Canadian Mennonite
Volume 5, number 24
December 17, 2001

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Abbotsford, B.C.

Photo: Paul Wartman will become the new president of Columbia Bible College on July 1. He has been a Mennonite Brethren pastor for 20 years. He is a gifted communicator who understands contemporary culture and is passionate about helping the church be relevant in its mission, according to Michael Dick, board chair.

For the last 10 years, Wartman has been pastor of The Meeting Place in Winnipeg. Before that, he served for 10 years as a pastor in Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, and five years as a camp director. He completed his master's degree at Ontario Bible College and Seminary (now Tyndale) and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

He is currently on the Canadian MB Conference Board of Evangelism. He has also served on the Board of Faith and Life and as moderator of the Ontario MB Conference.

Paul and Ruthanne have two sons, Michael and John, who are studying at the University of Manitoba.-From Columbia release

It is "a time for rejoicing," said board chair Michael Dick as he opened the Columbia Bible College annual meeting on November 8. The good news at the college includes strong enrolment, financial health and a new president (see related article).

Enrolment at 499 students is down slightly from last year's record, but still 23 percent higher than two years ago. The school is enjoying its new gym (Columbia Place) and other campus improvements. The school's fund-raising goal is to develop 300 "Legacy Partners" who will each contribute between $1,000 and $10,000 annually.

A 10-year vision for the college includes:

· new ministry preparation programs, such as a four-year worship arts program;
· expansion of "distance learning" such as Internet and correspondence courses;
· serving more adults and members of ethnic churches;
· increased partnership with other schools and with agencies such as Youth Mission International;
· renewal of the campus to accommodate 800-1000 students (the next project is a new student centre with larger kitchen and dining room);
· increased financial aid for students;
· adequate training, salary and benefits for employees, and manageable workloads.

The college is operated by the B.C. Conference of Mennonite Brethren (MB) Churches and Mennonite Church B.C.

In the last fiscal year, the college not only paid off the remaining $910,000 of its long-term debt, but added $295,000 to its operating cash. This meant that the college had $240,000 on hand at the end of the year.

The budget for 2001-2002 was readily approved. Due to decreased enrolment and a significant decrease in students living on campus, the college expects to see its operating cash decrease by $80,000. The goal is to increase cash on hand to $600,000 so that the school does not have to borrow money to pay expenses every summer until students pay their fees in September.

In a ballot vote, the delegates approved Paul Wartman for president. He outlined his vision for a Bible college in a brief presentation.

There were few questions from the group during the evening-the 100 MB and 35 MC B.C. churches sent just over the quorum of 50 delegates to the meeting.-From report by Jim Coggins

Morris, Man.

Camps with Meaning, the three Mennonite Church Manitoba camps, celebrated another summer of abundant blessings with the 13th annual Celebration Banquets in November.

Over 500 guests attended the banquets at Camp Koinonia on November 3 and in Morris on November 4. Summer staff and regional committees shared experiences and developments from the past year.

"God has moved," said Bob Wiebe, director of MC Manitoba education ministries, "and it is our privilege to report on it."

Wiebe steered the audience through the four Rs: regional committees, rental ministry, retreats and recognition. Dave Wiebe, chair of the Camp Assiniboia regional committee, reported that the projects begun in 2000 are now complete: a new horse barn, a mini-conference centre, and several other projects.

MennoFolk and the baseball tournament have become annual events and raised approximately $9,000 for the camp. A new tobbogan slide will be completed this year.

Ron and Emmy Wiebe have resigned as Camp Assiniboia managers. Wiebe thanked them for their two and a half years of service and for "their warm and caring spirit and administrative skills."

Camp Moose Lake has a number of new initiatives. Elise Suderman developed a new nature curriculum. Moose Lake Youth Camp offered waterskiing with the help of Ken and Maryanne Doell and Al and Janice Friesen who provided boats and skis, said Sandy W. Plett, director of summer camp programs.

"Now is the time to worship" is a CD of camp songs released this year.

Retreats are another form of camp ministry: "It is a time to get away, to be refreshed, to fill up with the Word and to encourage each other," said Bob Wiebe.

During the recognition moment at the Morris banquet, Sara Jane Friesen received the Henry and Ann Goertzen Memorial Scholarship. Friesen, "who demonstrated an interest and ability in leadership," has spent many summers as camper and staff. This summer she directed the summer program at Camp Moose Lake together with Trevor Stoesz.

Two young campers, Gerald Ens and Josiah Brubacher, shared highlights from their week at Camp Assiniboia. Ens suggested the only thing lacking was a similar winter camp program.

The banquets raised $18,000 for the three camps and the camp office.

"I am in complete awe of the work God enables an apparently random collection of people, both young and old, to do when they work together in Christ's name," said Plett.-Evelyn Rempel Petkau

Waterloo, Ont.-Conrad Brunk is leaving Conrad Grebel University College to become director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria, effective July 1. Brunk, who is currently dean at the college, has taught at Grebel/University of Waterloo for 26 years. He was founding director of the Conflict Studies program at Grebel. In his new position, he will devote his full-time energies to research and consulting with governments and industry. "Brunk has been a model teacher and scholar, a first-rate administrator, and a wonderful colleague," noted John Toews, Grebel president. "He will be greatly missed."

-From college release

Winnipeg, Man.-Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana is taking steps to make its resources more widely available. The new "Church Leadership Centre," directed by Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, will find non-traditional ways of connecting church leaders, including retreats for pastors, a sabbatical program, a "preaching institute," and a summer program to introduce high school youth to the seminary. The seminary also offers "Pastoral Studies Distance Education" (information online at www.ambs.edu/psde). This undergraduate program provides pastors with practical tools. It consists of 12-week units. Pastors can choose some or all five of the units and be guided by seminary staff and a local pastor. The first three units are online during the January-April semester.

-Daniel Rempel