and to point the finger at men that have abandoned their families, but let’s not forget that a father doesn’t have to physically leave the home to be absent in his children’s lives or to impact them negatively.

My wife and I are not perfect parents. We’ve made many mistakes in raising our own three sons as well as during our six years in Bolivia as dorm parents for high school girls. During that time of caring for teenagers, we had the unique experience of hearing all about the girls’ positive and negative perceptions of their parents. Then, they would

go home for school breaks and their parents would hear the good, bad, and ugly about us! It was a growing time for us for sure! One thing I remember taking note of during those years is what Paul says in Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Often, we think that this refers to a father that is extreme in discipline. However, there are many ways a father can provoke his children to wrath. That could include modeling sinful behaviour, neglecting to spend time with them, failing to listen to them, finding fault with everything they do, putting them down, comparing them to others, and putting unrealistic expectations on them.

Fathers, the Lord has entrusted our children to us. Even if you aren’t a father, you likely have an influence on children in a church setting, at camp, or within your family. Let’s carefully evaluate our responsibility as men in our families to not only be present but also to demonstrate the love of Christ and teach children the truth of God’s Word. Maybe we should accept the challenge given to Israelite

men in Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 6, and 11:19. I encourage you to read and meditate on these verses this Father’s Day and let it be your goal.

Emmanuel Bible Camp Upton, PEI Rikapuna Missions

Tay Bible Camp Taymouth, NB Ball Hockey Event

PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

How To Become A Leader-Follower

Some might say that what Christianity needs is more great leaders; Those that will forge the path and pave the way. After all, who doesn’t want to be the one rallying the troops, calling the shots and leading the charge? If you were to enter a brick and mortar bookstore (there are not many left), you would find whole sections devoted to “How To Be a Leader”. This is because our culture doesn’t aspire to anything less than being the person at the top. How many “follower” sections of a bookstore have you been to?

I want to suggest to you that Jesus was the greatest “follower” who ever lived. You read that right and I stand by that statement. What was the most powerful aspect of Jesus’ life? Jesus said Himself in John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the

CAMPUS NEWS

BY ANN GERARDI

An Evening In Ancient Greece

Every year, the junior class is responsible for hosting the annual NBBI Spring Banquet in honour of the graduating senior class. The junior class began planning the Spring Banquet in September and, after months of planning and preparation and hours of hard work building and painting, they brought the school back in time to Ancient Greece.

As guests, including students, staff, and board members, entered the building, they were met with a simple but elegant sign reading “Welcome to Ancient Greece.” All around the hallway and main lounge were various Greek decorations including pillars, greenery, and candles. White drapes on the windows added a tasteful addition. Covering an entire wall was the major decoration: a massive Greek-architectual building with fifteen alcoves built into it. Each alcove featured a Greek-style head silhouette of a senior. The senior’s name was painted in both Greek and English.

will of him that sent me.” The greatest accomplishment of our Saviour was not that He became the leader of a band of misfit disciples but that He surrendered completely to the will of His Father in heaven. So what is the point? Leaders are important but being a follower is more important. In fact, the greatest leaders are the greatest followers. The primary way Christians are viewed in the Bible is as followers, for that’s what a disciple is. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated His commitment to “followership” all the way to the cross. In Matthew 26:39 Jesus cried out to His Heavenly Father, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Here is some food for thought. Those first followers of Jesus never graduated to something else. They began their minis-

CAMPUS NEWS

BY KEITH MCMAHON

Encounter Youth Retreats 2023

Above the alcoves in capital Greek let-

try as followers and they ended their ministry as followers. No matter how important they became in the life of the early church or in the eyes of those early believers, these men always knew their rightful place. Paul had it right when he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). You don’t go from being a follower to a leader but you lead others from the position of a follower. This eliminates pride and reminds us of our proper place before God. In John 12:26 Jesus said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” Your greatest task in life is to be a follower. Leadership is one follower helping other followers walk with Jesus.

After three years of not holding Encounter Youth Retreats due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was absolutely wonderful to be back at it this winter! We were so thankful to be able to host approximately 395 teens and leaders from about 35 different churches over the weekends of February 24-26 and March 31-April 2. To say that we had an incredible time being with these teens and leaders would be an understatement. During our first retreat, we had Brent Finchum, Word of Life’s Southeast Regional Coordinator serving in Birmingham, Alabama. Brent has been with us before and as expected, was a great fit for the weekend. The Gospel was shared, teens responded and lives were impacted for an eternity. On our second retreat we had Pastor Chris Timm, from Guelph Bible Chapel in Ontario. Chris also serves as National Director of Coaching for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Canada. And again, the Gospel was shared, teens responded and lives were impacted for eternity. Both

ters was the reference “Galatians 2:20”, the seniors’ class verse. The photo booth was a much smaller Greek building with the Greek “Omega” symbol. The meal consisted of traditional Greek food including Greek salad, chicken skewers, rice with spinach, and a citrusy cake for dessert.

Following the meal, everyone was invited to stay for a short program. After opening with two of the seniors’ favourite songs, the junior class performed a humorous skit demonstrating the “founding” of three Olympic sports:

speakers spent a significant amount of their time and energy interacting with the teens outside of the rallies. Throughout the weekends, it was a privilege to

golf, speed walking, and archery. Pastor Jeremy Simpson was then invited to give a short message of encouragement

to the senior class. His message was a challenge to “Rise Above the Rest” and stand for the truth of God’s Word. This means studying Scripture and teaching Scripture even in the face of adversity. To finish the program, the juniors presented gifts of appreciation to the senior class and Pastor Simpson led in a prayer of dedication.

connect with a number of pastors and youth leaders who so selflessly gave of their time to bring their teens to NBBI. Along with the good teaching from God’s Word, we enjoyed our times of worship, high-spirited competitions and plenty of food. One of the highlights of the retreats was being able to use the swimming pool and field houses at the AYR

Motor Centre in Woodstock. This facility has been a dynamic addition to our Saturday afternoon schedule. We are just thrilled with the privilege of serving so many churches and individuals through our Encounter retreats. So, praise be to God, who enabled us, and thank you to our students who gave so much of themselves in service to our Lord and others.