HOMECOMING 2013: Weekend Schedule

OUR ALUMNI HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN KINGDOM-BUILDING WORK SINCE 1935.

Pursuing God in a Christian Environment

Presidential Installation Invitation

Dr. Barsness to Launch Book at Homecoming

Passport Magazine | Fall 2013 Vol. 75 No. 1

A publication for the alumni and friends of Briercrest College and Seminary High School | College | Seminary www.briercrest.ca/passport IN THIS ISSUE

Pursing God in a Christian 4 environment Presidential Installation 7 Invitation 8 Homecoming Schedule 12 Take their word for it 13 CHS alumnus gives back 14 Space and margins Seminary student finds her 15 voice and calling at Briercrest

COMING EVENTS Dr. Michael B. Pawelke 2819 Mission Conference | President September 23-27, 2013 Briercrest College and Seminary Briercrest Board Reunion | Caronport High School September 26, 2013 Homecoming | September 27-29, 2013 My daily routine begins like many of yours – with a piece of toast, a robust Presidential Installation Ceremony | cup of coffee, and some conversation with my family. But before I launch into September 27, 2013 the work before me, I open my Bible. This practice has been an indispensable Day of Prayer | October 8, 2013 part of my life since I first trusted Jesus as a young teen. Every time I open Experience Briercrest | the Word of God I learn something about God, something about life, and November 27, 2013 invariably, something about me. The response in my spirit is always the same, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Fall Board Meeting | November 27, 2013 God has visited me with such grace. Growing up in a home that was far from God, God broke into my world through a little Gideon New Testament. Christmas in Caronport | November 29-December 1, 2013 I was welcomed into a wonderful church where I was quickly adopted by all kinds of spiritual moms and dads. Though lacking in confidence, I was brimming with vision. I wanted to serve Jesus with my life and so I was encouraged to consider Briercrest. My Briercrest experience would profoundly shape my life. It was here that truth was integrated into life. I grew spiritually, intellectually, and socially. I grew in character and in competence as a leader. PASSPORT STAFF The outcome of this experience was that God gave me a wonderful wife, two incredible children, and thirty years of rich pastoral leadership. I love my wife EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rob Schellenberg and children. I love the church. And I love the transformative power of the Gospel in lives and in our world. EDITOR: Julie Cole God’s grace has continued to this day. I have now entering a new season GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: as Briercrest’s sixth President and God is allowing me the opportunity of Valerie Benoit, Brandon Wiebe having a part in the education of the next generation of followers of Jesus. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Rob Alcock, While I have left the church that I have loved and served for some 19 years, Matt Brown, Julie Cole, Fiona Graham, I am passionate about what Briercrest is called to do. Our mission is to Viktor Karklins, Rob Schellenberg, equip our graduates to be men and women of character and influence. We Miranda Scheller, Dave Clark are producing quality leaders for the home, the church, the marketplace, PROOFREADER: Carla Hoffmann government, and society. CONTRIBUTORS: Chrissy Dennis I thank God for his grace and I thank you for the opportunity to serve in this way. I invite you to join me in this excitement and in this calling. Briercrest’s New President

Michael Pawelke’s weekly chapel sessions and messages to employees can be found on the president’s page of our website. www.briercrest.ca/president THERE’S A NEW QUARTERBACK LEADING THE BRIERCREST TEAM.

President Michael Pawelke used Canadian audience.” The president is confident in the football as a metaphor to describe the Pawelke knows that these sorts of message he wants to carry about changes that his leadership style may transitions must be done thoughtfully. Briercrest. bring to Briercrest. “You want to seize the opportunity “I certainly want to be reaffirming “There are many ways to to make our core – that Briercrest for 78 years “Our education standards matter get the ball down the field,” and we embrace that responsibility changes, now has been anchored in historical he explained. “When there’s and that opportunity. The message but you orthodoxy and a high view of Scripture,” remains, but the methods are a new quarterback or a new constantly changing.” don’t want he explained. “At the same time we are coach, he’s going to have to move too constantly recalibrating ourselves for our different plays, but we’re still moving the quickly either,” he said. times, so things like degree granting ball down the field. We’re still advancing Part of this careful process of bringing authorization are just part of being the mission of Briercrest and the mission change is to understand the culture. effective in the cultural context and the of Christ.” “I am trying to do a lot of listening,” times we find ourselves.” As the new president “takes the ball” Pawelke stated. “I’m trying to navigate “Credentials matter,” he continued. of leadership, he feels grateful for those the delicate balance of initiating change “Our education standards matter and leaders and their teams that came before and acting as a change agent while we embrace that responsibility and that him. acknowledging that I need to understand opportunity. The message remains, but “I’m very excited and very honoured my context and my setting and move the methods are constantly changing.” to be building on a wonderfully strong, forward wisely and prudently.” solid and meaningful foundation of all our preceding presidents,” he said. “I feel like all the blessings we’re enjoying are certainly the fruit of God’s grace, but they’re also the fruit of the labours of those leaders and their respective teams through the years.” “I think most recently our focus has been on making Briercrest academically strong and satisfying provincial accreditation expectations and quality assurance expectations,” he continued. “So a lot of energy has been inward and appropriately so.” With these things in place, Pawelke now hopes to bring the news about Briercrest to a broader audience. “One of the shifts that people will see is that I will be a little bit more ‘big picture’ and will promote the school on a larger scale,” he explained. “We have a product with which we feel very confident. I want to promote the mission of Briercrest and Michael Pawelke chatting with Heather Terris about her master’s thesis. the quality of our institution to a larger PASSPORT MAGAZINE 3 BY JULIE COLE

lthough Heidi Pinno says her ABriercrest years have taught her a lot, she has a word of caution PURSUING for those considering a Christian education. “It can be so easy to come in and feel like just being here will shape you,” she exclaimed. “You can go to classes and read the Word and go to chapel every day, and those things will push you toward the Lord. But if we don’t pursue Christ, it’s like our hearts can become hardened . . . because we’re not actually listening for the Lord’s voice.” Pursuing God and discerning GOD His voice is something the third year TESOL student says her professor David Catterick has stressed to his students in preparing them to teach IN A CHRISTIAN English around the world. “(He says) ‘This is your professional training, but ultimately in the classroom you’re going to come down to relying ENVIRONMENT on the Holy Spirit,’” she said recalling her professor’s instruction to the class. “’You need to learn what it means to hear the Lord’s voice. You need to learn what it means to know Scripture – to be – poverty stricken places where they “This is your able to discern good and evil.’” wouldn’t get a lot of English teaching,” professional she explained. “I really have a heart for Pinno says the community of training, but Briercrest has helped her to spiritually the poor – potentially India or Southeast stay on track. Asia somewhere. I entered TESOL ultimately in “I feel like on a daily basis you run with the desire and the hope to serve the classroom into different people – people you know overseas eventually for the rest of my you’re going really well or people you haven’t met life. I’m still keeping my ears open for to come down yet – who challenge you in your walk where the Lord might be sending me.” with the Lord,” she explained. “In that As graduation next year draws to relying way it shows you these new depths of closer, and she considers eventually on the Holy the gospel because you see it from so moving overseas, Pinno relishes time Spirit ...” many different angles. with her family who recently moved “The community here is from Vernon, B.C. to Outlook, Sask. phenomenal,” she continued. “I think “I’m thinking for the first couple “[Briercrest] the size is big enough to meet someone of years (after graduation) I’m actually every day that you’ve never met and yet going to stay in Saskatchewan while I gave me a small enough that you feel very much work and pay off my student loans,” she deep desire the community feel and the family feel.” said. “I kind of want to stay in Regina or to continue For her internship, Pinno is going Saskatoon – close enough to come visit to learn and to China this summer. Her passion for because I still have close friends here to study the those in need draws her to places many and my parents.” TESOL graduates don’t go. Pinno sees her TESOL education Scriptures “I really have a heart for rural areas as a key that opens the door to many with countries that are hard to enter. diligence ...”

4 PASSPORT MAGAZINE | Subscribe to PASSPORT online at www.briercrest.ca/passport Biblical Studies. “The biggest impact [Briercrest] had on me was the solid Biblical training that I received there from amazing profs who study diligently, yet are also available and care about us as individuals,” Crocker reflects. “The rigorous and high level of academics challenged and pushed me to develop a greater desire for life-long learning.” Crocker may have gained a solid foundation in the area of biblical studies, but what she has appreciated most has been her realization that what is learned in the classroom must be applied to active service. “That’s one thing that I think is really hard for students to do because of the small setting,” Crocker admits. She firmly believes that service is where one really grows. Crocker has certainly done her fair share of service while attending Briercrest. Not only did she work as a resident assistant, but she also ignited her own ministry on-campus: a mentoring program designed for Heidi Pinno Amy Crocker college students to walk alongside of Caronport High School students, building them up and encouraging community. BY CHRISSY DENNIS For Crocker, Briercrest will be remembered as “a unique setting my Crocker found her passion for lifelong learning and that has many opportunities to get Aservice through her Briercrest experience. involved in and provides profound and The Briercrest alumnus is a ‘Caronport kid’ who completed solid Biblical teaching that pushes high school at CHS before making the decision to continue her (students) to think for themselves.” education at Briercrest. In 2008, after completing two years of Now a Briercrest alumnus, Crocker college, she took a year and a half off to work and travel. is the senior high youth pastor at Living That was when she began to serve as an intern at Living Stones Church, the same church Stones Church in Red Deer, Alberta. where she began to explore her heart “I took this to see if I even wanted to work in a church or not,” for church ministry. She has found her Crocker recalls. She was eager to discover if church ministry was calling. the right path for her. Four months into her Internship at Living “I plan to stay here for a long time!” Stones, she felt herself tugged toward Briercrest once again. But Briercrest will always be a “I knew I needed to finish my degree.” place where Crocker’s love for the This realization launched her into a dual life: a life as a student Word of God was nourished and and a life in ministry. While still working for Living Stones, she encouraged. continued to chip away at her BA through distance education and “[Briercrest] gave me a deep modular courses for the next two and a half years. That was desire to continue to learn and to study when the final steps of her journey at Briercrest were decided. the Scriptures with diligence and then “The church then enabled me to take an eight month leave to pass that on in an engaging manner of absence for the 2012-2013 school year in order to blitz my so as to be used by the Lord to draw remaining courses to graduate,” Crocker says. others to love the Word.” In April 2013, Crocker graduated from Briercrest with a BA

PASSPORT MAGAZINE 5 CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

1. downhere’s final concert during Youth Quake 2. Chris Tompkins, YQ speaker 3. CHS football – a mentorship program that plays football 4. CHS Desert Theatre – Autumn Thornton in The Wizard of Oz 5. Ben Schmit signs a form during Camp Days 6. Abraham Jolly receives his honorary doctorate 7. Michael King as Tiny Tim and Joseph Wilson as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol 8. CHS graduation ceremony 9. Melissa Wood and Abigail Jaillet performing a scene from La Cenerentola by Rossini 1 10. Chapel services are held four days per week.

2 3 4

5 6 7

8 9 10 6 PASSPORT MAGAZINE | Subscribe to PASSPORT online at www.briercrest.ca/passport You’re Invited

Briercrest College and Seminary invites you to the Installation Ceremony of President Michael B. Pawelke.

Friday September 27, 2013 in the Hildebrand Chapel located at 510 College Drive, Caronport, Saskatchewan at 2 p.m.

Reception to follow.

DR.DR MMICHAELICHAEL B.B PAWELKE’SPAWELKE’S VISION STATEMENT

My primary calling is to love and honour God by pursuing my highest potential as a devoted, ever growing, and balanced disciple of Jesus Christ with a deep commitment to cultivating the values of faith, hope, love, obedience, authenticity, integrity, purity, humility, generosity, wisdom, compassion, perseverance, excellence, self-discipline, forgiveness, service, and joy.

My secondary calling is to love people and empower an ever increasing number to realize their highest potential as disciples for Jesus Christ. My priorities begin in my home as a considerate husband and involved father, and extends into the Christian community and into the world by providing effective leadership, equipping believers, and planting the seeds of truth in the lives of lost people.

EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE D. Min., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2002 Instructor, Briercrest College, January 2010-2013 D. D. (hon.), Briercrest Biblical Seminary, 2001 Instructor, McMaster Divinity College, Jan.-Apr. 2005 Diploma, Arrow Leadership Program, 1998 Sr Pastor, Brant/Compass Point Bible Church, ON, 1994-2013 M.A.B.S., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983 Church Planting Pastor, Grindstone Valley Bible, ON, 1998-1999 B.R.E, Briercrest Bible Institute, 1981 Church Planting Pastor, Southside Bible Church, MB, 1986-1994 Associate Pastor, Dorset Park Baptist Church, ON, 1983-1986 VARIOUS GRADUATE LEVEL COURSES Youth Pastor, Dorset Park Baptist Church, ON, 1982 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1995-1996 Winnipeg Theological Seminary, 1989-1993 Ontario Theological Seminary, 1983-1986 PASSPORTPASSPORT MAMAGAZINEGAZINE 7 HOMECOMING 2013

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 10:00am Registration at the Information booth in Edwards Chapel 10:30am 2819 Missions Conference Main Session - Jim Beerley 12:00pm Lunch in the Dining Hall 2:00pm Installation of Briercrest President, Dr Michael Pawelke 3:30pm Installation Reception in Edwards Chapel 5:00pm Community Celebration BBQ 7:00pm 2819 Missions Conference Main Session - Jim Beerley 8:30pm Briercrest Clippers Hockey Game (Home Opener)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 8:00am President’s Breakfast 9:00-11:00am Alumni Hockey Game 10:00am History of the Airbase by Dr. Joel From 12:00pm Lunch in the Dining Hall 2:00pm Options on your own: Visiting with Alumni and Students Campus Tours (meet at Crossroads Café) Briercrest Clipper Hockey Game Check out Moose Jaw to see what is new 4:00pm Worship and Celebrating our History Together in the Landing 5:00pm Supper in the Dining Hall 7:00pm Clipper Alumni Hockey Game 9:00pm Fireside at the Whittaker fire pit

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 8:00am Continental Breakfast 10:00am Church Service with Dr. Michael Pawelke speaking 12:00pm Lunch in the Dining Hall

8 H PASSPORT MAGAZINE | Subscribe to PASSPORT online at www.briercrest.ca/passport 2819 MISSIONS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: JIM BEERLEY He has dedicated his life to equipping believers to live out God’s calling. He has served in Haiti where he was working in theological education and an outreach to the business and professional community. He pastored in Monte Carlo and serves as President of Crossworld Canada in Ontario.

CHAPEL AND SEMINAR SPEAKER: WAGDI ISKANDER Wagdi Iskander. Since accepting Christ, his life has changed dramatically. Having grown up in a Muslim culture, he has a passion for the Muslim people to come to know Christ. He also has a passion to minister to youth and young adults and to challenge them to find their place in God. He is the founder of Al Hayat (life) Training Centre.

CHAPEL SPEAKER: JOY LOEWEN She has dedicated her life to helping Christian women to reach out to Muslim women. She is an author and has a blog to help women reach out to others.

PASSPORT MAGAZINE 9 Dr. Barsness stands in the exact spot where she once decided to follow God ““anywhere,anywhere, anytime,anytimemee, andand at any cost.”cost.” DR. BARSNESS TO LAUNCH BOOK AT HOMECOMING T S

O Anytime, anywhere and at any cost – Barsness said the content of her book those words are more than just the title of began when at age 15 she became a C

Dr. Jean Barsness’ new book. They are the believer and enrolled at Caronport High Y words she has lived by. School. In college she attended a mission N The book, Anytime, Anywhere, Any conference and dedicated her life to

A following God anywhere, anytime, and at

Cost: Can I Trust God with my Zip Code? , is set to be released during Briercrest any cost. The story also talks about God’s E College and Seminary’s 2819 missions faithfulness even when Barsness tragically

R conference this September. lost her husband while the couple was

E serving in Panama. “My first purpose in writing this book H was the fact that I wanted my grandchildren The former professor is pleased that the book will be launched during

W to know who their grandpa Gil was and to Briercrest’s mission conference.

Y describe the miracles of God,” she said.

N “There are several scriptures in the “I have spent a lot of time at Briercrest and it has always been a wonderful A Bible, especially in the Psalms, that experience and I am very excited about , encourage us ‘to tell the miracles and Briercrest being a part of this when they E powers of God to the next generation,’ so I really wanted to do that--to share with my have been so much a part of my life.” M

I grandchildren what God had done in my life To pre-order the book, contact

T as a Christ follower and tell the miracles I the Briercrest bookstore toll free at

Y have seen.” 1-800-265-4500. N A

HOMECOMING SALE Up to 25% off all in-store clothing purchases.

Shop in-store or online at www.briercrest.ca/bookstore Like us at facebook.com/briercrestbookstore to see special events and new book reviews

Homecoming hours: Friday 9am-5:30pm Saturday 1pm-5:30pm

The only place for Briercrest and Caronport High School clothing

10 PASSPORT MAGAZINE | Subscribe to PASSPORT online at www.briercrest.ca/passport Submit your PASSPORT Alumni Connection to www.briercrest.ca/alumni ALUMNI CONNECTIONS BIRTHS MARRIAGES WITH THE LORD

Irvin Rodin, March 27, 1922 - June 27, 2013 Come study with us – again! BACK TO Jeremy and Judy Haasdyk Charyssa (Looy) (Grad of On March 2nd, 2013, 2009) and Garrett Erskine He graciously allowed us Married January 5th, 2013 BRIERCREST to hold Johanna Lily Joy in Wetaskiwin, AB. We are Haasdyk for the first time, currently living in Winnipeg, Elmer Snider, May 8, 2013 If you earned a degree from all 7 lb 15.6 oz. and 21 MB. inches of her beautifully any of our schools, you are and wonderfully made. Dr. Gordon Swenson, Sept. now eligible to audit a class Mom and baby are both 17, 1949 - Nov. 17, 2012 with us – free! doing fine. If you earned your degree before 2011, we’ll improve that offer by paying for your tuition for a credit course from our Seminary.

Naden and Angela Parkin For more information: were married in northern www.briercrest.ca/alumni/ British Columbia at back-to-briercrest beautiful Nimpo Lake on Gord Diggins, November 30, Admissions office: Caleb and Christie August 11, 2012. They 1926 - August 21, 2012 (Klassen) Eley are pleased reside in Grande Prairie [email protected] to announce the birth of Alberta where Angela is a or 1-800-667-5199 their first child Weston teacher and Naden works Danger Eley who was born for Blackstone Drilling March 22, 2013. The Eleys Fluids. currently live in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

David Houston, December 23, 2012

Kyle Young (college grad 2011) and Leanne (Plouffe. Joshua Penfold (College College grad 2008) were ‘07) and Rebecca Penfold married August 24, 2012. (worked in the bookstore We both work at Joe’s 05-07) would like to Place Youth Centre in announce the birth of their Moose Jaw as the Male second daughter, Ruth and Female Discipleship Anne Penfold. She was workers. born at home on February Ronald Clive Lovett, 26th 2013 weighing 8lb October 24, 1931 - June 11oz. 22, 2012

PASSPORT MAGAZINE 11 TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT Students speak about their CHS experience

Change can be a scary thing—especially in “I’m doing the (summer) play right now,” Lillico high school. But sometimes, the option of staying explained. “It’s really helped me just being able to the same can be even scarier. get rid of those bad memories of being bullied and One third of the students at Caronport High being able to be the person I want to be – to go School (CHS) are dorm students. For some of on stage and perform in front of tons of people.” those students the desire for personal change The support of teachers was a powerful fueled their decision to move away from home and influence. come to CHS. That decision provided a fresh start “What really helped me to change to the that has brought growth in many of their lives. person I am at this stage is Mr. Finch,” Lillico said “I’d heard about CHS for a long time . . . in praise of his choir director. “In choir he taught through Youth Quake and my old youth pastor,” us all how to get out of our comfort zones and use Jessica Ireland Jessica Ireland said. “Where my life was headed . the gifts God gave us. I think he’s a big reason I’ve . . wasn’t where God wanted me to go, so through become the person I am.” a bunch of stuff that happened (God) kind of “My favourite teacher is Miss Klippenstein,” pointed me in this direction.” Ireland exclaimed about her English professor. There’s a lot of alcohol and drug abuse,” Erica “She’s really wise and I didn’t realize until not so Wiebe said explaining the atmosphere in her old long ago that she has a whole bunch of degrees! high school. “My parents slowly started seeing The fact that she can sit down and read (my) me drifting further and further away from God and Grade 12 paper and still give me a good mark eventually they figured that I needed to get back made me feel very honoured. She encourages us on track, so they sent me here.” and brings God into a lot of things.” “Being involved in a very unhealthy The spiritual focus at CHS has strengthened relationship was only bringing me down and I Erica Wiebe the spiritual lives of the students. knew I needed to do something about it,” Joleen “CHS has made it so much easier to get on Keith said. “It wasn’t my will anymore, it was God’s the right path to have a healthier relationship with will that needed to be done and Caronport was my my family, and most importantly, Jesus Christ,” only option. I wouldn’t be able to change to who I Keith said. wanted to be on my own in a public school setting. I needed something stronger. I needed people “I’m actually feeling a lot happier,” Wiebe who really deeply cared about me – people to talk asserted. “Before I came here I was a really to – people who love the Lord.” depressed kid. It got serious. It’s not hard to be happy anymore. Before I came here I would For two of the students, coming to CHS took almost never pray. Now I’m always finding myself them out of harm’s way. Matt Brown and Erik talking to (God).” Lillico both experienced severe bullying in their earlier school years. Matt Brown “I’ve definitely grown in my walk with God,” Ireland said. “Christian ethics really helped me to “I was severely bullied in elementary school,” learn a lot about the Bible and I’ve made amazing Brown explained. “(I was) anxious, but my anxiety friends. I feel like I’ve become more open and was manifesting an obsessive behavior. I was so confident with myself – standing my ground in anxious about what was going on around me that what I believe.” I found a way to control little parts of my life.” All five students say they would recommend “I had asthma, I had a speech disorder – I CHS to other high school students. was tongue-tied – so I was bullied quite a bit,” Lillico said. “Your choices become better, your faith becomes stronger, and your smile becomes Both Lillico and Brown have found the bigger,” Keith asserted. “You will meet friends environment at CHS conducive for healing in their that last a lifetime here at CHS; Teachers who Erik Lillico lives. really care about you in and out of school, and “(CHS) just seemed right because it was such an extraordinary student leadership council make a small, close-knit atmosphere,” Brown stated. CHS the best place you can be.” “(The anxiety) is almost non-existent now,” he Brown added an honest disclaimer to his exclaimed. “Over the last two years it’s been just recommendation of the school. letting go of my certain tics. I’m learning how to forgive people in my life – that probably has “If somebody wants to grow spiritually, this is been the single most influential part of being probably the place to go,” he said. “They should here – being nurtured not only in your school and be prepared to have a lot of things uprooted in education but in the community. I’ve become who their life pretty quickly here. You hate it at first, I was really meant to be rather than just putting up but once you look back in retrospect it’s quite all these defenses.” amazing what God’s done.” Joleen Keith I had experienced before. I ended up getting a scholarship to the U of R. God just led me in that way.” Magnus, who is now married and has a child, realizes in a new way how much of a sacrifice it was for her parents to let her move away from home to go to CHS. “I left home when I was 16,” she said as tears welled up in her eyes. “Having kids now, I don’t think I could let my kid go. Looking back I think my parents made the right choice. That’s why I get emotional. Investing in your children – like sending them to CHS – gives your kids the strong spiritual and academic foundation as they step out on their own.” Getting that strong foundation was important to Magnus’ parents who sent all three of their children to CHS. “My mom never got her education, so she said to me, ‘Even if you just get it and never use it, it’s something that no one can take away from you.’” Brandy and Todd Magnus But Magnus has used her education. with their son Braxton. “I went to the U of R right after high school . . . then graduated in 2007,” she said. “Then I started to work at Mosaic Potash at Belle Plaine. I attained my professional engineering status in the CHS ALUMNUS fall of 2010. That’s one of the goals I kind of had that I wanted to get done before we had a family.” Now, as the mother of a busy GIVES BACK two-year-old, Magnus has stepped BY JULIE COLE away from working at Mosaic Potash. “I loved it,” she said in praise of her former workplace. “I would go back aronport High School (CHS) “CHS allowed me to focus tomorrow, but I just know that my first Calumnus Brandy (Pederson) on interests such as volleyball and priority is my family now.” Magnus smiles as she considers the basketball,” Magnus explained. “At In the meantime, Magnus is putting path her life has taken. home I had played senior everything some of her skills to work as a member of “It’s kind of unique, because I came – not because I was any good, but the village council in Caronport where she, to CHS and never thought I’d be back because they needed members. I had her husband Todd and son Braxton live. here,” she mused. “So it’s kind of fun never actually sat on the bench. Coming “Recently we have built the spray to be able to give a little bit back to a to Caronport was funny for me because park in town and the new playground,” place that invested in me.” you have two lines of volleyball and she said. “I enjoyed being part of Coming to CHS as a Grade 11 basketball and you actually have to project management types of things or student brought big change to Magnus’ share the floor.” leadership roles and I’m thankful for life. Everything seemed to be done on More course offerings along with having lots of people around me that a grander scale than she’d experienced a well-equipped and dedicated staff have mentored me lately.” at home in Bromhead, Sask. offered broader horizons for the future Caronport mayor Bob Clark, one of “There’s probably five people that environmental engineer. the people Magnus lists as a mentor, is live there,” Magnus chuckled describing “I think CHS prepared me grateful for her presence on the village the size of her hometown. “The school academically for university,” Magnus council. was 80 kids from K-12, so when I came said. “I had great teachers in physics, “Brandy is a bright young woman to CHS and my class was 90 – that was math, chemistry and calculus. I found with a ‘get it done’ attitude,” he wrote. a big change for me.” the teachers here at CHS – they not “She is a real asset to have on council A larger school offered larger only are teaching, but they invest in and a fine role model for women opportunities in sports. you. It’s just one step further than what everywhere.”

PASSPORT MAGAZINE 13 .75” .25” Space and margins: .25” Seminary student sees Briercrest as an .25” environment for personal growth By Julie Cole .5”

Bigger isn’t always better. David Wicks with his wife Liz and Briercrest seminary student David sons Judah, Mason and Peter. Wicks, who attended university for his undergraduate degree, says he believes .5” the smaller class size at Briercrest is a bonus. “You can get involved,” he asserted. “I remember in university – it’s so big. You are just a drop in the bucket. Sitting in math classes of like 300 and 400 students – you are just a speck. There were certain professors who taught first year kinds of classes and it was just a job – just get through the material.” Wicks says at Briercrest the professors do much more than that. “In some way you can go to any school and if you applied yourself and you were leadership opportunities he had at Briercrest also benefitted faithful to God and read the Scriptures, his life. you’d probably grow,” Wicks explained. “I think for me, a big thing is confidence,” he exclaimed. “I “But it just really helps to be in a place would say the biggest (impact) is a sense of confidence – this where the professors are doing that too.” is who Dave is, these are the gifts that I have. This is what God Witnessing his instructors’ personal has given me. I have some sense of where God wants me and interaction with the class material has where He can use me, whereas before, coming here in a lot of deeply impacted Wicks. ways I really had no idea.” “Oddly enough, as a counselling Next year Wicks plans to finish his internship and complete student, one of the most formative classes his degree. This summer he and his family plan to work with a was studying Ecclesiastes,” he said of First Nations ministry in Thunder Bay. Wicks says Briercrest has his class with Eric Ortlund. “It helped also been a good place for his wife and three small children to me to see performance in a new light. land after several years of mission work overseas. My own personal journey is struggling “We came from a pretty chaotic ministry situation,” he with the whole performance monster. Just explained. “We needed a quieter place. We needed a place we seeing Eric struggle with that and be open could feel safe where we didn’t have to be on hyper alert in a about it and how Ecclesiastes and the big city or something. We needed life to gear down a couple of Old Testament can actually speak to that notches. There’s so much in this world that can distract us and (helped me) wrestle with it in a new way.” keep us busy. Having space and margin in your life is really The seminary student says the important.” .75”

14 PASSPORT MAGAZINE | Subscribe to PASSPORT online at www.briercrest.ca/passport SEMINARY STUDENT FINDS HER VOICE AND CALLING AT BRIERCREST By Julie Cole

give them something that will inspire them to step out in confidence and change their nation, they take it and they run with it. By the time you come back the next year . . . they’ve started an organization, or they’ve collected money for books for girls from the village, or they’ve started a health clinic. They are so eager to learn and want to change and grow.” Even though Ostapchuk continued to live in Ontario and travelled to Briercrest for modular classes, she says the community life at Briercrest Seminary valedictorian Cathie impacted her. Ostapchuk receives her “Even if you are a student who diploma from former Briercrest might be coming in, the community president Dwayne Uglem. that you find in the class with the relationships with the professors forges a learning environment rather than Cathie Ostapchuk sums up her “Your identity is in God forcing information,” she said. “You Briercrest experience in one word – just want to learn it. It’s uniquely set transformational. and that’s where the up to welcome people at all stages “Everything kind of changed for security comes.” of life and makes it easy for them to me in the way I thought of myself access the brilliant education. (That’s) and the way I thought of God and the “(I began) to unfold and unpack very, very rare.” way I thought of my future,” the 2013 what’s been there all along and then Paul Magnus, distinguished seminary graduate said. become strong in the areas I’m naturally professor of leadership and Ostapchuk says her calling was gifted by God to become strong in,” she management, praises Ostapchuk’s solidified during a leadership class with explained. “Then it doesn’t matter if you accomplishments in her MA program Paul Magnus. perform or not. Your identity is in God at Briercrest. “He was teaching on Stephen and that’s where the security comes.” “Not only did she excel at doing Covey’s book The Eighth Habit,” she Now that she’s found her voice, graduate education but while doing explained. “Covey says ‘Find your voice the Ontario resident is helping others so she developed and expanded her and help others find their voice.’ In that find theirs by facilitating leadership own platform of service as a facilitator moment, (I knew) that was my calling.” development whether she’s speaking, for many contexts and educational Stepping into that calling was a coaching or teaching. and functional leadership groups process. “I have a vision that allows me to and organizations,” he said. “She is “The first step was to find my do all of these things, because really to be congratulated on the excellent own voice,” the seminary valedictorian the bottom line is you’re just sharing outcomes of her work as a student and admitted. “For a lot of years I didn’t your life and your experience with as a sought after facilitative group and know what the sound of my own voice other people,” she said. “It can be in individual, learner, leader and coach. sounded like. I was a high performer in a coaching relationship one on one; it She has demonstrated excellence in many areas and did well at many things, can be speaking in front of 100 women; facilitating leading and learning.” but it was all about performance and it can be facilitating in a classroom. Ostapchuk says Magnus was a key getting evaluated on performance. It You’re just sharing your resources.” influence who forged her learning at was more about external achievement. Sharing her resources is a top Briercrest. So when I heard those words ‘Find priority for Ostapchuk. She lists four “(He’s) the mentor that enabled this your voice’, it became a direction annual trips to Ghana as some of the transformation,” she exclaimed. “Even toward an internal journey saying most rewarding work she has ever on the days when he hadn’t heard from ‘There’s somebody in here (outside of done. me in a while, and wasn’t sure if I would performance) who God wants me to “You’re privileged to pass on actually send in any work, he would just look at and pay attention to.” information and resources to the send an encouraging email putting full Ostapchuk explained how this women there who have so little,” she confidence in my ability to finish the internal journey strengthened her true said explaining her work there with Next journey.” identity. Level Leadership. “Because when you

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