Trumpet W i n t e r
PEACE RIVER BIBLE INSTITUTE
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Miracle on 98th Street Before we get to the Miracle on 98th Street, we need to answer the question of why the Board of Directors made the motion on June 9, 2020 to sell the 98th Street properties. There are three main reasons. (1) These properties were designated for staff with larger families, and the Lord has blessed many of our staff who have children with homes of their own. (2) PRBI owns 25 rental units, including the 98th Street properties. Even with selling these properties, we will still have 18 rental units to rent each month. (3) Given their age, the 98th Street properties require plenty of ongoing upkeep. Now to the miracle: • The six properties (three houses, the fourplex and two empty lots) were listed on September 30 at their full market value of $1,309,600. • We sold one on October 1. Another on October 2. Yet another on October 5. Another on October 6. That particular deal didn’t pan out, but currently we have two other full price offers on this property. And on October 8, we sold the two empty lots. • The six properties have offers equalling $1,311,400 ($1,800 more than list!). Within a week, the Lord miraculously provided offers for each of these properties. Needless to say, the Lord’s miracle caught us all off guard! The Board of Directors is working on a plan for these funds. We will publish that plan in an upcoming Trumpet. Praise the Lord for His Miracle on 98th Street!
Making an Impact M. Scott Boren writes, “Imagine yourself at the end of your life. As you see yourself, think about where you live, the people in your life, and what you are doing. Reflect on the life you lived and the difference you made. Ask God to enliven your imagination. Think about how your life impacted others.”1 Boren’s suggestion is a worthwhile exercise all of us should consider doing. Training students to make an impact for Christ is a key component of our renewed vision statement which reads, “Every student encountering Christ in ways that transform their life, energize their church, and impact their world.” PRBI exists for more than student development. We have not fulfilled our vision if students only achieve increased knowledge. Increased head knowledge must find its way to their hearts, leading to a transformed character. Although happy with this result, we consider it as only a partial fulfillment of our vision. The complete picture includes a life that
Kim Cairns President
impacts their world for Christ. We invest in classes, assignments and discipleship relationships to achieve a changed heart and life. We also expose our students to opportunities for service and we do this best when we partner with others who are serving in the kingdom. Recently we set aside specific time to focus on making an impact in the kingdom. We invited partners on campus through the gift of technology to challenge our students with opportunities and needs locally and globally. Our partners from The Global Leadership Summit series challenged our students to appreciate the potential an authentic, innovative and servant minded leader can have in making an impact for Christ. Our mission agency partners exposed our students to the remaining unreached people groups and ground breaking opportunities for them to pursue in Christ’s harvest. With passion and practical instruction our partners
demonstrated how making an impact is a foundational aspect of discipleship. Bringing partners in for Impact Week is about reinforcing what our students are learning through their courses and programs. The Lord often uses the fresh voice of the outsider to nudge a student to respond to His call on their life. Welcoming partners onto campus, virtually or in person, is more than just reinforcing our training. It is also about exposing our students to opportunities that we cannot provide on campus in the short time they are with us. One of our core values states “It is through strategic partnerships with Christ’s church locally and globally that our opportunity to impact the world is expanded and multiplied.” To use the phrase of the day with a kingdom twist, “we are all in this together.” We need and appreciate the partners God has given us to implement our vision. Now to turn the phrase inward, are we impacting our students? I will let the students speak for themselves. Following is a small sample of anonymous evaluations from the students regarding their interactions with the mission representatives. In response to what they feel
God wants them to focus on as result of what they learned, they wrote: “purposeful and intentional discipleship, prepare to be a witness in a secular environment, to share the gospel, to focus on missions more, to dedicate my life more fully to sharing the gospel wherever I am and to focus more on disciple making.“ To what faith steps of obedience they think the Lord asked them to take, they responded: “sacrificing my own leisure and educating myself about unreached people groups, to wait and listen, leave my future in His hands, to completely restructure my life, and put myself out there trusting that God will give the tools necessary to do His will.” We are grateful for what the Lord is doing in our students today and we anticipate what He will do through them in the future. PRBI’s vision is that one day our students can look back on their lives and answer with humility that they made an impact for Christ wherever He led them. I want to invite you to join us in fulfilling our vision. Would you encourage a student to attend Bible College? Would you pray that those who attend will follow through on their commitments? By doing so you too will make an impact for Christ, for His glory! [1] Boren, M. Scott, Difference Makers: An Action Guide for Jesus Followers. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 2013 p. 11.
Financial Update Peace River Bible Institute Statement of Operations and Budget July 2020 - November 2020 Revenue
Student Revenue Student
Peace River Bible InstituteAnnual Income Statement of Operations To Dateand Budget Budget July 2020 - November 2020
Fees & Other Programs
General Income Sales
& Non-Program Fees & Services Revenue Residence Rental Rental Income udent Revenue Student Fees & Other Programs Donation - Undesignated Donations - Undesignated eneral Income Sales & Non-Program Fees & Services Donation - Designated Donations - Designated Total Donations esidence Rental Rental Income
onation - Undesignated Donations - Undesignated Total Revenue
onation - Designated Donations
Academics
- Designated Total Donations
Total Revenue Expenses Academics
Campus Life Expenses Food Services Food Services cademics Academics Development Promotion & Development udent Life Campus Life Admissions Admissions ood Services Food Services AdministrationAdministration evelopment Promotion & Development Maintenance Facilities & Maintenance dmissions Admissions Student Aid Special Project dministrationAdministration Student Aid Student Aid aintenance Facilities & Maintenance Others Others udent Aid Special Project Total Expenses udent Aid Student Aid Net Income (Loss) thers Others
Student Life
281,762
665,600
42%
Income 179,602 To Date 90,535 281,762 171,294 179,602 125 171,419 90,535
Annual 154,550 Budget 151,985 665,600 775,000 154,550 196,200 971,200 151,985
% of Budget 116% To Date 60% 42% 22% 116% 0% 18% 60%
171,294 723,318 125 171,419 Expenses 723,318 To Date
775,000 1,943,335 196,200 971,200 Annual 1,943,335 Budget
22% 37% 0% 18% % of Budget 37% To Date
118,220
303,221
39%
Expenses 49,294 To Date 94,267 118,220 111,784 49,294 24,097 94,267 262,938 111,784 75,659 24,097 9,762 262,938 75,659 9,762 746,021 (22,703) -
Total Expenses Excludes Amortization Expense
746,021
Net Income (Loss)
(22,703)
Excludes Amortization Expense
% of Budget To Date
Annual 314,226 Budget 219,018 303,221 297,257 314,226 123,736 219,018 704,780 297,257 154,192 123,736 6,000 704,780 15,000 154,192 6,000 2,137,430 15,000 (194,095) 2,137,430 (194,095)
% of Budget 16% To Date 43% 39% 38% 16% 19% 43% 37% 38% 49% 19% 163% 37% 0% 49% 163% 35% 0%
35%
2020-2021 Student Body Matthew Banman Garion Bell Bailey Bienert Arianne Bosma Lauren Chartrand Nicole Clark Jessyka Doerksen Steven Dyck Jesse Fichtner Garret Friesen Karmen Friesen Sydney Fuller Dylan Genereux Daniel Gunderson Melody Hagstrom Jed Halvorson Kade Harewood Emma Herbison Tasha Herbison Corban Hunter Abigail Kadatz David Le Goff Alana Lindberg Matthew MacDonald Calvin Martens Jessica May Gabe Moon Andrew Murray Kara Nelson Caitlin Neustaeter Josh Olson Loretta Penner Russel Rector Alyssa Reimer Chrissy Reimer Jennifer Reimer Tyler Reimer Troy Semenyna Josh Schulz Janaya Schulz Kaden Smith Matthew Stobbe Timothy Thiessen Nate Trudeau Jocelyn Turenne Randie Twoyoungmen Susana Unger Trishtin Vaags Rebecca Wicker Austin Wooden
PRBI’s Impact How has PRBI impacted your life? For me, the better question is, how has PRBI not impacted my life. Being born and raised in Sexsmith, PRBI has influenced my life for as far back as I can remember. Where to start? My grandma cooked at PRBI in the 70s. A large majority of my Sunday school and kids club leaders were PRBI students or staff. My first mentors and disciplers in both junior high and high school were PRBI students. I like to think that what we teach today in our classrooms regarding discipleship has previously been tested out on me! I attended Youth Alert yearly and spent every spare block in Grade 12 on campus. Even before formally
Vanessa Retzlaff enrolling, PRBI was guiding and directing my life in a very significant way. As a student, God used PRBI to instill a depth of faith and passion in me that had never been there before. PRBI also gave me a desire to seek biblical truth, and my worldview changed as I learned how to study Scripture. From a very young age, my heart for ministry has always been strong, but it was here at PRBI that God began to truly refine me. He brought together my heart for missions and discipleship with a calling to bring Him glory in all that I do. I graduated in April 2008 with a
Global Ministries Major and had grand plans to leave Sexsmith and move to Uganda (where I had done my internship), but God had a much bigger and bolder plan. He kept me connected to PRBI by coaching soccer and building informal discipleship relationships with students. God revealed to me that my home town is as great of a mission field as Africa is, and that what matters most is where He has placed me for each season of my life. In 2012 I married Sam Retzlaff. Although he had no plans to be in full-time ministry, he always encouraged me to pursue my own ministry opportunities. Throughout the first years of our marriage, I knew in my heart that Sam should go into ministry. Instead of sharing that with Sam and trying to make it happen, God challenged me to just pray and trust His timing, and so that is what I did. I prayed off and on for about two years, and then, shortly after our second son was born in late 2014, the Lord spoke to Sam and he was led to apply to PRBI. We moved on to campus in August 2015. During Sam’s schooling, God has used PRBI to impact my life as a staff member. It is a privilege to serve alongside coworkers who strive to know God and be more Christ-like on a daily basis. A large part of my role here is overseeing Practical
Work Experience students. It is a joy to walk with them as they navigate His calling on their lives. With Sam’s graduation in April 2020, we have officially spent more time on the PRBI campus as a married couple than we have anywhere else. I consider this time in our marriage and the experiences we have shared as a family extremely valuable for setting the foundation of how we will do ministry together moving forward. In January 2018 we started pursing adoption, which was something we had always desired and felt called to. Although the feasibility of adopting while we were in school seemed unrealistic to us, God was very clear that this was the time to apply. Halfway through July 2020 we received a phone call advising us that we had been matched with a little boy. We welcomed him into our home in mid-August and we are now all navigating through the excitement and craziness of being a family of five. God’s timing could not have been more perfect. Vanessa has served as the Kitchen Manager since 2018 . She is married to Sam and they have three sons.
College Update in Pictures
Reunion This last year, someone I knew in my younger years passed away. If you had known him, you would not easily forget him. He was one of those guys who drew a crowd. He was talented, charismatic, passionate, popular, mysterious, and compelling. People wanted to be with him, be liked by him, and even be like him. He was someone who left an unmistakable mark on my life. He was my bully. I have not had to endure a lot of bullying in my life. I certainly wasn’t friends with everyone, but for the most part I got along with people. I may not always have been loved, but I had never felt hated. But for
Brad Cowie Academic Dean some reason, which I never knew, this guy in particular did not seem to like me in particular very much. Let me put it this way: I have lots of memories of him, and I can recall only one time when he spoke politely to me. But I do remember countless unkind remarks, snide comments, belligerent challenges, sneers, and glares. Most were private and subtle, and I don’t think even my friends noticed his animosity. But no one in my life has even come close to making me feel so small, insignificant, and despised. So, as mutual friends poured out their love, recollections, tributes, and praise in his memory – as often happens when someone dies – I
found myself feeling strangely alone and freshly wounded. The old injury, that I assumed had healed, was reaggravated, the scar tissue ripped open. Forgiveness and healing can be elusive. Our relationship ended decades ago and we had completely lost contact. He was mostly a memory, and one that I thought I had forgiven. But the human heart has no “sea of forgetfulness” into which we can drop past hurts and offences forever, if by that we mean some sort of magic amnesia. So when the news of his death broke open the dam, the old memories and emotions rushed back in. For the next couple of weeks, my thoughts and emotions were a pingpong ball. On one side of the table stood anger and vindication. Anger at the violence he did to my soul and sense of identity. Anger that so many others enjoyed his friendship while I was counted unworthy. Part of me wanted to dive headlong on to social media and set the record straight by recalling all of the offences, hurts, and cruelties I had endured. I wanted justice, or at least sympathy. I wanted to hear, “You were right, and he was wrong. How dare he treat you that way!” I imagined all of the ways I could expose him, reduce him, and finally defeat him. (In fact, I hesitate to write this article
because I don’t want to appear to be ranting or seeking sympathy. I tried to talk myself out of it; I explored numerous other ideas – good safe biblical expositions of delightfully divine devotional wisdom. But I feel compelled to write this story in the hope that perhaps my journey can somehow encourage another.) On the other side of the ping-pong table stood guilt and confusion. Obviously this must have been my fault. I must have wronged him in some unknown way. I wracked my brain for every possible offence. I am far from perfect, but if I did something to offend or hurt him, to this day I do not know what it was. Yet the guilt remained. Perhaps if I had known his story better, I would have been more compassionate. He obviously had his own struggles and demons. Perhaps if I had tried harder to befriend him, or been braver in reaching out to him, we would have come to peace. But I was shy and I avoided conflict, so I responded with silence, and my silence sealed my fate. So, again, it remained my fault. Or maybe I was too thin-skinned. Perhaps I was simply craving approval, and when I didn’t get instant approval I interpreted it as rejection. If I weren’t so self-conscious and dependent on the opinions of others, I could have just shaken this
off. But my own insecurities made me oversensitive and caused me to overreact. So, still, my fault.
there is offence, it will be forgiven. If there is a need for understanding, all will be made clear.
So, having no clear sense of direction, I found myself trapped between the soul-consuming fires of anger and the thick fog of undefined guilt. But the path to healing came through a third route. It began with a fresh realization of something I instinctively knew but had not really processed: He may have been my bully, but ‌
Will we become best friends? I have no idea, but what I do know is that we will enjoy a brotherhood that is unencumbered by our sins, imperfections, and failures. And, for me, this hope is stronger than any desire for vindication or absolution. More than anything else, this is what my heart has come to long for. This is what I look forward to – not settling a score, securing an apology or explanation, being proven right, or getting whatever other superficial and temporary satisfaction my broken soul may crave. I want to know and love this man as a brother. I want to see him through different eyes. And, thanks to the resurrected Christ, one day I will get that chance. And in this hope, I find my healing.
He is my brother in Christ. In the light of that revelation, I began to see that what I really longed for was neither vengeance nor acquittal. What I really craved was reconciliation. And the beautiful thing was that this hope was not an empty wish, but a genuine anticipation, because one day we will meet again. And Christ will overcome all hurt or hostility. And we will see each other not as rivals, but as the brothers God intended. If
So, rest in peace, my brother. We will meet again.
Alumnus of the Year: Wayne Brown Wayne was born and raised on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, near the town of Unity. He and his younger brother grew up in a nondenominational evangelical home; his parents and grandparents shared a yard, and every Sunday they had Sunday School at Grandpa’s house, where the Word was studied and proclaimed. After moving to Saskatoon to earn his Bachelor of Commerce at University, the family attended a Brethren Assembly Gospel Hall, where he became increasingly involved in the Word with College & Career and speaking responsibilities. This was in essence his “Bible School” years. This was also where he met and married his wife Dorothy (now married 51 years). Upon graduation, he worked for 17 years for the federal government in the Employment and Immigration Department. He had one break for five years, when they
bought land and he got farming out of his system! By the late 1980s, both Wayne and Dorothy were feeling there should be more to life than 9-5 in government management. Their local churches had provided an excellent base for in-depth ministry and, with the Holy Spirit’s prompting, they started looking for an opportunity for fulltime ministry. It was early in 1989 that through a good Gideon friend, Sid Warren, Wayne was made aware of a business management position at PRBI. After numerous phone calls with then President Harold Peters and incoming President Reuben Kvill, Wayne came on staff at the end of the PRBI school year, with Dorothy and their six children coming shortly after. Their eldest, Marc, entered PRBI as a student that fall. Curtis, Scott, Arlen, Geoff, and Jana each had at least a year of studies at PRBI; four of the six are married to PRBI
alumni and all are going on for the Lord, raising the next generation in the Word! Wayne came on staff as the focus of the school was changing. He watched as “Double Effort – Double Blessing” was implemented, with a remarkable financial commitment from PRBI’s board and constituency. Although they were tight years financially, the debt from the prior dorm construction was successfully whittled down from $700,000 to nil. Meanwhile, the student body grew from 60 to over 200 students, which led to the challenge of arranging sufficient housing facilities along with furniture, desks, tables, etc. It was during this time that he also saw Reuben Kvill’s vision of discipleship come to fruition, a vision which continues to guide PRBI to this day. A highlight for Wayne was hosting the weekly PRBI radio broadcast, exposing the broader public to the college through CFGP, with interviews of visiting missionaries,
faculty messages, as well as children’s stories delivered by “Aunt Sylvia” Advent. Another highlight was sharing God’s Word in Peace Country churches each summer, and enjoying both fellowship and care for PRBI missionaries through Mission Steers, a ranch-based missionary support group that was originally inspired by PRBI founder, Walter McNaughton. After retiring in 2002, Wayne switched gears and drove pilot truck with a Christian hauler, Henry Krahn’s Select Movers. This was an enjoyable change of pace, with many happy hours of mutual discipleship in the cab of a Kenworth. Wayne and Dorothy continue to enjoy fellowship at Grace Bible Fellowship Church, their church home since 1989. They remain active with the Gideons, a commitment that has now spanned 50 some years. Wayne also serves on the Refresh Ministries’ board of directors, an organization devoted to soul care for pastors and Christian workers.
News and Updates PRBI NEWS The McNaughton Auditorium’s renovations have come to a close. Throughout the summer months, team members stripped and painted the stage and walls. This fall, carpet was installed and a sound booth built. We are thrilled to have a fully remodelled chapel space. Our students have been greatly enjoying it. The 2020 Graduation was a wonderful celebration held on November 7th. We were thrilled to safely have our 2020 graduates on campus to commemorate their time here at PRBI. As we look forward, we know that they will have great impact wherever they go from here.
WEDDINGS SPATIG, John & Linda (Friesen, g ‘15) were married June 26, 2020. They had a small backyard ceremony. They reside in North Carolina where it hardly ever snows. John is training as an engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding and Linda cares for her stepson, Hudson, and their home. They are so thankful and happy that they were able to marry one another and start their lives together during the pandemic. DICK, Kyle (ug ‘19) & Kaitlin (Wiebe, ug ‘19) were married July 18, 2020. Having finished work at the farm, they have moved up to LaCrete for the winter. Kyle will be hauling logs until spring and Kaitlyn will continue building her photography business and maybe have a part time job on the side. ! They are enjoying married life and wish someone had told them sooner how much fun it is to live with your best friend!
JOHNSTON, Danny (g ‘14) & Heidi (Edwards, g ‘15) were married on July 25, 2020. They are residing in Sexsmith, AB. Danny is the General Director at Bear Lake Bible Camp and Heidi teaches 1st grade at a school in Grande Prairie, AB. They are loving being married and are so thankful to come home to one another every day. SCHMIDT, Lorne (g ‘16) & Carly married one another on August 1, 2020 in Terrace, BC. Carly is continuing to work as a talented nail technician at a local salon and Lorne is completing his last year of his Bachelor of Education to become an elementary school teacher. He is also working part time at a local sporting goods store. They are enjoying their new home and being together all the time.
BIRTHS KUNZ, John (g ‘09) & Alaina (g ’07) along with their two sons, Carter and Judah, welcomed Ellie Elizabeth into their family on May 1, 2020. John is currently the Northern District Leader for Combined Insurance of Canada. Alaina loves being at home with the kids. These past 6 months with Ellie in our world has been such a huge blessing on so many levels and the boys are so proud to have a little sister to look out for.
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ABOUT PRBI Peace River Bible Institute is a Canadian Degree Granting Bible College in Sexsmith, Alberta, founded in 1933. PRBI is known for quality academics and its highly relational culture that purposefully fosters an atmosphere of spiritual growth. PRBI has a distinct commitment to train students in a thorough knowledge of the Word of God and to train students to become disciple-makers whether at home or abroad. PRBI’s educational model purposefully integrates the academic learning experience with an experiential learning component making us a Bible College for Life.
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The TRUMPET is the magazine of Peace River Bible Institute that is comprised of contributions from faculty, staff, alumni, and students who are passionate about making disciples in their churches and communities. If you would have any comments please email us at development@prbi.edu. Printed in Canada.
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LIVE ONLINE EVENT Date: February 5th, 2021 Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. MST Where: YouTube & Facebook Live (Links will be found at prbi.edu)