Tangents Fall 2012

A Redeemer University College Publication | fall 2012 | Vol. 3 | Issue 1

The Church + Redeemer:

Partners in the Kingdom

plus:

The value of a

liberal arts education

opening lines

All Things, Always

30 Years of Missional Education at Redeemer

W

ith joy and with gratitude to God for His faithful provision, Redeemer is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Beyond the celebrations, this also presents a good opportunity for us to reflect on how we are fulfilling our mission today, and how we will do so in the coming years. Redeemer is like a young man or woman at age 30: our commitments and habits are quite well-formed, and we have gained a certain level of maturity, but we need to determine how we will continue to walk in those commitments in ways that relate to new times.

Redeemer remains deeply committed to our original mission, which is “to offer university-level education which is Scripturallydirected … from a Reformed Christian perspective… that equips students for leadership and service” to society under the lordship of Christ. Our goal is, as our tagline says, to “discover all things in Him.” This phrase comes from Colossians 1:17, where the apostle Paul declares that all things hold together in Christ – they are created through Him, and are under His rule, and they find their purpose in Christ.

So what do our tagline and our vision of Christ’s lordship mean for today and the future? Our context today presents profound challenges. All universities are being squeezed with funding limits and are facing new pressures. These challenges, such as online learning and mass global “open universities,” are raising deep questions about pedagogy, educational communities and the very nature of university education. In addition to these trends, Redeemer encounters hurdles, and sometimes hostility, to the type of faithbased learning and research that is found at small Christian universities. And the Redeemer community itself is undergoing profound change, from retiring administrators and faculty to the new students we are welcoming from ever-broadening geographic and denominational backgrounds.

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Redeemer’s response to these challenges is in some ways the same as it has been for its first 30 years – to trust in God’s sovereign rule and redemptive promises. He has yet to disappoint us, and has frequently amazed us! That’s why this year’s theme—“All Things Held in Christ”—is so relevant and instructive. In contrast to the rootlessness that is reflected in much of today’s fragmented and anxiety-ridden world, Redeemer aims to discover the complete coherence of life under the lordship of Christ that Paul describes. This Biblically-directed learning enables our students to develop spiritually, intellectually, and socially. It also provides them a meaning-full goal: To be equipped as disciples and agents of Christ’s lordship, serving God and neighbour with all of their gifts and callings, in every area of our culture and society, in a truly transformative way.

As we work to implement this holistic educational vision in ever fuller ways, we recognize the vital role that our broader community has in guiding and supporting Redeemer. For more than 30 years, you have upheld Redeemer prayerfully, entrusted us with your children’s education, provided leadership, and been faithful and generous with your financial support. We cannot say thanks enough for your contributions.

We look forward to working with you through Redeemer’s next 30 years, as members of one community under Christ who is the head, and by whose death on the cross is reconciling all things, including each one of us, to Himself.

Dr. Hubert Krygsman, President

crossroads: Why do our students have to take courses in a wide range of courses outside of their major? In the truest sense, Redeemer is a uni-versity, and the Christian liberal arts education provided here presupposes a unity to all knowledge, a unity that provides faculty and students with meaning and purpose to their work.

Headline If the Church is Christ’s bride, what is Redeemer? For years, both institutions have benefited in many different ways from working with each other. What that relationship will look like moving forward may be different, but it is also exciting to see how the two will partner in support of the Kingdom.

Intersection In September, 1982, Redeemer opened its doors to just eight fulltime faculty members and ninety-seven students. But they were backed by a broad community of supporters who were committed to the creation of a Christian university in Ontario.

Impact From helping Hamilton’s homeless stay warm to providing business literacy training to Ghanaian women, Redeemer students, faculty and alumni are all involved in a myriad of projects and activities that are making a difference in many different communities.

Off-Garner Redeemer’s alumni continue to support and provide leadership to their alma mater, often while enriching their own lives as well.

Roundabout A “Respect”-ful approach to athletics; the CRC’s Synod is just one of the guests that visited the campus over the summer; Redeemer faculty enjoy prime-time coverage; Dr. Koyzis receives a medal from the Queen.

Section

What’s Inside:

Associate Vice President, Marketing and Recruitment: Doriel Moulton Editor: Tim Wolfert ‘87 Designer: Juliane Van Huizen ‘08 Copy Editor: Richard Van Holst ‘86 Contributors: Val Louter ’95, Steven Dykstra, ’10; Syd Hielema; Shalena Neven; Matt Byl ’09; Judith Drost-Storey Photo Credits: All photos taken by the Redeemer Marketing and Communications Services Department unless otherwise noted.

Editorial Advisory Board: Doriel Moulton, Tim Wolfert, Valerie Louter, Julie Van Huizen, Bill DeJong.

Printed in Canada by Blueprint Agencies.

Tangents is published three times per year by the Marketing and Communications Services Department of Redeemer University College in conjunction with the Alumni Association.

Ideas and opinions expressed in Tangents may not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Alumni Association or Redeemer University College. Letters and editorial comments are welcome, however we reserve the right to edit submissions for content or brevity.

Editorial communication can be sent to tangents@redeemer.ca.

Volume 3 Issue 1 Redeemer University College is a Christian liberal arts and science university offering courses and programs leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Redeemer serves more than 950 students on its 86-acre campus, located in the Greater Hamilton Area, Ontario.

Publications Mail Agreement #40040898 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Tangents Redeemer University College 777 Garner Road East Ancaster, ON L9K 1J4 tangents@redeemer.ca Tel: 905.648.2131 x4292 www.redeemer.ca/tangents

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crossroads

Redeemer, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Purpose of a

University Education U

niversities across Canada are striving to define their place in an increasingly competitive and crowded context. Defining their own role—who they are, what they offer, what they excel in—is essential as they try to set themselves apart from the host of universities, colleges and other institutes that are all vying for the same students and research dollars.

From curricular design to classroom implementation, from student residences to faculty research, Redeemer University College is truly unique, one of the few universities in Canada that is rooted in, and works from a distinctively Christian worldview. As reflected in its theme for the year, Redeemer professes that All Things are Held in Christ.

Now in its 30th year, Redeemer University College has always offered a liberal arts and science university education. In North America, where there has been a steady drop in the number of colleges and universities that identify themselves as liberal arts, this too, sets Redeemer apart.

There has been much discussion in academic and popular circles lately about the purpose and value of a liberal arts education. For example, two recent features in The Globe and Mail—the “Our Time to Lead” series and the Canadian University Report—discussed these issues, and curriculum review teams are exploring what role, if any, a liberal arts program should have in the university.

This and the next issue of Tangents will look more closely at the history, aims and outcomes—intended and real—of a liberal arts and science education. In this first part of the series, President Hubert Krygsman sat down with editor Tim Wolfert to discuss the history of liberal arts in the university and explain why Redeemer remains committed to providing this type of education.

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crossroads

it presupposes a holistic view of life, one that acknowledges a cohesiveness between and among who we are as persons, and with all of creation.

Tangents: Perhaps the best place to start, Dr. Krygsman, is with a definition: What is a liberal arts education?

President Hubert Krygsman: At its core, liberal arts and sciences is a broadly-based education that leads students to explore all of the academic disciplines and all dimensions of life.

Tangents: Why is the ALL so important?

HK: There is an underlying premise behind a liberal arts education – it presupposes a holistic view of life, one that acknowledges a cohesiveness between and among who we are as persons, and with all of creation. As such, it recognizes education’s role to develop expertise in different parts of creation, but that no part of the created order can be understood completely in isolation from the rest.

The other presupposition of a liberal arts education is that there is meaning to life, a truth that holds all of the cosmos together. This comprehensive understanding of an interconnected reality means that students need to explore all aspects of life – including both their particular vocation and common responsibilities.

Tangents: How did this idea of a liberal arts education develop to be the basis of Redeemer’s curriculum?

HK: We need to start by looking all the way back to Classical Greece, where formal education really began. The goal in the Greek model was for students to become fully human so that they would be full, participating members of a free society. They recognized a larger order or harmony, and as such studied a range of subjects from rhetoric to gymnastics. But they understood the universe in completely humanistic terms. Eventually, the rise of cynicism and sophistry broke down this confidence in a unified, created order.

The roots of our modern university system are in Medieval Western Europe and what could be called the Christianization of the liberal arts. Starting as far back as Charlemagne’s court, the understanding of a unified, created order rose again, but unlike the Greek view, humans were not seen as the centre of the cosmos. The coherent creation was rooted in Christ and sustained through the Word.

This understanding eventually encouraged the study of many

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crossroads

Our post-modern western world is marked by a spiritual and emotional homelessness which has created a “craving for meaning.” disciplines as different ways of getting to know God and His creation. Even the name of the institutions that offered an education reflected this: the uni–versity was designed to explore and express, through different disciplines, this singular understanding of reality.

of the university centred on technical research was launched, and began the focus on specialization at the expense of a broad-based education. And the post-World War II boom in education was driven by an impetus to train for professions, moreso than teaching for broader understanding.

Tangents: That sounds similar to what Redeemer still offers, but it doesn’t really describe modern universities.

Tangents: But modernity still had a common, if misguided unifying vision of humanity’s continued ascendance, usually to be realized in education. Was that not reflected still in the university?

HK: This was the dominant model of university education for hundreds of years, and many of the great universities— Notre Dame, Oxford and later, Harvard—were founded on this principle. However, in the last half of the 19th century, it started to break down. The rise of modernity, and its emphasis on emperical and pragmatic science, started to chip away the idea of a faith-inspired order. The German model

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HK: For a while, yes; but modernity’s empiricism ultimately led to post-modernity’s complete rejection of any idea of a created order. Instead of seeking unity or truth, the university reduced its role to merely positing patterns as it attempted to describe the empirical data with which they worked. Many came to believe that there was no evidence of

any order to the cosmos, and certainly not a divine one. The “laws” of nature came to be understood as constructions assembled to ascribe what people saw.

World events, such as total war and totalitarianism, bred suspicion, and the new narrative in universities, like society as a whole, was to question authority. Through all this, it became hard to sustain the unified vision of reality that marks a liberal arts education; the type of coherent core programs that had marked universities for centuries began to collapse. The uni-versity became the multi-versity.

There are a number of ways in which Redeemer’s commitment to the type of all-encompassing education described by Dr. Krygsman is reflected.

Tangents: Given that type of a systemic rejection, what’s behind the rising interest in the liberal arts?

HK: Universities reflect the values and concerns of the societies in which they operate, and which they frequently lead. Our postmodern Western world is marked by a spiritual and emotional homelessness which has created a “craving for meaning” – a desire to find something (we would say someone), that somehow provides reason or purpose to a life that seems increasingly fragmented.

Universities have begun to recognize and respond to this. For example, in 2011 the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC) launched a “new narrative,” which emphasizes the importance of a university education as being personally meaningful for students, and which is relevant and engaging to the communities they serve. It is seeking to answer the question “Why does this matter?”

Redeemer’s logo, which accompanies much of its advertisements and branded materials, is “Discover All Things in Him.” It succinctly summarizes the purpose and scope of the education offered at Redeemer, but more importantly, where—or more accurately in Whom—we believe wisdom and truth is ultimately found.

Redeemer’s Academic Crest, which is used on official documents, is rich with symbolism and reflects the mission and purpose of the University. The Latin motto “Agnus Dei Omnium Rex” means “Lamb of God, King over All,” and the crest contains the victorious Paschal Lamb framed in palm branches, symbolic of the Lordship of the risen Christ over all creation.

Tangents: But what is the meaning that the universities are now seeking? What is the truth, the unifying vision that you said earlier marks a liberal arts university education?

HK: In most cases, universities and their faculty still are wary of such meaning. There may be a desire to find meaning, but the university is not ready to acknowledge that there is a unity in truth or any sense of a common meaning. There is agreement with the classical liberal arts tenet that there are many different ways of knowing; that’s why you study different disciplines. But any meaning that arises from that learning is as individual as the person who finds it. No universal truths can be attributed to it or derived from it.

Tangents: But at Redeemer, there is a meaning, a purpose – a Truth, isn’t there?

HK: Absolutely, and it’s what makes us, and our sister Christian universities so unique – we have our meaning rooted, by faith, in Jesus Christ. He is what makes uni-versity possible. All things find their meaning and purpose in Him, and that gives us the calling and privilege to study anything, because it all leads us to know Him more. Because of this common faith, Redeemer should be able to achieve the goals of a liberal arts education with such power and conviction that can be found in no other place.

A ll

s held in ch thing rist

Redeemer’s theme for the 2012-13 academic year —All things held in Christ, taken from Colossians 1—also speaks to Christ’s dominion over all areas of life, including education.

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intersection

A Venture of Faith The beginnings of Redeemer This year, we are celebrating God’s faithfulness in the creation and sustaining of Redeemer University College for 30 years. Above all, we recognize that this is a venture that has relied, and continues to rely on His provision.

Redeemer’s history is also the story of a number of faithful people – those who shared in the vision of developing and instituting a Christian university in Ontario. As we celebrate this anniversary, Tangents takes a look back at Redeemer’s early history and some of the key events of Redeemer’s first 15 years.

The next issue of Tangents will look at the most recent 15 years of Redeemer’s history. Those who would like to learn more should read Stepping Forward in Faith, Rev. Dr. Henry De Bolster’s history of Redeemer from 1974-1994.

It is available at Redeemer’s Campus Bookstore.

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intersection

T

here had been talk of establishing an undergraduate university in Ontario with a reformed Christian basis as early as the mid-1950s, when thousands of Kuyperian-educated Dutch immigrants arrived in Canada as part of the post-World War II exodus from Europe. But Redeemer’s history really began in 1975, when a detailed investigation was undertaken to explore the feasibility of setting up a Christian college in Ontario. The result of that feasibility investigation was the establishment of the Ontario Christian College Association, with 104 members, which came into existence on November 13, 1976.

Associations and committees, although important and helpful, need the drive of passionate people who are committed to new initiatives such as this. Rev. Dr. Henry R. De Bolster, who was then pastoring a church in St. Catharines, was the champion for what would become Redeemer College.

He, along with many others including Dr. Theo Plantinga, Dr. Justin Cooper, Mr. Dick Kranendonk and Mr. Albert Bakker (who provided legal counsel), worked for years to see this dream become a reality. Along the way, there were several key events:

• On December 12, 1980, the Ontario Legislature passed private member’s

•

• • •

Bill 48, “An Act to Incorporate Redeemer Reformed Christian College.”

With the granting of this charter, Redeemer College was empowered to operate and to grant the Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.) degree.

In September 1982, Redeemer College opened its doors for the first time, with 97 full-time and 63 part-time students, 8 full-time faculty, and Rev. De Bolster as its founding President. For its first four years, Redeemer operated in the former Bell Cairn Memorial School on Hamilton’s Beach Strip.

In 1985 the College purchased 78 acres of land in Ancaster for the construction of a new campus. The College occupied the new facilities in August 1986, and welcomed 279 full-time students that September.

In November 1986, Redeemer held its first commencement ceremony, with 40 students graduating.

In October 1987, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) unanimously granted Redeemer ordinary membership, recognizing the quality university education that was provided.

The next decade saw Redeemer solidify itself in Ontario’s post-secondary environment. Its early graduates were often challenged when they applied to graduate programs at other universities, but through their perseverance—and their demonstrated academic success—Redeemer’s B.C.S. was seen as equal by almost all post-graduate programs.

Likewise, the work of Redeemer’s faculty was recognized by granting agencies and research partners. Redeemer established two research centres—the Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science and the Dooyeweerd Centre for Christian Philosophy—and began to host academic conferences with scholars from around the world.

At the end of 1996-97, Redeemer’s 15th academic year, enrolment was at 442, and there were 34 full-time faculty. Considering the challenges that Redeemer faced in those early years, those numbers were astonishing, proof that God had indeed blessed this endeavour of faith. But what would happen next would be even more remarkable.

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headline

Equipped and Equipping How Redeemer blesses and is blessed by the Church

BY STEVE DYKSTRA ’10, VALERIE LOUTER ‘95 AND TIM WOLFERT ‘87

T

hroughout its 30 years, Redeemer University College has been blessed by the support of the church. From Redeemer’s inception, denominations and individual congregations have provided financial support, hosted information sessions for prospective students, promoted its events and generally walked alongside Redeemer, encouraging—and occasionally chastising—the University as it became established.

Even now, as Redeemer has reached this point in its history (President Krygsman likes to describe Redeemer at 30 as a “young adult”), Redeemer remains dependent on, and thankful for, that support.

But this has not remained a one-way relationship. As Redeemer has grown, it has been able to reciprocate that support in a number of different ways, both to the institutional church, and to individual congregations. The most significant way that has happened is through the 4,000 alumni who have studied at, and been shaped by, Redeemer. As they now settle in communities around the world, they have become a blessing to and a resource for their local churches.

This issue of Tangents explores some of the different ways that Redeemer is working with the church, supporting its efforts even as it supports the University. Dr. Syd Hielema, Redeemer’s Chaplain, also takes a look at what that relationship may look like as it moves forward and as both institutions deal with a rapidly changing world.

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headline

“Being Christ” in the Community Redeemer’s campus sits on Hamilton’s mountain, in the relatively comfortable village of Ancaster. However, it is with church partners in the downtown core of Hamilton where Redeemer students and alumni are largely working out a call to serve others.

For more than nine years, groups of Redeemer students have been volunteering at Wentworth Baptist Church, located in a low-income Hamilton community known as Gibson. The weekly Kidz Club sees Redeemer students hosting an after-school program attended by more than 30 community children. Wentworth’s pastor, Robin Ellis believes that Kidz Club has had a transformative presence in his community: “When I started [as pastor], we had one child in the nursery, and the next oldest member was her father. In 2003, we received a phone call from a Redeemer student who wanted to move [the program] to our church. As a result, Kidz Club began our calling to be good news to the community. We have since grown to have a strong community presence, including on Sunday mornings.”

Wentworth Baptist Church also hosted this fall’s CrossCulture, a bi-annual one-day service project that introduces students to Hamilton community organizations that are making a difference, and engaging them with the connection between justice and worship. Held in conjunction with TrueCity Hamilton, a network of local churches, participants gathered for a time of fellowship, music and singing before serving at various locations across the city.

The involvement of Redeemer students with local churches extends beyond short-term service projects.

Eucharist Church is a new community of faith in downtown Hamilton that “aspires to be committed to the sacrificial, counter-cultural, and revolutionary way of Jesus Christ; and to reveal the love of God and His goodness to the city of Hamilton.” Since it started in the fall of 2010, Redeemer students and alumni have been part of the core team that has helped carry the church.

Kevin Makins, pastor at Eucharist Church says that Redeemer students “are involved at every level, from arts to meal preparation.” He also notes that their influence extends beyond the church’s services and programs.

“Redeemer students represent an influx of new Christians into an impoverished, but also transforming city in Canada.” Even as students attending Hamilton churches connect to the mission and values of those churches, Makins notes that “student experience and learning has an energy that’s contagious for people who are established in the city.”

Kevin and Meaghan Makins

Developing ministry leaders for many roles Over the years, many students have enrolled in Redeemer as part of their training for full-time ministry. In fact, of the 40 students of Redeemer’s first graduating class, 13 were either in the PreSeminary program or went on to become ordained ministers. Not surprisingly, many of those went on to serve in parish ministry in the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA).

Over the last number of years however, Redeemer students have gone on to serve in a variety of denominations and in a number of non-traditional ministries.

Meaghan (Meg) Makins ‘08 is grateful for her studies at Redeemer because she gained an understanding of how to apply her faith through small and large endeavours in her life. In the fall of 2010, Meg and her husband Kevin planted Eucharist Church. The following summer Meg branched further into the community when she began Sweet Ice Snow Cones.

Meg notes that both her endeavours are rooted in the same conviction to love and serve God in Hamilton. “Through the church, my business, and the various creative endeavours I’m involved in, I’ve been able to develop relationships with people who live to be God’s hands and feet.”

Formerly a pastor of a Christian Reformed church in British Columbia, Syd Ypma ’97 now serves as Chaplain at the University of Ottawa. “I often get asked why I chose to leave parish ministry to become a chaplain at a university. I usually respond by saying that I didn’t leave parish ministry; my parish is now over thirty thousand students, not to mention staff and faculty. God is at work in the lives of all the students and the job of a chaplain is to help them see God at work, and to wonder with them about what this means for their lives. My experience as a student and a staff member at Redeemer helped to shape my understanding of a world steeped in God’s mysterious ways and what it means to wonder together at His calling upon our lives. That experience influences how I minister to my parish at the University of Ottawa today.”

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headline Andrew Hibma

Andrew Hibma ‘08 is studying towards his Masters of Divinity at McMaster Divinity College, and he works at New Hope Community Bikes and at Compass Point Ellis Campus, both of which are in East Hamilton. He feels attached to his community and is passionate about its transformational development. “The foundational worldview teaching that I received while at Redeemer has helped me figure out how my faith can impact all aspects of my life. At the bike shop I have the privilege of participating in redemption, as each day I am able to take old things and restore them to new again. At the church, I am able draw people into a deeper relationship with God through times of worship and media ministries. I am embracing the call that I received at Redeemer to be present in the world and to transform it.”

Senior students “practice what they preach” In March 2012, senior Religion and Theology majors were given a chance to practice what they preach in Hamilton community churches. Through a course entitled “Teaching Scripture,” taught by Redeemer chaplain Syd Hielema, students were given the opportunity to present their final project—in this case, a practised sermon—to a Hamilton congregation.

In total, seven churches—from seven different denominations—participated in the project. Churches as diverse as Wentworth Baptist, Westdale Reformed, and Gospel Light International, a Filipino evangelical church plant, welcomed the students. For some, it was their first time presenting a message outside of the classroom, and the students remarked how the project gave them a new awareness of community context. One remarked, “In the classroom, you can miss what people are looking for. People are there to hear FROM God, not about God.”

Ministry and Discipleship – the role of continuing education Redeemer is committed to blessing and equipping churches and congregations through continuing education and professional development. This September, Redeemer welcomed acclaimed songwriter and musician Brian Doerksen to its annual Worship Conference, and it is looking forward to having pastor and award-winning author Mark Buchanan as the keynote speaker for the Ministers’ Conference in March, 2013.

Redeemer also continues to offer leadership development opportunities. New this year is an entire stream of continuing education programs—Ministry and Discipleship—that is focussed on equipping churches and their leaders in the work they do. Participants have been thrilled with the practical and effective skills they acquired from workshops on topics such as Managing Congregational Polarities and Listening for God’s Leading in Congregational Life.

As part of its Youth Ministry Certificate Program, Redeemer offers full credit courses each summer in areas such as Spiritual Formation, Leadership in Ministry and Foundations of Discipleship. Christian school teachers, youth pastors, and others involved in ministry live and study together for one week in a setting that is marked by excellent teaching, and by learning from the personal experiences of those in the course.

To learn more about any of these programs, visit www.redeemer.ca/clear.

Redeemer is pleased to work alongside the Church as partners in God’s kingdom-building work globally, and especially locally. If you or your church would like to learn more about partnering with Redeemer, please contact Valerie Louter, Director of Alumni, Church and Parent Relations at vlouter@redeemer.ca.

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H

ow might we at Redeemer University College continue to bless local congregations? What is our calling as a university vis-à-vis the hundreds of churches with whom we have relationships?

headline

What will Equipping for Ministry Look Like in the Future? running down on the beard, / running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. / It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

I’m not sure, and I’d invite you to ponder these questions with me. Here’s the context for processing these questions:

What fruit will these seedlings bear? I don’t know, but I’m eager to nurture them and see how the Lord leads.

• Redeemer students, faculty and staff represent 55 different

We’re learning that our work in youth ministry can serve as a platform for asking hard questions about the future of the church. I believe that the young adult exodus is “the canary in the coal mine” concerning the health of the church. If so, youth ministry does not just deal with one isolated category of church life, but rather functions as a window into the health of the entire organism. In other words, youth ministry is not really youth ministry but rather one dimension of the entirety of the life of a congregation.

• •

•

denominations and numerous congregations.

Redeemer graduates are serving as ministry staff in almost a hundred congregations, and exercising lay leadership in hundreds more.

There’s a growing sense that the Christian church in Canada is being called to greater unity and more focussed witness as our cultural context becomes increasingly secular. “Majoring in minors” is no longer an option (not that it ever was, but too often we have acted as if it was not just acceptable, but even a godly calling). Our context is often described as “postdenominational.”

The church is experiencing great anxiety and distress over its young adult exodus, most recently documented and analyzed in the profound study done by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Hemorrhaging Faith.

In summary, our ecclesial context is hungry for equipping wisdom, and we at Redeemer are seeking to discern what we might be called to offer.

At the front end of our discernment, we have these thoughts: We’ve learned that we are gradually becoming a trusted voice in a postdenominational context. Church leaders from the entire spectrum of Christianity attend our annual worship conference (this year we had to turn people away!), our annual Ministers’ Conference, and various other Continuing Education events. I find that everywhere I look I see Psalm 133 seedlings sprouting out of the soil: How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live together in unity! / It is like precious oil poured on the head,

Imagine if someone said to you, “I have a bad heart and the doctor says it may give out on me any day now, but I’m not worried, the other 95% of my body seems to be just fine.” We realize how utterly ridiculous such a statement is, and yet too many churches take precisely that kind of approach when they reflect on their ministry to teens and young adults.

These two developments are symbiotically connected: churches across denominations are coming together out of a recognition that in our challenging context we cannot afford to be competitors; instead we are called to be partners. We at Redeemer sense that the Lord may be calling us to serve as a kind of “midwife” to these partnerships waiting to be born, and we’re eager to see just what specific shapes this calling may take.

Please join us in this process of prayer and discernment (and, if you have thoughts about this, email me at shielema@redeemer.ca).

Syd Hielema is Redeemer’s Chaplain

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impact

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Battle of the Bands – High School Edition draws hundreds to Redeemer

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edeemer’s inaugural Battle of the Bands – High School Edition featured five very diverse bands performing in front of hundreds of friends, family, classmates – and judges.

The concert, organized by Redeemer’s Recruitment and Student Life Departments, was the conclusion to a competition that began when more than 20 bands submitted video entries via YouTube. The five bands that performed at Redeemer were chosen by an online contest that saw more than 30,000 votes cast through Redeemer’s website. At the finale, each band performed a 20 minute set in front of a panel of judges that included Graham Rockingham, Music Editor for The Hamilton Spectator, Amy King, a record producer at Grant Avenue Studios and Scott Orr, who is in charge of Artist and Repertoire for Hamilton’s indie label, Other Songs Music Co. DiverseCity, from Senator O’ Connor College School in Toronto, took home the Judge’s Award as the top band, and Ancaster-based Number Stations won the People’s Choice Award, as voted on by the audience.

For winning the Judge’s Award, DiverseCity was awarded an Artist Development Package valued at nearly $1,000. The package includes one-hour consulting sessions with four professionals from the music industry and one song professionally recorded at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton.

Battle of the Bands – High School Edition was part of Sibling Weekend, organized by Student Life. The weekend featured a number of other activities for current Redeemer students who had invited their siblings to campus. It also took place on Redeemer’s first campus visit day event of the year. For Karen Barker, the Recruitment Department’s Event Coordinator, it was a wonderful way to kick off the Visiting Day Program. “The energy and excitement around the event was incredible. It has been a great way to show some of the unique opportunities that our campus offers students.”

For photos and videos of the event, visit www.redeemer.ca/botb. And watch for information on next year’s event!

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Fighting the Cold Winter’s coming. For most of us, the cold is something that while perhaps unpleasant, is bearable. For refugees who are settling in Hamilton, often not used to winter, and who come with no protection from the weather, it is far more serious.

Anthony Ramuscak, a second-year student from Hamilton, teamed up with other students to organize a community campaign to collect new and gently-used blankets. The blankets will be distributed through a number of community organizations to refugees and others who need some help staying warm this winter.

This isn’t the first time Anthony has done this: he also organized a blanket drive in 2006. His reason for doing this is simple and powerful. “Every winter, hundreds of people end up living on the streets and suffering because of the cold,” he says. “It is time to stand up and help them.”

Anthony’s plea resonated with the community. He and Brandon Richardson, another student involved with the drive, were interviewed on the Scott Thompson Show on 800CHML in Hamilton; less than ten minutes after that interview aired, someone called him to say they had 200 blankets to contribute!

By the end of the campaign, more than 300 blankets had been collected and distributed to Micah House and other volunteer agencies in Hamilton.

(from left): Brandon Richardson, Brad Huizinga, Rachael Heyns and Stephanie Schreutters stand behind and work with Anthony Ramuscak on the blanket drive.

Orientation activity aims to collect food and create community Redeemer’s annual Food Drive in support of Hamilton’s Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre wrapped up with a record amount of food collected.

More than 8300 pounds of food, worth almost $21,000, was collected from the residents of the Meadowlands neighbourhood where Redeemer is located.

As part of their orientation activities, Redeemer students distributed bags throughout the neighbourhood on the Labour Day weekend, and then picked them up a week later. Although the first goal of this event is to bring in as much food as possible, it is also an opportunity for new Redeemer students to develop community, both among each other, and with their neighbours.

“We encourage students to come together with the Meadowlands community and assist with the good work that Neighbour 2 Neighbour is doing in Hamilton,” notes Micah van Dijk, Redeemer’s Activities & Orientation Coordinator. “Neighbour 2 Neighbour is grateful for the community’s generosity and Redeemer is grateful for this opportunity to have our students get to know the neighbourhood a little bit better.”

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impact

Redeemer Receives Grant for Mental Health Initiative Redeemer University College has received a grant from Stronger Together, a collaborative granting initiative, to develop a mental health strategy to support university and college students.

The grant will be used to design, develop and implement a holistic, communal and collaborative mental health strategy.

In particular, the funding will enable Redeemer to: • research mental health models specific to post-secondary settings; • develop a mental health strategy appropriate for Redeemer; • disseminate information through web and print-based resources and training workshops.

This project was proposed in response to mounting concerns regarding mental health among university and college students, including students at Christian post-secondary institutions such as Redeemer. Over the next few months, Student Life staff will be researching best practices at other universities and developing resources and training for staff and faculty to increase the recognition of mental health concerns and to develop informed responses. The overall strategy and the resources developed will be shared with other Christian colleges and universities next year. “We want to create a support model for Christian universities and colleges that do not have the capacity to address this issue,” notes Dr. Karen Cornies, Redeemer’s Dean of Students and author of the proposal.

CARDUS Education Survey Launch Christian day schools and high schools have operated in Canada for decades.

Parents and others have invested much in these schools, which in most provinces, do not receive government funding. But what are the results of that investment?

CARDUS, a think-tank dedicated to the renewal of social architecture, has completed the largest ever study of privately funded elementary and secondary education. The 2012 Cardus Education Survey report is the first of its kind to fully examine government and non-government schooling by surveying thousands of Canadian high school graduates.

The Survey examines how well these schools have done on goals such as academic excellence, spiritual formation and cultural engagement. The Canadian results were rolled out this fall at events across the country.

Redeemer hosted the first of these launch events. Ray Pennings, Director of Research at Cardus, and former Chair of Redeemer’s Board of Governors, led a presentation of the Survey’s findings. He was joined at the launch by Dr. Deani Van Pelt, Associate Professor of Education and Director of Teaching at Redeemer, one of the Survey’s lead authors.

The survey found that graduates from non-public high schools – about 8% of Canadian students – tend to be very active and engaged citizens, more likely to volunteer and donate to charity than their governmenteducated counterparts, and at least as likely as their public school peers to take their places in society working towards the “common good.”

There is much in the survey that speaks to the strengths of these alternative schools, but it also identifies areas where the graduates of these schools do not score as well as their publically funded school counterparts. “Measurement is a good thing, even when the results aren’t everything we would wish for,” said Pennings, noting that the discoveries of the survey should also be seen as a tool for areas where Christian education can improve. “If Christian education is worth doing it’s worth measuring; if it’s worth measuring, it’s worth improving.”

The complete Cardus Education Survey is available at www.cardus.ca/research/education.

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Students Give Redeemer Top Grades in Globe and Mail Survey...Again Results from satisfaction survey reflect key initiatives

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edeemer University College has once again earned high marks from its students in the The Globe & Mail’s annual Canadian University Report, released on October 23.

The newspaper’s annual survey of student satisfaction, produced in partnership with Higher Education Strategy Associates, graded 58 universities on a number of key criteria by surveying more than 31,000 Canadian university students about their experiences.

In response to the key question – “Thinking about all of your experiences at your university thus far, how satisfied are you overall with your institution?” – students gave Redeemer an A, tied for the highest mark of any university across Canada.

Most of the criteria are organized by 11 different categories, each one representing an aspect of a student’s university experience.

Students were asked to respond to several questions about each area, and those individual questions were then tabulated to create an Overall Score for each category. In the survey, Redeemer scored high marks in many of these areas:

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Atmosphere.........................................A+ Residence life.......................................A+ Course Registration and Availability....A Quality of teaching and learning..........A Campus Buildings and Facilities..........A City satisfaction...................................AStudent Services..................................ALibrary Services...................................ACareer Preparation...............................APresident Krygsman is encouraged by the results of the survey. “These results demonstrate again the high quality of university education that we provide and the impressive dedication and care that our faculty and staff take for our students and their learning.”

The results also mirror some of the areas that Redeemer has worked to develop. “The survey reflects our commitment to creating community,” says Richard Wikkerink, Associate Vice President of Student Development. “Through our residences, and many other programs and activities, we have been very intentional about developing an academic community where students can grow and develop—together—inside and outside the classroom.”

Dr. Krygsman agrees with the importance of this part of a student’s Redeemer experience.

“One of the great goals of our Strategic Plan is ‘Developing and Equipping the Whole Person.’ We want to see each student develop as a whole person—body, mind and soul—and to strengthen their calling as a member of the body of Christ. That is our calling, and our privilege.”

This was Redeemer’s sixth year participating in the survey. For more information about the Canadian University Report, which also includes many articles and features about postsecondary education, and Redeemer’s scores, visit www.redeemer.ca/Aplus.

impact

Alumni support growing Thirty years on, Redeemer’s alumni are becoming established and they are starting to give back to their alma mater in various ways. Some have facilitated professional connections for our students for the purpose of co-op placement, internships, and new graduate hiring. Others are mentoring students through the Redeemer Alumni Mentoring Program (RAMP), which brings alumni and students from similar disciplines together over a meal to discuss academic and professional opportunities. Alumni also participate in classes and lead extra-curricular seminars in their fields of expertise. Redeemer’s alumni are its best ambassadors, and are increasingly providing leadership to the university.

Alumni are also contributing to Redeemer financially through annual giving, membership and by naming Redeemer in their wills. Alumni have the option to direct a portion of their membership fees to the Redeemer Alumni Association Student Awards Program, providing scholarships and bursaries for students demonstrating leadership. Currently, $5,000 is awarded annually to students in the form of one Leadership Award and two Leadership Bursaries.

Rev. Dr. Richard Fee, General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Karen Zwart Hielema, Edgar Hielema and Dr. Hubert Krygsman hold a portrait of Alberta, taken by student Melissa Hogeboom, and presented to the Hielema’s in recognition of their gift.

Judith Drost Storey, Development Director, confirms that alumni are starting to make significant donations: “Those who are making larger, multi-year gifts are designating their contributions to projects or initiatives that are meaningful to them. As an example, for some who are working in health sciences fields, the new Health Sciences Program resonates with them, especially because of the leveraging available with matching funds.”

Another example of this is the gift that Edgar Hielema ‘x86 and his wife, Karen Zwart Hielema made that will allow a Redeemer graduate to spend one year in Ghana, working in a variety of community-building programs. This initiative is part of a new partnership between Redeemer and the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) and builds upon both institutions’ existing work in Ghana.

Edgar, who spent several years working and living in Africa, said that the program appeals to him because it connects four things about which he is passionate: engagement with other communities; a sense of personal calling; an appreciation of the history of different communities; and an ecumenical approach to addressing problems. “My goal is to instill the desire and the confidence in students to go and make a difference,” he said at a signing ceremony that formally launched and acknowledged the project.

Alumni who are interested in exploring ways to support Redeemer, financially or otherwise, should contact Valerie Louter, Director of Alumni, Church and Parent Relations, at alumnioffice@redeemer.ca.

I love giving to Redeemer because of how much Redeemer has given to me.

My four years there were very influential in shaping the person I am today. I thank Redeemer for giving me a strong foundation in the disciplines from a Reformed Christian perspective and for encouraging me to develop the talents that God has given me and use them in society. My hope is that my financial contributions will help other students benefit from this education as well.

-Heather Sinnema ‘99

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Alumni Council Update

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n behalf of the Alumni Council, I would like to provide a brief update to highlight some of the things we are currently doing to live out our mission of “building relationships that foster community.”

Currently serving on the Alumni Council are Leanne Van Bostelen ‘00, Rodney DeKoter ‘88, Matt Byl ‘06, Brian Dijkema ‘04, Paul DeWeerd ‘10, Board of Governors Representative Brian Harskamp ‘04, Andrea Hensen’06, Miranda de Rooy ‘07, Robin Ghesquire ‘94, Academic Senate Representative Margaret Gassanov ‘00, Student Senate Representative Hannah Giles ‘15, and our Alumni Director, Valerie Louter ’95. We have been blessed to have such a diverse group of people who have a heart for serving the Alumni Association.

One of the ways we seek to build community is by hosting RAMP (Redeemer Alumni Mentoring Program) events for current students thinking about career choice and/or grad school opportunities.

Alumni are invited to participate in panel and small group discussions with students in a specific field of interest, allowing the students to get a look into their career. We are also working on a Distinguished Alumni Award to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions and Christian commitment of Redeemer alumni. More details can be found in the accompanying article by Leanne Van Bostelen.

We encourage you to remain connected with the Alumni Association.

Here are three great ways to stay in touch: • “Like” the Redeemer Alumni Association page on Facebook; • Join our Redeemer Alumni Association group on LinkedIn; and • Subscribe to our monthly Alumni eNewsletter by sending an email to majordomo@redeemer.ca with no subject line. The body of the email must read only subscribe alumninews For matters directly relating to the Alumni Council please contact alumnicouncil@redeemer.ca. For all other alumni inquiries, please contact Alumni Director Valerie Louter at vlouter@redeemer.ca.

Matt Byl ‘06 Alumni Council President

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30 years of Outstanding Alumni This year at Redeemer is packed with celebrations marking our 30th Anniversary.

Both on- and off-campus activities are commemorating the blessings of God on Redeemer and the Redeemer community.

The Alumni Association is celebrating too! You may have discovered the “Quest for 300” draw on the Redeemer Alumni Association Facebook page. We reached 300 ‘likes’ and the winner of the draw was Rhonda Elgersma ’01. She received a Redeemer Alumni prize package.

Alumni Council has also been working on an exciting award project. As of the 2013/14 academic year there will be greater recognition of a special alumnus each year.

The new Distinguished Alumni Award will be awarded to someone who has made remarkable achievements in his/her field of expertise and in the community while maintaining a strong commitment to Christ.

Nominations will take place from September to December and the award will be presented at the closing Convocation in April.

There’s more, but you’ll have to wait. Further details will be shared soon – start thinking about which alumnus you’d like to nominate for next year!

Leanne Van Bostelen ’00 Alumni Council Vice President

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Homecoming

attracts alumni and other supporters

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edeemer was the place to be on Saturday, September 29 as 130 alumni, parents, faculty, staff and other friends of Redeemer came to campus to reconnect and celebrate Redeemer’s 30th Anniversary.

reDiscover Redeemer had events and activities for the entire family. While adults enjoyed seminars led by alumni and faculty, Redeemer students hosted a kids’ carnival and a number of workshops for younger children. A highlight of the afternoon was listening to some fantastic music provided by Peter Zantingh ‘94 and Paul Hogeterp ‘93 from The Immigrants.

Congratulations to the class of 1992 who won the alumni challenge by having nine graduates of their class in attendance.

Although the event is organized by Alumni Director Valerie Louter ‘95, its focus is much broader than just former students.

“Homecoming is a time of fellowship for alumni, faculty and other friends from the Redeemer community, a chance to reconnect with the institution and with one another,” she notes. “We also see it as a great opportunity for Redeemer to thank its community of supporters, and for them to learn what’s new at Redeemer.”

The event continues to grow each year, largely by word of mouth. As one alumnus noted on a survey, “reDiscover Redeemer was a great experience for our family. We will definitely recruit friends and family for coming years.”

To see more photos from the event, check out the Homecoming album on our Redeemer Alumni Facebook page.

Homecoming 2013 will be held on October 4 and 5. New for next year will be a 2-day event with multiple opportunities for alumni, faculty and staff, parents and other friends of Redeemer to reconnect and celebrate the joys of being part of the Redeemer community. Events will include the Annual General Meeting and Faculty Artists’ concert on Friday, and a Saturday filled with activities for everyone. Mark your calendar today and visit www.redeemer.ca/homecoming for the exciting details!

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B.C.Ed. Program Note Pending changes could affect B.Ed. process For the past 5 years, graduates of Redeemer’s Bachelor of Christian Education (B.C.Ed.) program have been eligible to apply, with advanced standing, to Redeemer’s Bachelor of Education degree program.

By taking four additional courses at Redeemer, usually over the span of one or two years, successful completion of this opportunity has led to the professional designation of Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT). This designation is issued by the Ontario College of Teachers, which accredited Redeemer’s B.Ed. program in 2003.

Recently, the Ontario government has indicated that it will be requiring expansions to Ontario teacher education programs over the next several years. This will include expanded core

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content, enhanced curriculum and more practicum offered through a lengthier program.

Although exactly how this will impact Redeemer’s B.C.Ed. graduates is not entirely clear at the moment, Redeemer has committed to providing course requirements during the summer until 2014. At this time it is expected that the program requirements will be changing and the schedule of summer course offerings will be limited.

If you are a B.C.Ed. graduate who still wishes to take advantage of the existing B.Ed. program requirements and benefits (such as reduced tuition), you should apply as soon as possible.

For more information, visit www.redeemer.ca/conted.

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his summer, Redeemer welcomed to its campus the 2012 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). More than 185 delegates, along with advisors, staff and committee representatives took part in Synod, and several hundred guests attended parts of the week-long event.

Beyond the deliberations and meetings, most of which took place in the Auditorium and classrooms, Redeemer’s campus also hosted several related events and activities at the same time. The Young Adult Leadership Taskforce (YALT), a ministry of the CRCNA, had a conference that ran concurrent with Synod’s; an art exhibit—ReForming Relationships—was held in the Art Gallery, and a Ministry Fair, featuring 35 different organizations, lined the hallways of the Academic Building.

Despite the size and complexity of the event, Conference Services was up to the task. “Having Synod on our campus took a tremendous effort by many different departments,” notes Doreen Gringhuis, Redeemer’s Director of Campus and Conference Services. “But it was a very rewarding and affirming experience, and it proved to many what we, as a university, are capable of when we plan properly and work together as a team.”

President Krygsman and Vice President Advancement Elsje Zwart serve dinner to Synod delegates

Extending the stage to accommodate Synod

Photos on this page courtesy of the CRCNA (crcna.org/synod)

Synod was also a great opportunity for Redeemer to work with the Christian Reformed Church, which has long been supportive of Redeemer. “There is a very strong relationship between Redeemer and the CRCNA,” notes Dr. Hubert Krygsman, Redeemer’s president. “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the denomination in this way.”

Redeemer’s campus hosts many conferences and thousands of guests each summer. From dance recitals to graduations, church retreats to corporate conferences, Redeemer remains a very busy place throughout the summer. Besides Synod, this summer Redeemer hosted the United Church Women’s 50th Anniversary, the Hamilton Children’s Choir and several youth events and church retreats. It was even the location for a Hallmark made-for-TV movie “Come Dance With Me.” “We have the capacity and the expertise to run all sorts of events like this,” notes Ms. Gringhuis.

“During the summer we do not sit empty, but we utilize our campus both to generate revenue and for the greater good of the community.” If you or your group is looking for a great place to host your next event, visit www.redeemer.ca/conferenceservices.

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Synod Comes to Redeemer

CRC’s annual assembly only one of many oncampus events this summer

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Comingsand Goings Staff and Faculty Changes at Redeemer

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his year, Redeemer welcomed a number of new staff and faculty members. We thank God for His goodness in providing us with such talented and dedicated administrators and instructors to our community.

This summer, Elsje Zwart was appointed as Vice President, Advancement, succeeding Bill van Staalduinen, who retired in June. Prior to her appointment at Redeemer, Ms. Zwart had been a Major Gifts Officer at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. Gordon College is similar to Redeemer in that it has roots in the Reformed tradition and has multidenominational support. “Ms. Zwart understands and shares deeply Redeemer’s Vision, Mission, and Statement of Basis and Principles, and she knows Redeemer’s donor community very well,” says Dr. Krygsman. “She brings a deep faith and a gracious, thoughtful character to her role.”

Dr. Heather Strong, a Redeemer graduate of 2002, was appointed as the first faculty member in the Health Sciences program, which was launched this September. Dr. Strong earned her Ph.D. from McMaster University, specializing in Health and Exercise Physiology, and has worked in various capacities with those struggling with mental health concerns.

Laurie Busuttil, another Redeemer alumna, joined the faculty this year as Assistant Professor of Business. Ms Busutil has an MBA from McMaster University and a background in Finance and Operations Management, especially in the non-profit sector.

Denis Ursov has also joined the Business Department as a Lecturer. Mr. Ursov’s focus is in accounting, and besides his academic and research interests in the subject, he brings some very practical experience from his time as an Auditor for Revenue Canada.

Dr. Allan Curnew, Assistant Professor of French is also Chair of the French Department. This year, he is getting a good survey of the department, teaching intro courses and senior courses in French literature and civilization.

Outside the classroom, his research interests include the French Decadent Movement and Georges Bataille.

Redeemer also bade farewell—with much appreciation for their service—to two staff members, both whom have connections to the French Department.

Dr. Diane Dent, who worked in the French Department and the Advancement Department, has reduced her days at Redeemer following 14 years of service. Originally hired as a part-time instructor in French, Dr. Dent ended up wearing many different hats as she actively and vigorously raised Redeemer’s profile in Hamilton. She was instrumental in setting up the Annual Business Partnership Open House, Breakfast with the President, the Business Advisory Committee and revamped Redeemer’s Co-op program.

For most of her 23 years at Redeemer, Dr. Thea Van Til Rusthoven was not just a member of the French Department, she was the French Department. When she retired at the end of the 2011-12 academic year, faculty and alumni acknowledged Dr. Van Til Rusthoven’s dedication and perseverance in developing the department’s curriculum. But she was also thanked for developing so many other activities and programs —many of which she hosted in her own home—that gave her students a real sense of and taste for French culture outside the classroom.

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MP David Sweet (l) and Mr. Peter Bhatti (r), present Dr. Koyzis with his medal

The research interests of Redeemer faculty are as wide and varied as the professors themselves. Sometimes, these interests are focussed on topics that have a fairly narrow and primarily academic focus. But this fall, two Redeemer faculty members demonstrated that research can certainly have a popular appeal as well.

Dr. Timothy Epp, Associate Professor of Sociology, was recently interviewed by a number of media outlets, including CBC Radio and Cogeco Niagara, for his research into the relationship between Mennonites and blacks in Ontario during the 19th century, including the role of Mennonites in the Underground Railroad.

Dr. Epp`s work was featured in the Wellington Advertiser, the Elmira Independent and on CBC Radio. He will also appear on the program “Let’s Talk About It” (Cogeco Niagara) in January, and will present his research at 2013 gatherings of the Wellington County Historical Society and the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario. As a sociologist, Dr. Epp presents a compelling case for understanding the ways in which our social histories often cross racial boundaries in the rich mosaic of Canadian history and culture.

Dr. Kevin Flatt is a historian, one whose recent research has been on the declining membership numbers of the United Church of Canada. He recently co-authored a study with David Haskell, an assistant professor of journalism at the Brantford, ON, campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, that suggests that the United Church’s focus on social issues, combined with a declining emphasis on theological identity, is alienating members of the denomination.

Dr. Flatt was interviewed in a number of newspapers, television and radio programs, including the National Post, Sun News Network, “Context with Lorna Dueck” on CTS, and several affiliate stations of CBC Radio.

Dr. Timothy Epp

Dr. Kevin Flatt

Visit “Faculty Make the News” on the News section of Redeemer’s website for links to many of the stories.

Queen’s Medal for Koyzis To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, a new medal was created to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. Dr. David Koyzis, Professor of Political Science, was recently awarded one of these Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals for his work in promoting religious freedom.

Dr. Koyzis was nominated by Mr. Peter Bhatti, the head of International Christian Voice (ICV) and brother to the late Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in Pakistan’s government, who was assassinated in March of last year for his efforts to repeal that country’s blasphemy law. Dr. Koyzis was presented with the medal by David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-FlamboroughWestdale in Hamilton’s Central Presbyterian Church, where the Koyzis family worships.

Not surprising for those who know him, Dr. Koyzis is very gracious about the award. “I am an adopted Canadian who has lived in this country for just over 27 years, 25 of which have been spent teaching at Redeemer. In that time I have mentored quite a number of remarkable young people who have gone on to distinguish themselves in a variety of fields relevant to public service. I cannot help but think that they are my principal contribution to Canada. Thus this award is theirs as well.”

If you are aware of Redeemer alumni who have received this award, please forward the information to tangents@redeemer.ca. We will feature those recipients in the next issue of Tangents.

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Faculty make the news

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Royal Report Busy season for varsity athletics at Redeemer Royals Cross Country Team makes Nationals The women’s Cross Country team made history by becoming the first team in Redeemer’s history to participate in a Canadian national cross country championship under the new qualification format. After an impressive third-place finish in the Ontario Championships, the Lady Royals participated in the National Championships of the CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association) in Languiel, Quebec. The women’s team finished 7th overall in the country, led by Julie Koopmans ‘15 (Chatham, ON) who finished in 29th place. Redeemer’s lone representative in the men’s race, Taylor Kraayenbrink ‘13 (Port Lambton, ON) finished an impressive 21st.

For a young team competing at a National Championships for the first time, the team was thrilled with their finish. Coach Jeff Summerhays said, “Overall, I thought that everyone ran phenomenal races. I was really pleased with the effort and the results. We were so happy to have the opportunity to compete on the national stage.”

This marked the first year that a cross country team has participated at Nationals under the new qualification process, and the first time since 2008 that Redeemer had sent an individual runner to the national championships. Redeemer’s best finish ever at the National Championships was by Royals runner Jakob VanDorp ‘06 who finished in 4th place in 2010.

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The Streak is Over!

The Lady Royals women’s basketball team won its first league basketball game in seven seasons by defeating the Sault College Cougars on October 27.

Despite a few wins in exhibition and tournament play, the team has not won a league game dating back to February 10, 2006 against St. Clair College. Crosstown rival Mohawk College began the Royals losing streak a week later, and the Royals had not won a meaningful game since, an unflattering 0-87 record.

A “Respectful” Approach to Athletics Redeemer varsity athletes are known for the competitiveness, and Redeemer’s fans are recognized as having some of the loudest, most raucous fans in the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA). This year, the Athletics Department is leading a program to have Redeemer also recognized as being a leader in fair play, good sportsmanship and respect for others.

This fall, the Athletics Department rolled out its new “Respect” campaign.

Based on Colossians 3:23—Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord— the goal of the initiative is to have student athletes and their fans explore what it means to live counter-culturally in the area of athletics.

The campaign is supported by the Athletes Spiritual Leadership Council, a group of varsity athletes who encourage athletes as well as all other students and staff at Redeemer to fill the gym, field, hallways and classrooms with a new sense of Respect for one another and for God. They are hoping that this new vision will rub off on competitors and spread throughout the OCAA. Their vision is not only to be a leader throughout the OCAA but also across all post-secondary institutions in the province and throughout Canada.

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.redeemerroyals.ca/respect.

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Upcoming Events Upcoming events and activities at Redeemer University College.

For updates and more detailed information, please visit the News and Events section of Redeemer’s website at: www.redeemer.ca/news.

Continuing Education at Redeemer has much to offer this winter and spring, including: January 29: When helping doesn’t hurt - Taking mission trips beyond the spiritual vacation syndrome. A Youth Worker Evening Workshop February 9: ReForming Relationships – Exploring the themes of reconciliation and indigenous justice through worship, learning, art and sharing stories March 27: The truth about the Shroud of Turin: Medieval fake or scientific proof for God? An evening lecture with Dr. Gary Chiang April 3 and 5: – Revealing the Renaissance: Art in Early Florence – A lecture and excursion to the Art Gallery of Ontario April 30: Haemorrhaging Faith Panel and Discussion – A Youth Worker Evening Workshop

May the comforts of family, friends and faith renew spirits during this year’s celebration of the birth of Christ.

In February, two non-credit courses: Writing Your Spiritual Life Story and The Joy of Effective Writing: Fiction, Essays, Poetic Prose and Beyond will be offered.

Go to www.redeemer.ca/CLEAR for further details or to register

Other events: January 23: The World, the Text, and the Student -- The 2013 World & Our Calling Symposium featuring Dr. Deborah Bowen.

March 5: Your Church is Too Safe -- The 26th Annual Redeemer Ministers’ Conference featuring Pastor Mark Buchanan.

DAVID SWEET M.P.

905 627 9169

DAVIDSWEET.CA

Ancaster - Dundas - Flamborough - Westdale #3-59 Kirby Ave., Greensville, ON L9H 6P3

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