SINGING WINTER 2019 MUSICHIS & WORSHIP PRAISE ARTS AT PRAIRIE 02 PRAIRIE HARVESTER tinue to commit all of these Handing things to him. The truth is, we have much in our hands: a it over great tradition, an important mission, and a tremendous MARK MAXWELL future. But the real measure PRESIDENT of it all is what God accom- plishes through us with all these resources. Are you holding onto something that God might Years ago, I had the privilege of attending the be waiting to use, something National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. The he has put in your hand main event was in a grand ballroom filled with many for a specific purpose? It is of the “who’s who” of that city and needless to say, I felt a cosmic conundrum that conspicuously insignificant. the Creator has chosen to Pastor Rick Warren spoke on God’s call to Moses work in partnership with at the burning bush in the desert. The one-time prince humanity. He knows that our was asked to lay down his staff so that it could be em- ultimate personal fulfillment powered as “the staff of God.” In that room of substan- comes when we surrender tial influence, Rick challenged each of us to consider to him, allowing him the what was in our hands, and to give whatever we held to freedom to empower us to do God so that he could use it. his work for the enrichment The message so impressed me that I soon added a of others. For our own good, walking stick to the décor in my office. As I ruminated we surrender all. further on the story, it struck me that God gave that stick life only when Moses laid it down. As he did so, God not only enlivened it, he returned it to Moses bathed in power. Held tight, the rod would have been “hand-icapped,” limited to its natural abilities and those of the one who carried it. When he let go, both Moses and the staff became powerful tools in the hand of the Almighty. When Elaine and I came to Prairie I wondered how we could pass this lesson on to our students. About that time my uncle Brad Hartt offered us some beautiful diamond-willow walking sticks, so during graduation I was able to give one to each graduating senior. Since then, it has become a tradition with each marklmaxwell @ degree-earning student being awarded a walking stick along with their diploma. I was a little worried that we might run out, but Paul Brody has taken up the baton COMING EVENTS and keeps us well-supplied. For nearly one hundred years, God has taken what GCC we have “in hand”-- vision, land, buildings, staff and March 13-14, 2019 faculty, students, friends and donors--and used it all to Grad weekend impact the nations of the world. Why? Because we con- April 26-27, 2019 Two daunting words, One Comforting Response I can’t count the number of times friends have asked me about two words that dredge up a mixture of perplexity and aversion: WINTER 2019 03 Capital Gains Are there ways to deal with the taxman’s hunger? The simple answer is, CCCGLOBAL CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE Discover your song "Yes,Unseen we can places thin him down a little!" 04 It is definitely 07possibleMarch to curb13-14, his appetite,2019 spice up your estate New options, new faces [un]seen Global missions “...the Godand who servesees...” a delightfulKeynote dessert Speaker - to Bishop charity D’souza at the same time. Gen.Each 16:13 estate is unique so there are no “one size fits all” solutions. I would love to help you explore the "recipe" Unforgoatable12 19Phil Callaway God’s mysterious ways that is just rightHelp forfor a hypocriteyou. Contact me at: Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Phone: 403 443 3034 (direct line) or A giant goes Home 18The right recipe 1 800 661 2425 (toll free) The impact of17 one life A Capital idea Tim MacKenzie, Estate PlanningPhoto by Crystal Consultant Gillespie Photos by Stephanie Willis MARK MAXWELL, PRESIDENT PAT MASSEY, EDITOR SIDECAR CREATIVE, DESIGN PRAIRIE BIBLE INSTITUTE PO BOX 4000, THREE HILLS, AB T0M 2N0 1-403-443-5511 WWW.PRAIRIE.EDU Cover photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash 04 PRAIRIE HARVESTER Prairie’s music program expands options The Music & Worship Arts program at Prairie Col- guest artists and adjunct lege continues to develop as new options and personnel faculty, including Brian are added to the roster. Doerksen, exposing students Individuals who simply want to develop their to a rich variety of musical personal musical skills or prepare for further studies can genres. Juno Award-winning enroll in the one-year Certificate in Musicianship. They producer, sound engineer, will have opportunity to deepen their spiritual walk and Prairie alum Steve through a year of biblical studies as they become more Rendall has been heavily fluent in their knowledge and practice of music, and can involved in the program transfer their credits to other Prairie College programs. since its inception, providing The Diploma in Songwriting & Recording is a two- professional advice and year course designed to help students grow in the love expertise in the recording and knowledge of God while discovering their unique projects as well as designing musical style. As they gain confidence in performance and teaching a class in skills, they also learn to integrate biblical truth into Music Business. music that draws others into worship. The program is He believes that “the employment-oriented, teaching skills for service in the Music & Worship Arts Christian music industry, and students have the unique program at Prairie College opportunity to record an EP of five original songs in a affords an incredible op- professional recording setting. portunity for students to learn and grow in a creative "This program affords an incredible environment, rooted in opportunity for students to learn and grow community within a creatively within a faith context.” faith context.” –Steve Rendall Dr. Jonah's vision for the program is that students Prairie also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Worship Lead- will use their abilities to ing & Music. Over the course of four years, students in pursue the Kingdom of this program will focus on understanding Scripture and God: "Both in personal learning principles of effective ministry as they develop spiritual growth and an a philosophy of corporate worship. The Church is in outward focus on needs need of leaders who know God and will lead their con- within and outside the gregations to honor him and grow spiritually through Church, we hope they will their expressions of worship. portray through music what Program Coordinator Mark Jonah and instructor it means to be a lover of God Denis Baptista carry the bulk of the program, with in this world." For more information, contact [email protected] or call 403-443-5511 WINTER 2019 05 Creating songs from the heart NEW MUSIC PROFESSOR JOINS FACULTY Perhaps one of his most gratifying accomplishments is the unique orchestral The newest faculty member in Prairie’s Music & arrangement that he created Worship Arts program was born in Brazil where he by taking the magic of grew up in a musical and pastoral family. While Denis language and the spoken Baptista has a solid background in classical and jazz word and transforming it piano, his true heart’s passion is to bring original music into music. Based on the to life as a composer. pitch, rhythms and dialects After earning a Bachelor of Music in Composition of different regions of his from the University of Campinas in Brazil, he and his native Brazil, Denis used wife Talita made a permanent move to Canada where speech as the unconventional Denis became a teaching assistant at the University inspiration for this major of Calgary and operated his own private studio. He musical composition. The continued to work as a full-time composer, creating world premiere took place chamber and orchestral music for performance in both in Calgary in April of 2017 Canada and Brazil, and a modern opera that won first and a documentary has been place in a world competition in April of 2018. Con- filmed about the complex tinuing his studies, Denis completed a Master of Music creative process behind at the U of C in 2017. the project. Numerous awards have come his way, including the The focus for Denis Queen Elizabeth II Graduate (Master’s) Scholarship in Prairie’s worship arts and the Richard program is on songwriting Johnston Award and arranging, music for advanced skills fundamentals, theory and in chamber music music history. His desire is to composition. nurture competent and pro- Along with being fessional musicians who are recognized for his well-prepared for wherever outstanding work God wants to lead them. by the Govern- Denis is excited to be ment of Alberta, passing on his knowledge Denis was also and love of music and to a finalist at the help students broaden their Land’s End Na- personal vision. “We are not tional Composers here to compare ourselves Competition in with others,” he says, “but to Canada where his discover what God intends for piece “Kosmos” us that will have true meaning won an award. in his kingdom.” 06 PRAIRIE HARVESTER Family Album TED & MAUREEN THOMPSON THE HOEKMAN FAMILY practicing pediatrician and 1960s he and Linda lead worship Thompson, Ted (HS’63, and help with a Single & BC’67) was married to Parenting program at their Maureen Leischner on June church. Their daughters 9, 2018.