Regent World Fall 2009

The Regent Inside:

Tales from the Catacombs............2 Finances...............3 Introducing Ross Hastings.......4 Summer Programs 2007...................5 Writing The Next Chapter ............6-7 Year in Review...8-9 Student Profile... 10 Upcoming Events 11 Regent Bookstore.12

Fall 2006 • Vol.18, No.1

Year in Review A lot happened under and beyond Regent’s green roof in the 2005-06 academic year. And like every year that has preceded it, this past year was special for the same two reasons: it was both unique and familiar. Read about the new (faculty changes, prayer vigil, record US donations) and the consistent (faculty activity, student life, Summer School) in our annual “Year in Review” report on pages 8 and 9.

And see our financial report on page 3.

The Next Chapter Early last year, Regent began introducing the Writing the Next Chapter capital campaign to alumni and friends of the College. The project of building a new library, creating additional classrooms and student services facilities, and upgrading our information technology has received overwhelming endorsement by those who have considered the project. Yes, a $14.5 million dollar project is no small undertaking for a relatively young school. And yet many people are recognizing this endeavour as both important and necessary for the ongoing integrity of the educational community at Regent. We invite you to help us finish this campaign!

See our progress report on pages 6 and 7

On July 22 our beloved J.I. Packer celebrated his 80th birthday. The renowned theologian – who commented how interesting it is to tell people that he has entered his ninth decade – is still teaching, writing, and blessing the worldwide Christian community. And the octogenarian professor can still pack out a Regent public lecture as evidenced by

the standing-room only crowd that came to hear him on July 12. At a recent Regent chapel, in which Dr. Packer’s birthday was celebrated, he preached on the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7. As J.I. reflected on what it means for him personally to finish the race well, he expressed the desire to not only be wished a “happy birthday,” but more importantly to be wished a “happy death day!” While we would certainly agree with the dear professor’s sentiments we trust that day is still a long way off so that we might continue to enjoy and be blessed by the gift to our community that is James Innell Packer!

Tales from the Catacombs

rod wilson, president

Gift It was back in the ’70s. A 30,000 square foot piece of property on the northeast corner of University Blvd. and Wesbrook Mall would be sold to this new graduate school in exchange for the construction and maintenance of a public park and a commitment that no buildings would ever be put up on the site. Regent College’s cost? One Canadian dollar.

Plan It was now the mid ’80s. Regent College was growing and in need of a new facility.

Plans were drawn up, and they included a new library under the park. Campaign literature was sent out and approaches were made, but the concept of an underground library did not sit well with the Regent constituency. The plans were reconstituted and the library ended up in the lower level of the new building.

Need It was now the early 2000s. A growing library facility and decreasing capacity for student seating was beginning to create a problem. If book acquisitions continued at the same rate and students needed appropriate space to do academic work, it was clear that we were on the verge of a significant crisis.

Decision Two sites were considered for this new library—one level under the park on the north side of the building or a two-storey facility on the current parking lot with the creation of underground parking. The Board decided that the latter option was preferable, a feasibility study was carried out and fundraising began.

Detour The Building Committee continued its work and made a significant change to our direction. Building above the parking lot would require extremely expensive underground parking, a library divided into two floors and considerably more expense. On hearing the new decision for the library going under the park on the north side of the window one Board member was heard to say, “It will be like the catacombs!”

Conversion Jakin Construction (project manager) and Clive Grout (architect) created an inspiring design with careful attention paid to values, functionality, people, the environment and long-term needs. Those of us who were not pleased with the move from the south side of the building to the 2

north experienced a significant conversion and a deep appreciation for what could happen under the park.

Stewardship Taking down a park to build an underground library requires the destruction of plant life. Or does it? Over a number of weeks staff, faculty, students and local landscapers descended on the property digging out various trees, bushes and flowers which would be replanted in other gardens in diverse locations around Vancouver.

Evangelism In conversation with the site superintendent, I was asked to explain what kind of school we are. After hearing the history of Regent and the nature of the student body, he expressed interest and excitement as he now had something to tell to the construction workers when they asked. I offered to write out a synopsis of Regent and he said he would give one to each new worker as they go through their site orientation.

Art A donor connected us with Sarah Hall, a Toronto artist who has done art glass on four wind towers in Europe. Sarah put together a design that incorporates colour, the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, Greek crosses and solar panels. Air will leave the library through the wind tower, a wind tower that epitomizes Regent’s commitment to the arts and to the integrative nature of the Christian life.

Technology A webcam carefully positioned allows people from around the world to watch the construction in progress. While the workers find it amusing and sometimes “act” for the camera, Regent’s international community is able to join in the excitement in real-time. See <www.regent-college. edu/nextchapter/progress_c.html>.

Picketing With all the construction on campus, a lot of green space is being replaced with concrete towers. UBC students are aggrieved by this development and begin to picket the various sites expressing their concerns regarding the influence of construction on the environment.

The Regent site superintendent is able to assure them that the park is returning and this Christian school believes in the importance of “being green.”

Prayer For some of us, ‘Writing the Next Chapter’ has not just been about new information technology, renovations in our current building and a beautiful library facility.

This project and campaign pushed us to greater dependence on God and more genuine expressions of prayer. Every Thursday morning for the past two-and-ahalf years, we have gathered to pray for the next chapter at Regent. We are blessed by the provisions and presence through this time in prayer.

Air Instead of sending cool or hot air into the library through a forced air system, the air will be brought in naturally from outside.

The concrete ceiling slab will be heated and cooled allowing the air to circulate more readily and allowing the temperature to be varied. This system capitalizes on more natural ways of moving air as well as heating and cooling without the use of traditional external power sources.

Olympics Whatever one may think of the fact that Vancouver and Whistler have secured the 2010 Winter Olympics, it has created a construction boom. This has resulted in an abundance of work, an increase in costs and a lack of available workers. We are thankful to God and to those managing the library project that in this context we have managed to stay on time and on budget.

Donors What commitment. What sacrifice.

What encouragement to have people from Argentina, Australia, Austria, England, Hong Kong, India, Japan along with Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States and Canada, as well as many other countries, invest of themselves and their money to make this project a reality. And to now be only $700,000 away from our target of $14.5 million is cause for thanksgiving.

Future It is exhilarating to envision a new library with students, staff, faculty and members of the UBC and Vancouver communities utilizing the resources, developing their understanding and deepening their walk with God. The vision is almost a reality – in a matter of four or five months the library component will be complete and we can move on to the renovations of our current facility.

Any Year …

Any Fund …

Any Method …

Any year that ends with a surplus of income over expenses (see chart below) is a good year. And when that happens to be a year in which a capital campaign is in full swing, praise God! Any year in which over $900,000 is made available for student aid and scholarships is a very good year. And any year that sees our generous donors continue to faithfully give so that student tuition and fees do not exceed 70% of the necessary revenue is indeed cause for rejoicing. We thank God for his generous provision and for the joyful participation of our donors.

Annual Fund Your gift will have an

You can donate by means of cash, cheque, credit card or pre-authorized debit.

Any Incentive …

Canadian Securities The 2006 federal budget made the donation of publicly listed securities more attractive than ever, eliminating the tax on capital gains. For more information on the advantages of donating securities and shares, please call us or visit www.regentcollege.edu/support/securities. islation now in effect provides an exclusion from gross income for certain charitable donations made from traditional retirement accounts (IRAs, Roth IRAs). For more information, please call us or visit our US Foundation website: www.rcfusa.org.

Estate Bequests Your legacy gift will

generate tax savings for your estate and will bless Regent College in a significant way.

Capital Campaign Your gift helps write the next chapter of Regent College which will include a new library, additional classrooms and renovated facilities.

Endowment Funds

Your gift to the Regent College 2000 Foundation increases the principal of an endowed or memorial fund and thereby generates additional annual revenue for student scholarships and endowed faculty chairs.

Online You can donate sequrely at: www.regent-college.edu/support.

Publicly listed securities Call to learn how easy it is to donate stock or visit: www.regent-college.edu/support/securities.

Any organization …

Regent College We issue tax receipts for Canadian gifts.

Regent College Foundation USA

RCFUSA issues tax receipts for US gifts: www.rcfusa.org or ph: 425.744.2322.

Friends of Regent College Canada Trust Our friends in the UK can give directly to the Trust and take advantage of the Gift Aid provision: www.regent-college.edu/uk.

Any questions …

Please contact Richard Thompson in the Development Office at 604.221.3314 (toll free 1.800.663.8664 ext. 314) or by email: development@regent-college.edu. In the U.S. please contact Lani Parker, Director of Regent College Foundation USA at 425.744.2322 or by email: lparker@rcfusa.org.

Our Commitment Regent College commits itself to accept the gifts of

God’s people with thanksgiving, to invest these resources with accountability in the responsible and relevant training of God’s people and to continue to support those investments by encouraging the worldwide ministry of its graduates who seek to make a difference in the marketplace, the academy and the church.

Regent College is a charter member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. The Regent College Foundation is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Together, we uphold their standards for financial accountability. Audited financial statements for both organizations are available upon request. All donations solicited are used for the purposes stated by the donor in Board recognized and approved programs. We honour your right to confidentiality and do not buy or sell mailing list information.

Unrestricted funds for May 1, 2005–April 30, 2006 (extracted from audited financial statements)

Income Donations and Grants 12%

Bookstore Sales 18%

Tuition and Fees Donations and Grants Bookstore Sales Endowment Investment and Other Income Total 2005–2006 Income

Endowment 3% Investment & Other Income 1%

Tuition & Fees 66%

$5,368,326 $942,470 $1,445,071 $314,739 $29,920

$8,100,526

Academic Services and Supplies 1%

Salaries & Benefits 60%

Capital Assets 2%

Expenses Cost of Goods Sold 9%

Salaries and Benefits Program, Office and Facilities Costs Scholarships and Student Aid Cost of Goods Sold Capital Assets Academic Services and Supplies Total 2005–2006 Expenses

Scholarships and Student Aid 12%

Program, Office and Facilities Costs 16%

$4,854,406 $1,287,944 $937,920 $733,470 $152,974 $89,857 $8,056,571

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2005-2006 Finances

U.S. Retirement Funds New tax leg-

immediate and positive impact on students, faculty and programs at Regent by supporting the operational and administrative expenses of the College, providing financial aid for students in need, helping to keep student tuition below 70% of the cost of education and funding such important initiatives as our Anglican Studies and Chinese Studies programs.

faculty profile

Ross Hastings

“Mission is not something you do, it’s primarily something you are,” says Ross Hastings, Regent’s new Associate Professor of Mission Studies. “So whether you’re an artist, scientist, businessperson—it doesn’t matter. We’re all called to be sent ones.

We are sent ones.”

Ross himself has been “sent” all over the world. Born in Zambia to Scottish missionary parents, Ross began a life of travel, study and ministry at a very early age. In an accent best described as a mix of Scottish, Canadian and Zimbabwean, Ross says, “I spent half of my childhood in Scotland and the other half in Angola, and went to boarding school in Zambia.”

After spending ten years in Zimbabwe, Ross went to university in South Africa to study chemistry. He taught high school for a year, then went to Queen’s University in Ontario to do a PhD in chemistry. It was there that he sensed God calling him into pastoral ministry.

Through a blessed knot of journeys that, even to Ross, seems “quite complicated,” Ross wound his way to Regent College to do a Master of Christian Studies. This is, of course, after attending Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas for one year, meeting and marrying his wife Sharon, acting as school headmaster and teaching chemistry at a private Anglican school in England, and finishing his PhD in chemistry in Ontario.

While at Regent, Ross worked with J.I. Packer on an MCS, studying repentance in Puritan and Reformed thought.

“When I speak about repentance, that can sound harsh. True repentance is 4

evangelical, not legal. And it is a lifestyle issue involving the whole person, including the affections and emotions.

But it is a gentle repentance, when people are uncovering their anger or pain and discovering richer relationality. From a pastoral spiritual aspect, Puritans had great insight into human souls in a way that contemporary pastors may not.”

As he studied at Regent, Ross also pastored full time at Westminster Chapel in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Having grown up under the influence of the Church, Ross loved God at a young age. He says, “I came to faith pretty young as a missionary kid. But my faith was really strongly affirmed as a teenager. I read the Bible through every year from the time I was fourteen onwards.

There was just that early hunger that God gave me for a knowledge of him in the context of reading Scripture.”

Being missional, however, wasn’t something that Ross “hankered after” when he was young. Rather, he had a passion for being a pastor. Even as he finished his PhD in chemistry, Ross pastored a small congregation at the same time. After he finished his MCS at Regent, Ross and his family moved to Montreal, where he pastored a church that grew very quickly from five hundred to one thousand attendees in three years, largely through expository preaching, friendship evangelism and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Ross learned that “relational intimacy with God is impact for God.” As people discover a relationship with Jesus and then grow in a relationship with God, they “come to know the Triune God of grace in ever more intimate ways—intellectually, emotionally—with our whole being, loving God with heart, soul, mind and strength, loving neighbour as ourselves.”

From Montreal, Ross and his wife Sharon, son Martyn, and daughter Heather, traveled to Surrey where Ross became senior pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church. Over his eleven years pastoring there, Ross has come to a deeper appreciation of the importance of being missional as a Christian, a pastor, and as a whole church community.

During the past few years, Peace Portal has become much more sensitive to

being a missional church, growing in its understanding that “the church is in the world and for the world.”

One of Ross’s greatest joys has been participating with his church in the transformation of a poor village community in Uganda in recent years.

Peace Portal Community Church in Mpigi, the sister church to Peace Portal Alliance in Surrey, cares for and educates widows and orphans as it seeks to live out the gospel of Jesus to the whole person. Ross gives back incarnationally into the Africa in which he was born through servant and collegial equipping ministry to leaders in that continent and other needy areas. ”Being a missional church starts with who God is.” As Ross continues to lead his congregation, he has come to see the “Trinity as the starting point of dogmatics, the starting point of mission, the starting point of Christian life. A missional church understands... that it is the church in intimacy with the Trinity.” If a church lives in such an intimacy, it can’t help but be missional: “God is the sending God. God is the Father who sent the Son. The Father and Son sent the Spirit, and the Church indwelt by God is the sent community. I like to think of it as the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.”

During his time at Peace Portal, Ross also spent time working on a PhD at St. Andrew’s in Scotland. He finished his doctoral thesis in 2004 entitled, “Giving Honour to the Spirit: A Critical Analysis and Evaluation of the Doctrine of Pneumatological Union in the Trinitarian Theology of Jonathan Edwards in Dialogue with Karl Barth.”

As Ross continues to pastor at Peace Portal, he also brings his passion for mission to Regent. This fall, he is teaching two courses: “Pastoral Ethics: Ministering with Integrity in the Contemporary Context” and “Pastoral Theology: Trinitarian Theology and the Praxis of Ministry and Mission.”

In every course he teaches, Ross hopes to converse with students about being missional in every place that God has placed them. He says, “It starts with understanding the theology of the Trinity and the theology of the Church.

A Sense of Belonging Regent summer school means something different to each attending student. Some refuel on the deep personal connections with professors and fellow students over specific course content. For others, it’s the lighthearted fellowship such as ultimate Frisbee that enlivens them. Still others find the reflective prayer retreat and daily chapel services are the perfect replenishment. There’s also an urban bus tour, art exhibitions and evening public lectures that challenge core values and assumptions about the world. Regent has more to offer than anyone can encounter in one week. Below are a few of the comments we received about summer school experiences from students this past year.

We hope to see you here next summer, because everyone belongs at Regent summer school, whether you come for the summer weather and Vancouver sightseeing or for a particular professor or course.

Tora Suming

Fabio Motta

“The older I become, the more that I delight to participate in community, with intensity around a text, and with an experienced guide…Words like whole, integrated and congruence come to mind whenever I have an extended immersion in Regent Summer School.”

“Regent is a school of discovery rather than indoctrination”, said veteran summer school attendee Rodger Woods. Rodger’s wi fe, Ca rol, describes Regent Summer School as “water to our souls.” They attended the Jeremy Begbie course with their youngest daughter. “We depend on Regent College…to understand our culture’s thinking. In continuing dialogue with young people, you simply have to…be equipped to understand them in their culture.”

Summer School Coordinator

Tom Oster

Viriginia, USA

A spiritual exercise during James Houston’s summer course involved oneon-one sharing time, which Fabio gladly completed with friend David Bahena, Regent’s current Missionary-in-Residence.

This served as a “good way for deepening our friendship…We discovered a lot of things we have in common.” Fabio served as a missionary himself to Portugal for 8

Spring & Summer School 2007 Thirty-five enriching courses are confirmed for the 2007 Spring and Summer School sessions, including highly soughtafter scholars and practitioners in the marketplace, church/parachurch and academy settings. We are proud to announce several first-time visiting lecturers such as Lauren Winner, Harold Best and Bernd Wannenwetsch. Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Contributing Editor for Christianity Today will be speaking on “Writing as Spiritual Discipline.” Harold

The Regent World

Editor Design / Layout

Writing

Dal Schindell Rosi Petkova Richard Thompson Katie Cochran Paisley Forrester

Best, Dean Emeritus of Wheaton College, will enthrall attendees with his knowledge and work in the wider perspective of Christian worship. Bernd Wannenwetsch from the University of Oxford will discuss “The Moral Fit: A Fresh Look at the Relationship of the Sexes.”

Newcomers will be welcomed by well-loved full-time Regent faculty, such as Iain Provan, Maxine Hancock and Phil Long. Returning guest lecturers and challenging course topics include Charles

Brazil

Rodger & Carol Woods Calgary, AB

Ringma speaking on “Inner Healing and Deliverance,” Gordon Smith teaching about “Divine Guidance and Spiritual Discernment,” Marva Dawn diving into “Theology of Weakness: Thinking Biblically About Suffering,” Oliver Crisp discussing “Divinity and Humanity: Issues in the Incarnation” and Christopher Hall sharing about “Spirituality in the Thought and Life of the Church Fathers.” For more sneak previews of the exciting 2007 spring and summer courses, visit www.regent-college.edu/academics/summer.

Fall 2006, Volume 18, Number 1 Associate Editor Bethany Murphy

Photography Martin Dee Ken McAllister Brent Fearon

Printing Western Printers

5800 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 2E4 1.800.663.8664, 604.224.3245 5

Summer school

“Summer School at Regent is a remarkable experience! Professors have truly integrated what they teach into their lives and share freely of themselves and their faith journeys. Far from being aloof and impersonal, the evening public lectures allow students to discover just

how real they [the professors] are and years before coming to Regent. He and how they are striving to be persons of his family will return home to Brazil this substance, depth and integrity.”

November while he finishes his ThM.

R

Writing The Next Chapter

egent’s new library is being built. New In for m ation Technology is being implemented.

The College building is being renovated to accommodate more classrooms and student services.

C

onstruction of Regent’s new library is on schedule (and on budget!) to be complete in December this year. Students will soon be able to use a larger library that has: • the entire library collection of books and periodicals available on shelves • many more study desks for individual and group work • a computer lab for individual research and group tutorials • ample natural light • a comfortable reading area overlooking an outdoor, reflective pool • numerous seminar rooms and group study areas for collaborative learning • plus many more features – all designed to enhance the learning experience.

W

e’re getting ready to celebrate the completion of the Next Chapter projects. In September 20 07, we will host a n official “grand opening” event. More information will be made available in early 2007.

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is being written …

S

oon to be placed in the centre of the park will be the True North / Lux Nova wind tower. The art glass that will be contained in the tower has already received press coverage in the National Post, Faith Today and Catholic Register. Its unique incorporation of small photovoltaic (solar) panels will generate energy to illuminate the art glass in the evening hours.

W

e are almost $700,000 away from reaching our goal of $14.5 million for the Writing the Next Chapter campaign. More than $13.8 million has been pledged or given and we are incredibly thankful to all who are partnering with us – in so many ways. We especially want to invite all who are planning to send in a gift for the campaign to contact Brent Fearon in Regent’s campaign office today by emailing nextchapter@ regent-college.edu – or take advantage of our on-line giving opportunities at www.regent-college.edu/nextchapter.

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Construction Progress

$14.5 million $13.8 million

Year in Review Chinese Studies Program In June, the Chinese Studies Program held an information session at Regent College conveying our special role in the future of China. On the heels of this event, four Regent Professors taught 100 students over two weeks at premier Chinese universities. In July we welcomed ten new scholars from China for six months of study.

Hong Kong Summer School Don Lewis and Iain Provan joined China Graduate School of Theology (CGST) professor Vinoth Ramachandra for a one-week Hong Kong Summer School this June. With for-credit courses, a chapel service and an alumni gathering, all who participated were encouraged.

Summer school courses at CGST are planned again in summer 2008.

Development US donations hit an all-time high greatly assisting with Regent College’s operating expenses.

We praise God for our tireless Regent College Foundation staff and board who were integral in setting this exciting new benchmark!

Alumni Relations This past year 11 reunions were held around the world as well as reunions on-campus from those taking advantage of the Summer Seat Sale. The new alumni web-newsletter Mosaic has allowed us to share more stories and content from our growing community of 3,500 graduates and more than 10,000 former students.

www.rcfusa.org

www.regent-college.edu/alumni/ newsletter.html

Year in review

Convocation Out of the 197 graduating students at this year’s convocation, 77% graduated either with a Diploma (Dip CS) or a Masters of Christian Studies (MCS) degree.

Faculty We reluctantly accepted the retirement of long-time faculty member Sven Soderlund (we made him promise to teach a summer courses every now and then), and greeted new Missions Studies Associate Professor Ross Hastings.

Public lectures Living Well seminars reached out to students with practical tips on balancing life and studies, while public lectures featured local and international speakers on a variety of topics throughout the fall, winter and summer terms.

Capital campaign We are grateful for the sacrifice of Regent donors who have brought us within a million dollars of our campaign goal. See the centre spread for more information on campaign progress. www.regent-college.edu/ nextchapter

Conferences The 2005–06 conferences were highly successful drawing a combined total of 577 participants to the Pastors’ Conference, Tradition Conference, Marketplace Conference, History Conference and A Rocha Conference. The Regent conferences continue to be an important venue for the wider Christian community to engage in theological reflection and for individuals to be encouraged in their particular vocations and callings. www.regent-college.edu/ conferences

Student life Students showed their vast range of skills from top-ranking ultimate Frisbee intramural sport teams to dancing at the fall retreat to choirs (plural) featured at the Christmas celebration. A significant event for many was Regent’s first all-night Prayer Vigil for the World, followed the next weekend by the popular Taste of the World.

Lookout Gallery Distinguishable from any other seminary with our space constraints, Regent has not only set aside space explicitly for an art gallery, it has shown eight exhibitions over the past year from Vancouver artists and beyond.

Students In keeping with Regent’s international focus, students again gathered from 40 countries with more than 60 denominational backgrounds to embark on studies at Regent College. The full-time equivalent held consistent at 400.

Summer School This year over 900 people flooded Regent’s atrium and classrooms (20% age 51 or older) for one to five weeks of learning everything from Greek to music. A highlight was Jeremy Begbie’s noontime concert exploring a wide range of composition and style on the chapel’s grand piano.

www.regent-college.edu/events/ gallery

Under and Beyond the Green Roof

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Year in review

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STudent PRofile

Brian McGregor-Foxcroft

“When I came to Regent College, I never expected to receive anything,” says Brian McGregor-Foxcroft, a long-time student and supporter of Regent College. “I came to Regent to do some serious study and to try and find out more about my Christian faith.”

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Brian didn’t initially consider graduate studies. He says of his early education, “I was a school dropout. I finished about grade seven.” But he loved to read: “One of the things I was always interested in was reading. I was always curious about things.”

He took that love and curiosity with him when he moved to Port Alberni in 1969 to care for his grandmother. While there, Brian entered a phase that changed the course of his life.

Having become a Christian that same year, Brian began intense study and mentoring under his uncle, the Rev. Charles Randall, pastor of a small Port Alberni congregation. Brian says, “He really became my first theological teacher.

He got me into the study of the Bible and also introduced me to many of the famous writers of Christian theology. He just got me well-grounded in the Word and in the study of the Word so that I was becoming something of a serious student.”

Little did Brian know that he was journeying toward studies at Regent. In the summer of 1970, on the church page of The Colonist newspaper, Brian noticed “a little item about a new college that started up over on the mainland at UBC called Regent College. I wouldn’t have paid any attention to that item at all except that one name jumped off the page at me and that was the name of F.F. Bruce who happened to be teaching, I believe, that summer.”

Brian dismissed ideas of study at Regent, since he lacked an undergraduate degree.

After a short visit to Regent, however, Brian found his hopes for further studies not so far-fetched. “The first person I saw 10

when I walked into the college was none other than Carl Armerding. I explained to Carl who I was, that I was just sort of around looking at the college. He invited me into his office and asked me if I was interested in becoming a student.”

Brian was invited to apply and was accepted as a student for the 1973 academic year. “And what an exciting year that was—very special for a number of reasons. I considered it a great honor to be allowed to come to a school like Regent College and to be allowed to study there.”

He began work on a Diploma in Christian Studies. That year, he met and married his wife Florence and took time off from classes. But during that break, Brian “got very ill and almost died. That delayed my returning to Regent College. And in fact, life happened to me in the interim and I didn’t get back to Regent again until the summer of 1982.”

Upon his return nearly a decade later, Brian still found the “sense of family, the sense of belonging” he remembered from his first year with the school. “I found Regent College to be a very unique place.

It was a wonderful place.” He strove to contribute all that he could to Regent. He donated a ten dollar cheque he earned from publishing a magazine article on building a Bible study library. In the early 1980s when Regent was experiencing some financial difficulties, Brian pledged and donated one thousand dollars. It was simply what he wanted to do.

After finishing his DipCS in 1983, Brian spent over ten years in the Army and later went to work as an office manager for International Fingerprinting Services. His experience at Regent went right along with him. “Regent College has always been there with me, wherever I’ve gone. Through all those years, it was always my time at Regent College and the people I studied with and the things they taught me that formed my behaviour.”

“I’ve always considered myself privileged to be a participant in the life of Regent College. In a sense, I owe Regent College a big debt. Because of that, it’s always been that added incentive to try very hard to maintain a decent upright life, I guess you might call it. You kind of have a responsibility. It’s kind of like when

you join the military and you’re wearing the uniform of your country. You have to mind your behaviour. Being a graduate of Regent College, it’s the same sort of thing I think, for me anyway. I’ve tried very hard to live up to those responsibilities. To be a good citizen, to be a good Christian. To always try to find ways to contribute, not only to the betterment of society, but also to the betterment of the Christian church.

If you’re a graduate of Regent College, that means something. That means you stand for something.”

Brian’s time at Regent attuned him to the responsibility of every Christian to the body of Christ as well as “society at large.”

He especially appreciates Regent’s dedication to “training up a serious and dedicated laity.” He says, “There needs to be more involvement by the laity in the actual discipleship of the church, in the teaching and the ministry of the church. I think Regent was founded to do that very thing.”

“I feel it’s important to struggle on as a layman, to just be an ordinary lay member of the church. One of my big ambitions has been to try to encourage other lay members of the church to get involved in serious Bible study and the serious study of doctrine and history.”

Brian has recently returned to Regent to work on a Master of Christian Studies, concentrating in church history. “I think church history is especially important. We are living in very critical times. It is important for us to understand who we are and where we came from because that will give us some idea perhaps of where we should be going.”

Brian considers his life and study at Regent College a great gift. In 2001, Brian suffered a severe heart attack that almost ended his life. He thought, “This is it.” He came, however, to a place of great peace and sensed God saying, “It’s going to be all right.” He did not know whether that meant death or recovery. But God chose to give him the “gratuitous gift” of healing through intercessory prayer. As he faces stunned doctors today, Brian continues to press on in his studies at Regent and his growth in Christ. He continues to give back to Regent with his life and money and says smiling, “You can leave Regent College, but Regent College never leaves you. It will always be a part of you.”

Upcoming Events

October

11-12 Laing Lecture Series with Miroslov Volf

14 Board of Governors meeting

14 Craig Gay installation as professor of Interdisciplinary Studies

19 Chris Seay lecture sponsored by Regent Bookstore 20-30 Rikk Watts in Ontario

18 Heavenly Banquet Father Dunstan Massey exhibition of

Public Faith in a Pluralistic World with Miroslav Volf

November

2 Paul Stevens public lecture & booksigning sponsored by Regent Bookstore 15 Over the Rhine concert at Regent Chapel

19 John Stackhouse in Washington, DC

22 Grace Wai Sum Tan Regent Lookout Gallery 24-25 John Stackhouse in Calgary

December

1, 2 Iain Provan in San Francisco Bay Area, CA speaking at Lamplighter Lectures 26–Jan. 1 Regent College Admissions at IVCF Urbana 2006

Missions Conference in St. Louis, MO

January

19 Luci Shaw reading sponsored by Regent Bookstore 20 Board of Governors meeting 20 Bruce Hindmarsh installation as professor of Spiritual Theology Heavenly Banquet

Father Dunstan Massey, painter and sculptor from Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC opens October 18 Grace Wai Sum Tan

opens November 22 Over the Rhine Concert

Sponsored by City in Focus Wednesday, November 15, 8:00pm, Regent Chapel tickets sold at the Regent Bookstore

The Laing Lectures October 11 and 12, 2006 free and open to the public www.regent-college.edu/laing or 1.800.663.8664

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upcoming events

works at Regent’s Lookout Gallery

27 James Houston book launch sponsored by Regent Bookstore

28 Luci Shaw reading, Harvest Logos Bookstore in Seattle, WA

28 John Stackhouse in Toronto for Annual Missions Conference

A Voice of One’s Own:

New from the Regent Bookstore Finding Naasicaa: Letters of Hope in an Age of Anxiety Charles Ringma $18.95 (US$16.92) This series of letters were written by Charles Ringma to his 19-year-old granddaughter addressing issues of life, faith, spirituality and social transformation.

This book for searching minds hopes to connect with a generation of young people.

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Feature Books:

How Do I Help a Hurting Friend? Practical Help for Leaders & Laypeople Rod J.K. Wilson $16.99 (US$15.17) Rod Wilson offers you practical insights into helping hurting people. These insights are born out of more than twenty-five years of church and counselling experience.

Whether you’re a church leader or a caring friend, this book will give you needed tools to minister more effectively to those around you who are hurting.

Bloomfield Avenue: A Jewish-Catholic Jersey Girl’s Spiritual Journey Linda Mercadante $18.99 (US$16.95) In this memoir, Mercadante tells of her quest for religious identity, a real home, good work and a one-faith family. Born just after World War II to a mixed-religion family, she tries Catholicism, a WASP sorority, atheism, Eastern mysticism and vegetarianism. She works as an airline stewardess and as a journalist. She earns a doctorate and becomes a seminary professor. Her story holds key lessons for people from “mixed” backgrounds, those who long for the ideal family and those who shun religion as a dead-end.

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New Books:

Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight J.I. Packer & Carolyn Nystrom $22.99 (US$20.53) With wisdom, humility and sincerity the authors lead us through different moods of praying, including brooding, praising, asking, complaining and hanging on. Yet they don’t just teach us about prayer; they challenge and inspire us to do it by pointing us to a clearer realization of the reality of God and his character.

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Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation $18.99 (US$16.95) Luci Shaw From the time she was a child in Toronto, celebrated poet Luci Shaw has sent Advent greetings to her friends and family with a carefully crafted original poem. What began as a simple childhood exercise has now become a beloved annual tradition. Though a number of these poems have appeared elsewhere, Accompanied by Angels gathers all of them for the first time into a collection for all readers for any season of the year.

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www.regentbookstore.com The Regent

Required Reading

Babylon Post (and Other Uncommon Tales from Jeremiah) Rob Alloway Reg. $18.95 (US$16.92) The Word Guild 2006 Writing Award Winner (Novel – Historical) Murder, intrigue, war and cannibalism are only a few of the traits that describe the last turbulent decade before the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC. This is the landscape for five very uncommon tales from the life and times of Jeremiah.

To order any book or audio set, please print title(s) and price(s) in the space provided.

U.S. prices indicated apply to orders paid by cheque and money orders only. Items ordered by credit card are charged in Canadian dollars, then converted into U.S. funds by the credit card company. Canadian residents: add 6% GST; BC residents: add GST + PST for audio tape orders. Postage and handling (CDN$): Canada and the U.S. add $5 per book or audio set; $1.50 for each additional item; international orders add $8 for the first item and $4 for each additional one. Canadian residents: add 6% GST to postage fees.

World

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The Regent World, 5800 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2E4

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Please send me: ❑ 2007 Summer Programs list ❑ Anglican Studies brochure ❑ Sample of CRUX, Regent’s journal ❑ Sample of Regent’s Chinese Studies Journal (in Cantonese).

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