Journeying Toward Truth and Reconciliation on pg. 32
AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON
Championship Women’s Basketball on pg.12
ENRICHING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Role of Teacher
Connectivity in the Classroom on pg. 27
with Anabella Perez on pg. 20
Lead Editor: Kathryn Mulolani, Director of Marketing
Managing Editor: Mike Powell, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Designer: Abigail Stoesz, Visual Media Coordinator
Contributors: Holly Ammerman, Kenton Anderson, Joel Coursey, Robert Dean, Christina Duerksen, Paige Heide, Shannon Johnson Friesen, Karen Jolly, and Anabella Perez
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
There have been times that I’ve stood at a crossroads or a place of decision, much like when “two roads diverged in a yellow wood” in Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken. As it is true for many of us, we ever arrive at pivotal points in our lives. Should I move to a new city or stay close to home? Should I stick with the job I know or pursue a new career opportunity?
There always seems to be an element of risk involved. Should I buy a house or continue renting? Should I get my degree? Or choose a technology or trade instead?
Life requires courage. Part of the challenge is that we worry. We waver between doubt and belief that each choice will lead to a different future. What if I make the wrong decision? How will these options ultimately affect my path and/or that of my family, my children? Thankfully, God has compassion and a pool of reserves — like “rest for our souls” (Matthew 11:29) and promises to “renew our strength” (Isaiah 40:31) — that are all available to the weary traveller.
“Come to me [Jesus], all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Learning to slow down in our fast-paced 21st century isn’t easy, as expressed by Karen Jolly, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies, in her story on page 32 where she asks the questions: Do we take time to pause and contemplate before making decisions or taking action? Do we choose to listen and hear people’s stories with empathy and understanding? Do we welcome pathways to reconciliation?
Pursuing Christian higher education today also has its unique challenges. At Providence, we’ve had to learn how to diversify in order to navigate economic downturns, international student restrictions, and decreasing population of students aged 18 and under as President Kenton Anderson shares on page 6.
You’ll find a common thread within this edition of Eye Witness . Each writer tells their story, acknowledging the struggles and challenges they’ve faced, but bringing us back to themes of hope and resilience — sometimes highlighting triumphs (see story about the Women’s Basketball season on page 12), but always ending in expectation for a bright future ahead. God is present with us. We see His providence; God’s caring provision for His people as He guides us in our journeys of faith through life, accomplishing His purposes through us.
This is evident in the following pages, starting with recent Health Science graduate, Paige Heide, as she focused on choosing the right major and career pathway (see page 9). It is apparent as Anabella Perez, current student, describes on page 20 how Providence has proven to be a balanced fit for both her studies in Environmental Science and her athletic aspirations in soccer, providing the support and resources she needs to excel.
It is seen in the story (page 18) of Shannon Johnson Friesen, Seminary alumna, who decided to pursue God’s calling to a life in service as a lead pastor even when she had no examples of women leading a congregation…no one to go to as a female mentor or colleague in vocational ministry.
It’s undeniable. Life comes with times of pain and failure, but also it comes with joy and success. We need to commit to weathering the storms, confidently believing that when the rain and winds subside, we will discover unexpected periods of peace and tranquility once more. It never ceases to amaze me that when the dark storm clouds dissipate, blue skies inevitably appear, guiding us back to places of safety, clarity, and new opportunities.
KATHRYN MULOLANI Director of Marketing
CROSSROADS
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I’m sitting above a busy crossroads as I write these words. Trucks, cars, pedestrians (and their pets) are negotiating this shared bit of space with a remarkable sense of patience and decorum. Aided by signal lights, everyone is behaving well, giving space for the others, taking their turns in a systematic way that not only gets everyone where they want to go, but ensures they get there safely.
It’s a crowded world, full of conflicts and choices. Helping people gain the capacity to manage their way with courage, character, and credibility is a big part of what we are called to do here at Providence. Working well with others, gaining patience, while maintaining one’s sense of direction can be complex and challenging. As we teach, mentor, and lead our students to understand their academic subjects and interests with discipline and insight, we are helping them gain the ability to be the difference-makers that God wants them to be.
Providence finds itself at its own crossroads as it embraces the prospect of a second century of helping people gain knowledge and character for leadership and service. 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of our work as a Christ-centred institution. Founded in 1925 as the Winnipeg Bible Training Institute, our founder Rev. H. L. Turner, dreamed of training, “Christian workers for service in voluntary or official positions in the Church, Sunday school, or the mission field at home or abroad.” Since then, we have expanded our vision to embrace the training of people for all the various ways God might have gifted them for service to their communities across the world.
To say that Providence is at a crossroads is not to suggest that we are contemplating any change to our sense of mission or to our core commitments. As always, Providence sees itself privileged to serve the purposes of God’s Kingdom in the name of His Son, Jesus, and by the power of His Spirit. Providence people love Jesus, and we remain committed to expressing our faith not only in the content of our teaching but in the character by which we teach it.
Our new Centre for On-Demand Education is serving churches, missional agencies, and employers here in Manitoba and around the world, raising up pastors, church planters, Bible teachers, Indigenous leaders, politicians, and recovering addicts to become effective and faithful in their calling.
“Helping people gain the capacity to manage their way with courage, character, and credibility is a big part of what we are called to do here at Providence.”
As we imagine another century of service, should the Lord delay His return, Providence is looking to strengthen its capacity to serve its purpose with excellence. There are many reasons for renewed confidence. After battling through a global pandemic, contrary government decisions, and a general downturn in the prospects for Christian higher education across North America, at Providence, we have found ways to diversify our operations so that we have numerous varied, robust new sources of revenue in keeping with our mission, resulting in a more sustainable and sound financial foundation for the future.
While sustaining our historic rural campus in Otterburne, we have returned to the city of Winnipeg as well, offering a biblical, Christcentred education in leadership and business to international students from around the world.
Our Seminary’s Counselling programs continue to serve in helping people find mental health and a sense of personal well-being across the world. Research has shown that 50 percent of the counsellors in the province of Manitoba have been trained at Providence.
Enrollment in our core campus programs is growing more than 20 percent year over year, and there is a higher-than-normal rate of retention for our current returning student population.
People are finding Jesus at Providence and being discipled in their faith, through our classroom teaching, our robust student life program, and on the fields and courts of our championship-quality athletic programs.
As we stand at the crossroads of a new century, we invite you to join us as we step into the next stage of this exciting journey. We’re going to need more teachers, students, prayer partners, and those willing to share their resources with us. God has been gracious to us and so have His people. Providence is poised to respond with the same grace and commitment to the calling He has for us together.
Yours,
KENTON C. ANDERSON, PhD President
FOR I KNOW THE PLANS “EYE” HAVE FOR YOU
A RETROSPECTIVE
I have always been the kind of person that likes to have a plan. So, when I was graduating from high school and had to decide what was going to come next, I made a long-term plan for my life. I was going to spend three years obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree and then study Optometry at the University of Waterloo. I have often been asked why I chose optometry since I don’t wear glasses myself, but I have always been interested in science — an interest that only grew at Providence thanks to the exceptional science program. Courses I took at Prov confirmed that this was what I wanted to do with my life, as I had the opportunity to focus many of my assignments on the eyes specifically. I gave presentations and wrote papers regarding how the eyes connect to overall health, which allowed me to learn more about the intricacy of the eye and increased my excitement about the possibility of entering optometry school.
I chose to attend Providence to obtain my first degree for numerous reasons, including the opportunity to play soccer as well as to grow in my faith. I greatly enjoyed the science program at Prov, as well as the Bible courses that I had the opportunity to take. The amazing community, including the soccer team that became my family, always made me feel like I was right where I was supposed to be. While almost the entirety of my first year was online, my second and third years were amazing in-person experiences. I enjoyed my classes, met some wonderful people who have become my closest friends, and to top it all off, our soccer team won a National Championship in what was supposed to be my last season.
I applied to the University of Waterloo for entry into Optometry in the fall of 2023 and was not accepted. This allowed me the chance to return
to Providence for a fourth year, extending my degree to a Health Science major. While I was excited to have the opportunity to spend one more year at Prov, this setback also forced me to examine the plans I had made. What if this was happening because I was never meant to become an optometrist and there was another path I hadn’t considered? What if this wasn’t the plan that God had for me?
Optometry was what I wanted to do, so instead of giving into these doubts, I took this time to improve myself as an applicant through studying and retaking the Optometry Admissions Test, gaining experience through working at an optometry clinic, and by changing my three-year to a four-year degree. This bonus year also granted me one more chance to be a part of a soccer team that has meant so much to me, and to continue studying in an excellent academic environment. I applied again, flew out to Waterloo to interview, and in my final semester at Providence, I was accepted to the University of Waterloo for entry in fall of 2024.
My time at Providence has been absolutely incredible and has allowed me to meet some truly
amazing people. My professors and classmates, as well as my coaches and teammates, have all been very influential in my life and have made me a better person. I can’t imagine my life without the people I have met here and the experiences that have shaped me. I have learned about the importance of perseverance and resilience both on the soccer field and in the classroom. Most importantly, I have learned that it is always better to trust God’s plan for our lives than to rely on the plans we make for ourselves.
I believe that I came to Prov for a reason, and that I had a fourth year here instead of getting into optometry school last year for a reason as well. As I transition into this next stage of moving out to Waterloo and entering the Doctor of Optometry program, I trust that God has a plan for the next part of my academic journey. I will forever be thankful that Providence was such a significant part of this plan.
PAIGE HEIDE Alumna BSc Health Science
STUDY ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Earn your degree while completing your flight training.
Providence, in partnership with Harv’s Air, provides an opportunity to earn your degree while completing your flight training. Now offering ATPL licensing, which includes ground school, flight instruction, and simulator training, preparing you for a career as a captain of a multi-crew aircraft.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON
championship women’s basketball
The Pilots women’s basketball team has taken a leap outside of the traditional box of basketball philosophy. In the summer of 2022, coach Joel Coursey made the decision to “take the road less travelled” and implement what is called “System Basketball.” This is a unique approach to the game that maximizes players effort, enthusiasm and overall participation of players on the team. The Pilots play 15 players every game, rotating three different lines of five every minute or two. The team, full court presses their opponent from start to finish and shoots nearly 50 three-point shots each game.
“Being a part of this team has been an incredible journey and a remarkable highlight in my collegiate experience. As I look ahead to our next season, I’m reminded of the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and the familial bonds that are the true measures of our success.”
AMVER NAVARRO
2nd-Year Guard // Calgary, Alberta
In their first season, the team quickly caught on to the tactical concepts but didn’t fully understand the psychological aspect which plays a large part in the overall success of their philosophy. In order to experience the full benefits of the style of play, you need to believe in what you are doing before seeing the fruit of your labour. Entering their second season, the coaching staff made a shift to focus on the mental aspects of the game and the importance of an unwavering belief in self and team. This past season began with its own set of challenges, but the team was able to come together down the stretch and embrace a strong positive mentality, leading to their historic success.
“The strong community and unwavering support from my coaches and teammates were a key factor in the success we had last season. I’m excited to welcome our new additions to the team, hoping to build on what we accomplished, and carrying it forward into the coming year.”
ADRIAN ALLEY
1st-Year Guard // Wasilla, Alaska
The team started the second semester with a fourgame winning streak, followed by a devastating loss to Canadian Mennonite University on the road. That moment fueled the team to completely “buy in.” Instead of crumbling, the team went on a nine-game winning streak, capturing both the NIAC and MCAC championships. They finished the season with 23 wins and only six losses. After that loss to the Blazers, the Pilots went on to win the following three meetings.
In the NIAC championship game, the Pilots entered the fourth quarter with a 17-point deficit against the CMU Blazers. After a motivational speech from coach Coursey, the Pilots went on a 21-0 run, taking the lead and ultimately winning the championship 59-54. “This game was a perfect example of how we play. We stayed true to our game plan, pressuring our opponent the entire game, wearing them down. At the end of the game, we showed the strength and endurance of 15 players as we dominated the final 10 minutes of the game” (Joel Coursey). The following weekend the Pilots once again met the Blazers in the championship game, but this time for the MCAC title. In their seventh meeting of the season, the Pilots beat the Blazers 72-69.
The Pilots approach to the game has placed positivity, participation and encouragement at the top of its priorities: “I have many reasons for choosing this path for my program, one of which is that I do believe it can be very successful.
We are showing success in many more ways than you would think. I thought it would take one or two more years before we really experienced this type of success, but the team we had this season proved how talented and together they are,” said Coursey.
The Pilots received many individual awards from each of their conferences. Along with the two championship banners, the Pilots were finalists at the ACCA National Tournament. Coach Coursey received an unprecedented four Coach of the Year awards, one from each of the NCCAA, MCAC and NIAC conferences. Joel also received the Basketball Manitoba Open Category Coach of the Year Award.
JOEL COURSEY Head Coach Women’s
Basketball
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
THE CALL
PIONEERING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
It was back in 2013 that I started putting two and two together. I loved Scripture and wanted to study it, I loved people, and I loved the Church. I started Seminary at Providence on a hunch that maybe these things would eventually converge. But I never dreamed it would lead me here.
I did not grow up seeing people like me leading the church, so I never considered it as a vocation. What I know now is that I had been called to ministry since I was seven, and what I experienced in 2013 was, in fact, a reminder of my true calling. I did not know what it was then. It took me four more years, until halfway through my degree, to see it: God’s clear and direct call to preach and shepherd His people. It has been an anchor ever since.
I’m a church planter and lead pastor in Steinbach, Manitoba. Stonehouse Covenant Church started as a seed in my heart in the spring of 2018. That is when I gave God my “yes.” If planting a Covenant
church in Steinbach is what God wanted to do through me, I would do it, as long as He would go with me. And here we are.
Now, six years in, I see the Stonehouse that God had in mind when He planted that seed — a congregation that God has formed and is still forming. There are days when I shake my head in wonder and other days when what looms largest is the cost of it; the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this hard, beautiful process we call church planting. As I think about our congregation and how all of this has unfolded, it is clear that this is something God is doing — this is His church. He has led each of us into it at different times and together we are adding our unique voice to the chorus. Everyone offers their own unique gifts that make Stonehouse “home” to those who settle there, and that shapes what we do, how we think, and how we express our faith.
I carry these convictions about the Church and about Scripture. I think I always have, but they deepened as I made my way through Seminary and the past six years. Scripture is alive, active, and relevant to our lives. God speaks to us through it and we can trust it. Why? Because it has integrity as a text that has been passed down through
generations to us. Because it tells the truth about us, and because it creates room for interpretation. For all of us. It’s steadfast and fluid at the same time, like a river.
At Providence, I learned to study it. I learned to read its parts in light of the whole, to see Christ at its centre, and to enter the conversation that has been going on for millennia as we continue to discern what God is saying to us. It was also through Providence, namely my professors and the church where I interned, that I was affirmed in my call for the first time. It took me a while to receive it like I mentioned. Stepping into a vocation where people like me traditionally have not been accepted was challenging. I had to wade through the opposition, come to terms with “the burning in my bones” and then my right to a seat at the table. This remains a challenge for me sometimes, but I can no longer ignore the call.
There is a translation of Jeremiah 6:16 that reads, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.” This is a call to the people of God now as much as it was to the nation of Judah when it was first written. It is part of my conviction about the importance of church.
The Church gathered is a crossroads — an intersection for the people of God. In the midst of our busy lives, it is the place where our roads meet. The Church is where we come together around the Word and Table to worship, pray, and hear what God is saying to us. It is the place where the Gospel is proclaimed and from which we re-enter our lives to live and testify to its effects. It’s also the community where we practice Jesus’ command to love one another as He loved us. Feel free to think through what that entails. Suffice it to say that we are meant to be shaped by the steady rhythm of gathering as a community to do these things.
I never dreamed I would be planting a church in the city I love. I did not know who would be part of it or what the road would look like. I have been asking where the good way is and then taking the next step. It is hard and beautiful, but look at what God is doing!
SHANNON JOHNSON FRIESEN Alumna MDiv Biblical Studies
ON AND OFF THE FIELD
ANABELLA PEREZ
SOCCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Before graduating from high school, I knew I wanted to continue playing soccer, and that I wanted to study science. As for science, I had not known the specifics of what I wanted to study. With regards to soccer, I had a major setback when I tore both my ACL and meniscus in my left leg. I was pleasantly surprised when Tory Walker, Head Coach of Women’s Soccer at Providence, first reached out to me in Grade 11. After he knew I was injured, he was still interested in signing me because of my love for soccer, my experience playing, and my overall good vibes as a person.
In the beginning, I was unsure about attending Providence. I knew I wanted to play soccer but were the academics they had to offer what I wanted? I now know that the answer is “yes.” After visiting the campus, meeting my coach and seeing my future professors, I knew that Providence would be the place for me. Originally, I had planned on pursuing a Health Science degree so that I could move on to sport medicine, given my love for soccer and personal experience with a life-changing injury. But in Grade 12, my path switched when I won a scholarship to attend the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation program.
Instead, I chose to be placed at the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) at the University of Manitoba, to learn all about how the changing climate is affecting our Arctic marine environment. This was when I decided I wanted to major in Environmental Science. That summer, I continued at CEOS as a summer student helping in the labs, collecting samples, and doing many tasks that keep a research facility organized.
After learning that Providence had an Environmental Science program, I knew it would be the perfect place to start my journey in a career path I am so passionate about pursuing. Quickly, my Earth Science and Environmental Science classes became my favourites, and a big part of the reason is my professor Dr. Bruce Friesen-Pankratz. Another course I enjoyed was Biology with Dr. Rebecca Dielschneider, which is so connected to environmental science. I have spent my whole first year getting a quality education and building meaningful relationships with my professors.
A perfect example of how I have been supported by my two professors is through my project with the Canadian Council on Invasive Species’ Youth Nature Keepers program. I volunteered many hours working on a project to promote awareness on invasive species and their harm to the environment. My project was an aquarium display for people to enjoy on campus. The aquarium housed two goldfish, Darwin and Szobo, to educate on how goldfish are an invasive species and should not be released into nature.
In order to fund this project, I applied for a Healthy Habitats Microgrant through the Invasive Species Council of British Colombia. This experience came with many opportunities to learn and travel to various conferences, all rooted in the impacts of invasive species on the natural biodiversity of the environment and solutions to address that harm. I believe that we must take care of the Earth as much as it takes care of us, and right now, as humans, we are not fulfilling the amount of respect that the environment deserves.
“My career goals include advocating for the land and Indigenous people through research, field sampling, and community engagement.”
As an Indigenous student, I feel a calling to educate my fellow peers on the heart-breaking history of my people and the unfair and unjust realities Indigenous people still face today. I feel as though many are oblivious to this, and knowledge is the first step to reconciliation. But as humans, I also believe we must reconcile our relationship with the Earth too, and the state that it is in, caused by our ways of life. I feel connected to the Earth and I want to do all I can to help it.
My career goals include advocating for the land and Indigenous people through research, field sampling, and community engagement. I want to work to conserve the natural biodiversity we have left and to find ways that we can live sustainably.
Providence has given me the start, support, and resources I need on this journey.
Currently, I am working at CEOS, with a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award, which will allow me to travel and do field work. Thanks to Providence, I am able to enjoy the path of learning environmental science for a cause that is so important to me — it is not just a career!
ANABELLA PEREZ
2nd-Year Student
BSc Environmental Science
TRINITARIAN PREACHING
AN INTERVIEW WITH THEOLOGIAN ROBERT DEAN
Robert Dean (ThD) is the Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics at Providence Seminary. In 2024, he received the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant for teacher-scholars in the amount of $17,000 US from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, which is awarded to those pursuing ministry-related research within a North American context. In conjunction with his sabbatical, the grant will be helping to fund his current book project examining various approaches to contemporary preaching through a Trinitarian lens.
PROVIDENCE: What is distinctive about the education one can expect to receive from a seminary?
ROBERT: The word “seminary” originally comes from the Latin term for seed bed, so I think the conception is that seminary is a place where people can grow in faith and character for service. Historically, seminaries trained people for ministry in the church, but this has expanded in recent years to include counsellors, missionaries, parachurch workers, and laypeople who want to go deeper in their faith.
PROVIDENCE: Practically-speaking, how has studying at seminary changed over the years?
ROBERT: I think there has been an expanding vision of what seminary education can be, given that we have many part-time and distance students for whom a traditional three-year residential model is no longer possible or desirable. There are great benefits to online education as it’s opened up opportunities for people who would not be able to study otherwise. But I also think studying in-person best facilitates community character formation, which remains a standard option through our on-campus classes and modular program weeks at Providence.
PROVIDENCE: As a professor, what do you most enjoy about teaching?
ROBERT: The combination of both the subject matter — studying theology — and sharing time and space with students is a great privilege. To be able to talk about the things that ultimately matter with people from various walks of life is compelling in a number of different ways, and a profound discovery for me has been that the Holy Spirit is the primary teacher in the classroom. The Christian life is a pilgrimage of ever deeper immersion into the life of the Trinity, and my hope is that students experience a breadth and depth to God than they may have previously fathomed.
PROVIDENCE: Describe the focus of the book that you’re writing about preaching.
ROBERT: A lot of contemporary preaching is driven by certain desires or common assumptions — that it should be relevant, ethical, contextual, pastoral and political. Usually, these adjectives are left theologically uninterrogated and they end up driving the “homiletical bus.” What I want to do is to question those terms and reestablish them on firmer Trinitarian grounding.
PROVIDENCE: From your perspective, is there a difference between teaching and preaching?
ROBERT: Preaching relates to the announcement or proclamation of something; it has to do with a happening and with the impact, significance or implications of that happening for the listener. As for teaching, the New Testament often speaks of what the disciples taught, but the distinction can be somewhat erased if we consider the subject of the teaching. If it’s Christ clothed with His Gospel, the difference between teaching and preaching isn’t quite as apparent.
PROVIDENCE: How would you describe an effective sermon?
ROBERT: Faithful preaching bears witness to the enduring and all-encompassing beauty, truth, and goodness of Christ, and allows the hearer to find their life within His story. Related to this, for every preacher, there need to be moments of spiritual introspection or reflection where one asks, “Is what I’m saying completely transparent to Christ? Or is there something here in myself that is distracting?” That’s a continuing spiritual discipline that pastors need to be involved in, because it’s the compelling beauty, goodness and truth of Christ that captures hearers and brings them into the light.
PROVIDENCE: What kinds of crossroads might the Church be facing today and how should Christians respond?
ROBERT: The great temptation we face is to abandon the living Lord for the sake of maintaining cultural influence. Churches are swayed by both the political left and right, so this challenge exists for churches and Christian organizations of various stripes. Will we remain focused on our mission, or will the desperate attempt to hang onto diminishing power and privilege lead us astray? The only hope that we have — or the only thing we have to offer to the world that’s of any significance — is Christ and Him crucified. It’s about coming to the table, which involves bringing our deepest convictions with us into dialogue and conversation, because the One that we follow is the One who goes by the way of the cross. He doesn’t operate by coercion and compulsion but extends hospitality and welcomes people into the family of God.
ENRICHING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
THE ROLE OF TEACHER CONNECTIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM
In her fourth year of Biblical Studies, now alumna, Christina Duerksen did a reflection on a chapter from Parker J. Palmer’s book The Courage to Teach She interviewed Cathy Rust-Akinbolaji, Associate Professor of TESOL (and former University College Dean), to get her perspective, philosophy and approach to teaching at Providence. Below is an excerpt taken from Christina’s academic paper.
From reading Parker J. Palmer and interviewing Cathy Rust-Akinbolaji, one thing has become very clear to me: the role of the teacher is one that can be explained through many different types
of metaphors. Teaching is far deeper than good technique or having a good handle on the material at hand — though these aspects are certainly important, Palmer notes that teaching cannot be reduced to such features alone.
When asking Cathy to describe why she chooses to stay in this profession all these years, her response was immediate: “the students.” New students force her to continually revisit the foundations of why and how she does what she does; never having the same group twice forces her each semester to remember her own heart to teach.
CATHY RUST-AKINBOLAJI
In response to the question of her most influential teaching mentor, Cathy brought up her colleague and research partner, Dr. Elfrieda Lepp-Kaethler, whose metaphor of “teacher as host” was one she adopted as a framework for teaching that completely reshaped the way she approaches her vocation.
Cathy described the mindset of hosting as one that involves welcoming guests into a safe space, rather than welcoming an audience into a show. In viewing students as guests — with gifts to offer the host, who you welcome into your space as it is, with a role to play in the flow of the dinner table conversation, and who you try to send home with leftovers to chew on later — Cathy realized that her previous metaphor of entertainer gave no role to the students except to consume her performance. In conjunction with Palmer’s sentiments, this metaphor of “teacher as host” and “students as guests” demonstrated a much more holistic and connected mindset when approaching teaching — and one that seems to be a more biblical approach,
as the guests in your classroom are viewed as having many gifts to offer the teaching experience.
Furthermore, in reflecting upon Parker J. Palmer’s thoughts in the chapter “The Heart of a Teacher,” I found evidence for her claims of the importance of teaching out of passion and identity, what re-membering ourselves as to not lose heart looks like, and how the role of mentorship can drastically shape our understanding of teaching. However, perhaps the most profound link I noticed from this experience was the connection between Palmer’s idea of “connectedness” as a marker of good teachers and the metaphor Cathy described from Elfrieda of “teacher as host” as shedding light on what exactly this connectedness looks like.
CHRISTINA DUERKSEN Alumna BA in Biblical Studies
CHECK OUT WHAT STUDENTS AND ALUMNI HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PROVIDENCE
“The teaching I received at Providence influences how I read my Bible, how I relate to those around me, and how I continue to learn.”
CHARISMA GINTER
BSc in General Biology, Class of 2020
“I had no idea what to expect when I came to Prov, but it exceeded my wildest expectations. The women’s basketball coaching staff are among the most supportive coaches I have ever had.”
KATE HANSON
BA in Aviation, Class of 2024
“The professors at Providence took a genuine interest in my success as a student. Through these added efforts, they provided me with the support and encouragement I needed to grow into a well-rounded student who was able to reach their highest potential in the classroom.”
WAEDON DUECK
BSc in Health Science, Class of 2022
“Living in the Providence community has always pointed me back to Christ. God used this school to show me that He is a relational God who wants His children to be in community with one another and with Him.”
MADI FRANKS
BA in Interdisciplinary Arts, Class of 2024
“It was my dream since childhood to go abroad, to engage with different cultures and traditions, and to see how the world works. Providence is very good at this and bringing people together.”
YASHNOOR KAUR
AA in Business, Prov Downtown, Class of 2024
SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND
JUSTICE, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AT PROVIDENCE
Many of us have stood on Sunday morning and sung the words, “Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with you, God.” The Pat Barret song is based on Micah 6:8, a verse that reminds us that the Creator’s overarching commandment is to care for each other. After all, “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). Unsurprisingly, religious communities have differing opinions on how to enact said love. As part of their efforts to better care for the world, some communities are embracing the terms Justice, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, while others are rejecting these terms. This past year, Providence started a committee whose main goal is to offer educational opportunities outside of the classroom on topics related to Justice, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (JEID, pronounced “Jade”).
With Providence’s recent hiring of an Indigenous Liaison and the development of a new Minor in Indigenous Studies, it seemed appropriate for the committee’s first year to be focused on Truth and Reconciliation. To guide our planning, this process began with reviewing the 94 Calls to Action and identifying what is most relevant and achievable at Providence. Throughout the year, events included a Prov Talk on Sex Trafficking in Canada and its relation to MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls),
a Blanket Ceremony that taught Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective (led in part by a current student), and screenings of Missing Matoaka — an Indigenous created audio alternative to the Disney movie Pocahontas. These events paired well with beading lessons held in the cafeteria and Providence’s first annual Truth and Reconciliation Week.
Providence’s foundational identity is “Christ First,” and so we look to Christ’s life for guidance; Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, an advocate. As chair of the JEID committee, my hope is that we will do our part to “learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan, plead for the widow” as we “hold fast to love and justice” and “let justice roll down like water, righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Isaiah 1:17; Hosea 12:6; Amos 5:24). It is my belief that Christ demonstrated a commitment to Justice, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity during His years of earthly ministry, and it is our commitment to continue that devotion of love.
HOLLY AMMERMAN Alumna, BA Social Science Financial Aid Administrator
THE GOOD ROAD
JOURNEYING TOWARD TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Crossroads are a crucial part of our lives. We make decisions so frequently — some big and some small. When we look back over our lifetime, we can see how many times we have been at a crossroad and the struggles that we faced in those moments. What were some of the impacts of those choices? What lessons did you learn? How many people were affected?
I remember growing up when we’d walk in the bush with my dad. He was a fast walker, and he knew the trails well. We could never keep up with him. He’d often tell us where we were going and described the path we’d be taking in terms of north, south, east, or west. Off we would go. Often, we fell far behind, but we’d keep going, and when we came to a crossroad, we always knew he’d have a bright orange ribbon tied on a tree branch showing us what direction to go. There was a deep sense of security we felt even in the moments when we saw two paths knowing my dad would show us a sign of which path to take. The consequences of not following the signs would not have been good.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV)
As I read this verse, it speaks of what it is calling us to when we are at a place of decision. We need to learn to: pause, look, ask, then walk, and find rest. It is a difficult task for us as we live in a fast-
paced world. I think of our Elders who listen first, contemplate, and then give us an indication. There is no hurry. Sometimes they share a story, sometimes they ask questions, and sometimes there is silence. We know they have heard us, but the decision is still ours to make.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’”
I want to speak a little bit about Truth and Reconciliation. In a sea of voices, I am one voice that longs to be listened to and heard. I speak as one person — not for all Indigenous people. We want reconciliation and that is a good thing. However, sometimes we don’t want to hear truth because it is painful and it makes us aware of where our heart is; truth often calls us to something deeper. We live in a beautiful country that has a dark past and there are many who don’t know the history and many refuse to learn. I often hear it said, “that is the past...let’s leave it there,” but I have also heard it said that, “if we want to move forward, we have to look at the past.”
What is reconciliation? It’s the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement. Was there a time since first contact when the Indigenous people and the settlers were on friendly terms? There have been many broken treaties over our collective
history. There is another term that an Elder spoke of: “conciliation.” The definition of this word according to Merriam-Webster relates to bringing into agreement or gaining the goodwill or favor of another. It begs the question: Which of these two terms — Truth or Reconciliation — are we seeking so we can move forward in a good way? The work before us is burdensome as we endeavour to live in harmony with one another. Yet the result in the end is as the verse says: “You will find rest for your souls.”
Jody Wilson-Raybould said about reconciliation that, “if there is to be reconciliation, first there must be truth. Reconciliation is not linear or static, but it keeps growing and evolving which calls for a commitment” (True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change, p. 32). Related to this, she speaks of three aspects that are important: learning, understanding, and action.
We have been at this crossroad regarding Truth and Reconciliation for quite a while now and still don’t know what to do. Are we going to uphold the status quo? Are we committed to learning about Canada’s past with the settlers, government, and the Church? Will we continue to keep saying that it wasn’t us because it happened so long ago? Will we refuse to keep going without change because we don’t know how to proceed? Are we willing to learn the history? When you learn the history, it is now your responsibility to move forward with that knowledge. Now what?
KAREN JOLLY
Alumna, BA Social Science, MA Educational Studies Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies; Indigenous Liaison for Support and Reconciliation
CHAPLAINCY / SPIRITUAL CARE
FACULTY DISPATCHES
RESEARCH AND TEACHING UPDATES
RYAN COULLING, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology
My research spans the areas of supremacism and ideologically motivated violent extremism, gender, health and wellness, and criminal justice. I am a Fellow at the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism. In my chapter “Under Construction: Masculinities as a Continuous Process of Assembly, Sunder, and Renovation,” in Beyond Anthropocentric Masculinities , I examine the potential for justice from understanding our identities, gendered and other as fluid. I am part of a research team that investigates the health and well-being of Canadian correctional workers. Recent scholarship includes, “We must be Mentally Strong: Exploring Barriers to Mental Health in Correctional Services” in Frontiers in Psychology, “Provincial and Territorial Correctional Service Workers: A Canadian National and Jurisdictional Assessment of Mental Health” in the Journal of Criminal Justice, and “Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 on Alberta Correctional Workers” in Heliyon. Outside of work, my favourite thing to do is spend time with my family.
PROVIDENCE STAFF AND FACULTY 2024
CHARLES CUYUCA V, MBA
Adjunct Professor of Business
This fall term, I will be teaching Organizational Change Management in our Master of Management program. With two decades of global experience in the oil, gas and aerospace industries, I’ve been involved in four major change management initiatives. This practical experience will be invaluable in reinforcing the course material for my students. I am always fascinated by strategic management, as it is the lifeblood of everything we do — personally, professionally, and spiritually. Sharing my insights and experiences in strategic management and organizational change will help students understand the complexities and importance of these fields. I am excited to engage with students and contribute to their development as future leaders in management.
ROBERT DEAN, ThD
Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics
Over the past year, I’ve preached in congregations across Southern Manitoba, representing a variety of denominations and traditions. I’m currently serving as Vice President of the Canadian American Theological Association and presented a paper entitled “Recontextualizing Contextual Preaching” at the CATA annual meeting in Montreal. In June, I attended the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in Waterloo as a Commissioner. From July 1 to the end of 2024, I’m on Sabbatical. During this time, I will be working on a book project that attempts to employ theology in the service of deepening our thinking about and practice of preaching, as well as participating in several conferences. When I’m not at my desk, you might be able to find me on a baseball diamond somewhere in Southern Manitoba coaching one of Niverville’s U-11 minor baseball teams.
REBECCA DIELSCHNEIDER, PhD
Associate Professor of Health Science
In addition to my teaching duties, I chair the Natural and Social Science Department. My research spans the fields of pedagogy, cancer biology, and science-faith dialogue. In 2023, I was appointed as a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), a fellowship of Christians engaged in science. This past summer, I presented at the ASA annual meeting in Washington, DC. The theme of the meeting was “One Body, Many Gifts: The Diversity of Divine and Human Endeavor.” My presentation was titled “Inclusive Citation in Pedagogy and Research: An Essential Approach in Christian Higher Education.” Outside of academia, I enjoy curling, fishing, and gardening.
BRUCE FRIESEN-PANKRATZ, PhD
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
Over the past two years, I helped develop the new Environmental Science program, which emphasizes practical learning and connections to our environment and community. What this looks like in application includes activities such as: surveying the biodiversity of our Otterburne campus, and learning tours of local farms, industries, and municipal water treatment facilities. This past year, I enjoyed offering new courses at Providence, including “Principles of Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Policy and Law.” I’m excited to continue rolling out courses in the Environmental Science program, including our three-week intensive spring Field Schools that will explore terrestrial and aquatic environments within the Rat River Watershed. In my spare time, I’m passionate about practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation.
MICHAEL GILMOUR, PhD
Distinguished Professor of New Testament and English Literature
My research in recent years has focused on the intersection of creative writing and Christian ethics. Related to this, one summer highlight was presenting a paper at Merton College in Oxford, England on Canadian author and animal welfare activist Margaret Marshall Saunders (1861–1947). My latest book, Reading the Margins: Encounters with the Bible in Literature, comes out in September. Favourite music? Anything by Bob Dylan. Favourite movie? Anything with Humphrey Bogart. Currently reading? Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens.
NICHOLAS GRECO, PhD
Provost and Professor of Communications and Media
While in the throes of academic administration, I recently submitted an article focusing on the work of French literary theorist, Roland Barthes (1915-1980). It is entitled “Aeration and Truth: Reading Mourning Diary as Fragment, Haiku,” and explores Barthes’ posthumously published diary and thoughts around the death of his mother in late 1977, and how those fragments might constitute an unfinished “novel.” I’m hoping it will be published in a special issue of Barthes Studies in November on the idea of preparation in Barthes’ work, edited by Kate Briggs and Sunil Manghani. Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying Disney soundtracks, including the songs on the recent (ambivalently-received) animated feature, Wish. The songs are written by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice and sung by voice actors Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine and the other cast of Wish. For the most part, the songs are well done and worth a listen, even if the film is mediocre.
LUANN HIEBERT, PhD
Assistant Professor of English Literature
During the 2023 Prov Talks, I presented ideas about slant poetry, and displayed “slant” features found in some of my poems. Speaking of poetry, at the BTS&H Spring Colloquium (2024), it was a delight to expand my dissertation research on poetry and the maternal. The presentation “Matrilineal Lines” highlighted a poetry collection coloured by my grandmother, her life story, my memories, and imagination. These poems reconstruct a matrilineage, celebrate my inheritance, and situate my self along her motherline. I’m excited to offer a new course for Fall 2024: ENGL 2070 Children’s Literature. Students will investigate the history of children’s literature by engaging with nursery rhymes, verses and songs, picture books and fairy tales, imaginative fictions and biographies, school stories and adventure novels. I anticipate dynamic discussions in the classroom as we read literature written for children.
DR. LUANN HIEBERT
DAVID JOHNSON, PhD
President Emeritus and Adjunct Professor of New Testament
Though I retired from the Providence presidency back in 2021, the Seminary has graciously allowed me to continue teaching as an adjunct professor. Last Spring, I finished teaching an intensive module course: “Acts and the Mission of the Church.” I hadn’t taught the course since 1999, so I had to catch up on 25 years of research. It was a blast, and the students appreciated the course. I also reviewed David Trobisch’s book, On the Origin of Christian Scripture for the Bulletin of Biblical Research. I had two books to review this summer for Didaskalia related to my chief research interest, the birth of the New Testament. Throughout the summer, I enjoyed following in Adam and Eve’s footsteps, caring for our gardens. I also spend a fair bit of time in hockey arenas and on baseball diamonds and soccer pitches watching grandkids play.
CHRISTOPHER LORTIE, PhD University College Dean and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
This summer, I spent my time researching the literary development and theology of the Book of the Twelve. I presented a paper for the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies in Montreal in June on the ending of Zephaniah. I am also preparing for a panel session on Habakkuk for the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting in November. I’ve recently published a review of Gregory Lanier and William Ross, “The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters” in Didaskalia, the Providence Theological Seminary journal.
DR. DAVID JOHNSON
HEATHER MACUMBER, PhD
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
This year, I had the privilege of taking a half-year sabbatical to continue my research on monsters in sacred texts. Several articles are waiting for publication, including “The Monstrous Dragon” ( Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters ) and “From Patmos to Hawkins: Slipping through Time and Space in Revelation and Stranger Things” (Theology, Religion, and Stranger Things). This summer, I presented the following papers at conferences: (1) “Who is in charge? The Multivalent Roles of Devils, Angels, and Demons as Guardians of Hell” (Devil 2024, University of King’s College) and (2) “Ghostly Cities: Spectres of the Past in John’s Apocalypse” (EABS). My current research project is adopting cyborg theory to read the entanglement of the human, animal, and divine in Ezekiel’s cherubim. When I’m not writing, you can find me on the back porch reading a novel or growing a (hopefully) productive vegetable garden.
DANIEL OWUSU NKRUMAH, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology
I recently defended my doctoral thesis at the University of Saskatchewan entitled “A Theoretical Examination of Contributing Factors to the Proliferation of Political Vigilantism: Evidence from Ghana” (2023). This thesis was presented at the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Annual Conference in Montreal this summer. My research adopts a criminological and sociological approach to studying crime and deviance, covering various areas such as penology and corrections, policing and society, law and society, vigilantism, and social control. During my doctoral studies, I received the Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship which allowed me to hone my teaching skills. I’m new to Providence, having started in July 2024 by planning new courses to bolster the Sociology program. Beyond my academic work, I enjoy spending time watching and playing football.
DR. HEATHER MACUMBER
DANIEL REMPEL, PhD Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
It’s been great to be back at Providence. Having graduated from the University College in 2015, I completed my first year serving as Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies. I spent most of my year working downtown, teaching Bible and theology to our international student body. This brought with it both many challenges and rewards, and it was exciting to see our students grow in knowledge and character for leadership and service. On top of teaching, I continued to write articles on disability theology, the most interesting being reading some of the claims of disability theology in conversation with The Office (yes, the television show), as well as some local church visits to talk about disability. Amidst this all, my big project is to continue picking away at turning my PhD thesis into a book in which I explore the Christian witness of people with intellectual disabilities.
MURRAY STILLER, PhD
Adjunct Professor of Media Production Arts (CODE)
I hear students complain that university doesn’t prepare them with practical skills for employment after school. As a university professor, this concerns me because I want students to be successful during and after their time at school when they are looking for work. Students want to feel like they have something to offer the world, that their vocation has purpose, and that they can continue to be creative in a job they enjoy. This is why we established the Media Production Arts program through Providence’s Centre for On-Demand Education (CODE). The online curriculum, where students learn at a pace that fits their life and schedule might not be for everyone, but for some it is the solution. Each lesson is designed around making media. As students progress through the certificate, diploma, and bachelor’s degree, they are matched up with nonprofit employers to make media as on-going, practical “contextual learning.” What if you already have a BA and now realize you want to study media in graduate school? We have a way to help you progress into the master’s degree in media production, starting fall 2024.
EXPLORE CODE
Utilizing innovative approaches such as competency-based education, work integrated learning, and adult degree completion, CODE makes available a full spectrum of subscription-based on-demand options — from micro-credentialing to academic graduate degrees.
