Profile. N early forty years

Transcription

1 Profile WINTER 2016 VOLUME 30, NO. 1 Transitions N early forty years ago I enrolled at Montana Institute of the Bible near Lewistown. For some reason that introduction to central Montana is etched clearly in my memory. I remember my application arrived after the school s deadline, but registrar Thelma Wolcott called me (with no time to spare) to share the good news that I d been accepted. (I m sure they needed the money!) I recall the warm, late summer season and the thousands of flies that littered the little gymnasium where we registered. A September drive to Denton from campus became nearly an epiphany: I can vividly see the place and relive the moment when I just knew the Lord wanted me in rural ministry. And I remember Hayden Porter, the lanky rancher and teacher whose down-home delivery and depth of knowledge kept my mind engaged even through an afternoon Bible class on the book of Acts. In my hunger to learn the Bible I d signed up for twentyone credits that first semester, and Mr. Porter s Acts class was my dessert for the academic week. He introduced the book with an observation from the first verse, where Dr. Conference Review 2 Disciple-Making/ Alumni Dinner Inside this issue: Leadership Transitions 4-5 Finance/Recruitment 6 Faculty Transitions/ Making Room Students Speak Luke references his Gospel to Theophilus as that which Jesus began to do and to teach. The book of Acts, explained Mr. Porter, just picks up the story and tells what Jesus continued to do and to teach, only now through His representative body, the church, by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Without missing a lick, you might say. Jesus had promised His disciples that He would build His church, despite the strongest defenses of the gates of hell. This He continues to do, all over the world, in ways and places we ll never see or know. What we experience, as individual Christians, is His equipping, impressing, and nudging us, in a sense, toward open doors and away from closed or untimely ones. Our responsibility is to be sensitive and willing to be moved. Here s an interesting observation: our predecessor, Montana Institute of the Bible/ Big Sky Bible College, lived 31 years, 1952 to 1983, before sadly having to close its doors for financial reasons. Are you aware that Montana Bible College has now begun our 29 th year? We have become accredited, are well in the black financially, strategically positioned in Bozeman, gaining in exposure across the nation, developing creatively in the academic arena, and ready to meet the challenges of Kingdom-building in an unpredictable world. The Head of the Church has dealt marvelously with us! Significantly, by God s mercy Montana Bible College has been richly blessed with a cadre of extremely gifted young staff. (Young, yes, like many of us once were!) Our crew is creative, energetic, faithful, eager and highly capable of navigating the Bible College toward the tremendous opportunities which lie ahead. I consider this to be their moment. Yes, it s transition time. That just means that Jesus is going to continue His great work through our humble efforts. Pray for us, and rejoice with us!

2 2016 Church Leaders Conference WORSHIP: Tuning the Tone-Deaf Bride The general sessions during our conference this year took a step back to look at the big picture of worship. And let me reassure you, it s a big picture, as we serve a big God! In order to narrow it down a bit for you, I want to review one of the general sessions that focused on the Theme of Worship: Its Weapons, namely, the Word of God. Isaiah 55:11 contains a mighty promise, that of God s faithfulness. In the preceding verse, we are reminded of God s faithfulness in providing fruit of the field for our physical sustenance. That faithfulness continues in the spiritual realm as God has provided His Word, which will accomplish His purposes and bring fruit in the hearts of men. Bruce Gore illumined our minds regarding a historical example in the Spokane, Washington area of one of its key historical figures, Chief Spokan Garry of the Spokane tribe. Years before any white men settled in that area, Garry s grandfather had received a prophecy that another people would come to their tribe to share the words of God with them. Two generations later that chief s grandson, Spokan Garry, went to a Christian boarding school, gave his life to Christ, and returned to his tribe to share God s Word with them. Chief Spokan Garry was pivotal in bringing a spiritual awakening to the Spokane tribe, which spilled over into other tribes in the region. He established a church, a school, and agriculture. The people s worship and devotion to God became very apparent to all around them. God fulfilled the prophecy given two generations previously and brought great spiritual fruit to the west. This history can be found in The Forgotten Awakening by Douglas McMurray (2011, Deep River Books). What encouragement these accounts can bring us when we get discouraged during challenging times of ministry. How refreshing to see God s faithful hand at work, through His mighty Word, to create hearts of worship in His people. May your faithfulness be encouraged and strengthened as we trust God s promise in Isaiah, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. -Jenni O Brian Bruce Gore E-Free Church were gracious hosts of our conference this year. Page Two

3 Mark this date as a milestone: October 15, On this date, MBC launched a Disciple- Making Initiative. Why is this so significant? Because the mission of Montana Bible College is to train men and women for a LIFETIME of dynamic Christian living and service. Up to now, students at MBC have been well trained and propelled out to serve, but we ve not had as many ways as we d like to keep fanning those flames on into the future. This effort marks another proactive step MBC is taking to fulfill its mission better than ever. So, what actually happened? We hoped for ten, but about 30 committed disciple-makers came together for a half-day of Focus, Fellowship, Follow-up, and Followthrough. (Another ten said they are definitely in but couldn t join us.) We shared what the Lord is doing through each of us to make disciples. We shared about the opportunities and the struggles we face. We prayed for one another. And we began the process of networking with one another. The universal phrase from those who were there was, This was SO encouraging. We have purposed together to spawn a number of regional gatherings like this one to occur throughout the year with the same purpose: Focus, Fellowship, Follow-up, and Follow-through. We aim to maximize our impact for the glory of God! -Ryan Ward MBC Annual Alumni Dinner October, 2016: MBC Alumni Join us next year! Connections for a Lifetime MBC Annual Alumni Dinner October, 2016: MIB Alumni Page Three

4 CHANGES...AT THE HELM A nticipating a change in leadership can be a frightening proposition. There are many unknowns and uncertainty can be unnerving. In such situations, God calls on us to trust that He knows best. Left to our own choice of how to see a change in leadership, most of us would want to see a faithful leader choosing to follow God s leading from one place in ministry to another. We would like to have a highly-qualified person ready just to step up into the lead, who already has a heart for the mission and goals of the ministry. And, if we could really have our way, it would be great if the two could work together through the transition to make it as smooth and productive as possible. Montana Bible College has been blessed with this kind of transition. Jim Carlson has served Montana Bible College well as president since God has used his past experience in rural ministry and serving those who shepherd town-and-country churches to greatly benefit the college in its goal of producing disciple-makers who can serve in a variety of settings. With a strong team supporting him, Jim also saw the completion of the accreditation process, the expansion of the school s facilities, and growth in the vision and depth of the school. The past seven years have been good ones. And now, God has been nudging things toward a change. From among those already serving Montana Bible College, God has been preparing Ryan Ward to lead the way into the future. As Jim sensed God shifting him to more pastoral ministry at Dry Creek Bible Church and a different role at the College, it became clear to him and the board of directors that Ryan is the right man to carry the vision of the College into the future. So what does this mean in practical terms? As of July 1, 2016, Jim went to half-time status as president. He and Ryan have been working together to move forward to the full transition which will be finalized as of January 1, Ryan is taking on a growing share of the administrative and leadership roles and cutting back on some of his teaching responsibilities. Jim is moving toward a new position as vice president and will be working to maintain and build relationships with churches and students. As God arranges His servants, we look ahead with anticipation to the good things He will do. William serves on MBC s board of directors and pastors Cardwell Community Church. Page Four -William Grinder 2016 Camp Elohim: Ryan & Andrea, Gracie, Caleb Jim and Ryan vision casting

5 L ast fall I had the opportunity to proofread a book, The Family by Design, written as a textbook for the Family Development class at Montana Bible College. Reading the chapter titled Legacy was a very emotional and gratifying experience for me. The chapter focused on the truth that every person leaves a legacy and, by way of example, Ryan Ward, the author and also my son, described the impact his father, Ron, had on his life. Some sons set out to follow in their father s footsteps, and while that was probably not ever Ryan s intention, it is quite amazing to see how he has in many ways. Ryan, born in Lewistown in 1978, spent his early years on the campus of Big Sky Bible College, where his father taught. On Easter Sunday, at just four years old, Ryan prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior. That same year our family moved to Helena where Ron became the pastor of a small, newly established church. Those were the worst of days as we struggled to make ends meet, and the best of days as we experienced God s faithful provision and rich relationships borne out of discipleship. Ryan wrote that during those years in Helena a legacy of faith, dependence, contentment, and giving was passed on to him. In 1987, Ron, along with several other men, founded Montana Bible College in Bozeman. As well as teaching at the College, Ron became an associate pastor at Grace Bible Church from Ron trained many young men to be leaders, but he was also intentionally discipling his son by modeling truth, integrity, wisdom, and love for God and people. He involved Ryan in the ministry in a large variety of ways. From a very young age, Ryan loved sports. There were a few years when his heart was set on playing in the NBA, but, thankfully, injury dampened that enthusiasm and redirected his focus. As high school years were coming to a close, his passion to see people do the right thing resulted in a desire to pursue law enforcement, but he agreed to one year at MBC first. And again, thankfully, his heart was quickly redirected toward full-time ministry. From 1999 until 2007 Ryan had the privilege of serving in pastoral ministry with his father at Manhattan Bible church and also served on the board of Montana Bible College for the last two of those years. At the beginning of 2007 Ryan transitioned to a full-time position at Montana Bible College and Ron s earthly ministry came to an end as he went to be with Jesus. Ryan values the fact that his father left him a legacy of disciple-making leadership and inspired in him a passion for preaching. A godly legacy, as well as the providence of God, has had a compelling effect on Ryan's life throughout the years and presently as he assumes the role of president of Montana Bible College. -Ann Ward-Turner 2001 Ryan with Parents Ron & Ann Ward Ann serves as adjunct faculty for MBC. MEET OUR NEW PRESIDENT! Page Five

6 Recent Outdoor Discipleship classes featuring canoeing and backpacking. Gift Matching Opportunity Underway Equipping for Ministry in the Outdoors! Many of you have partnered with us financially as well as with used gear donations as we seek to match a $20,000 gift to purchase outdoor and safety equipment for the outdoor discipleship program. Thank you very much for joining us as we teach our students how to shepherd the hearts of youth through the outdoors. Please continue praying for the Lord s provision. Any questions regarding this on-going campaign can be directed to Dan Wielenga at ext. 19 or dwielenga@montanabiblecollege.edu. If you want to go far...in our election year, we have likely observed the boots on the ground efforts of political candidates as they seek to get their message to voters. In watching these mass marketing campaigns, I began thinking of ways we can expand the MBC message to a broader audience of potential students. Legendary coach, John Wooden, once said, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, you need a team. I'm a firm believer that MBC can expand our Kingdom impact with a broader base of people involved with our recruitment efforts. I'm asking for you to consider joining our admissions team as we look for opportunities to share the quality education MBC offers with your family, friends, or church. One recent example of this involved MBC board member Grahame Nicolson assisting with our admissions efforts at college fairs in his region. Grahame reflected on his experience by saying, In view of the predominantly secular context of the college fairs, I prepared for my role with some prayerful trepidation, wondering how the attending students and staffs would react to the presence and promotion of a Bible college like ours among the displays. However, I was pleasantly and thankfully gratified with quite a few responses and indications of interest by students. MBC has a Kingdom message to share; we simply need more messengers like Grahame. Will you join us in going far by getting our message to potential students? Contact me at or dan.hovestol@montanabiblecollege.edu to schedule a visit with your church. Welcome to our team! More next issue... Page Six -Dan Hovestol

7 Some of you reading The Profile can remember with me even farther back, in fact when Bozeman didn t really extend any farther south of MSU than Kagy. There were no buildings off Stucky and 19 th, no Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Olive Garden, Cold Smoke, or Starbucks. In fact, 19 th Street wasn t really a bustling place at all! Nowadays, I avoid the 19 th Street traffic at all costs if I can! Montana Bible College has grown, too. We thank the Lord for some recent growth in particular: a growing number of students and the addition of Providence Hall, which contains our married student housing and Gail Horton Library. The new building means the old library space, the lower level of Cornerstone Hall, is now empty. Our plan is to use that space for an additional apartment that will house six more women, which is important with increasing enrollment at MBC. At this time, the renovation project has been approved by Gallatin County, a builder has been consulted, and we are working with an engineer to provide verification to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that our water treatment facilities are adequate for the subsequent student increase. Based on the engineer s assessment, we anticipate a positive answer from the DEQ. We are excited to see the Lord provide! -Tasha Oard Cornerstone Hall Student...Graduate...Dean 2016 Danny & Kate and Lucy Johnson Profile: Danny, the Lord has brought a lot of changes to your life this last year. You and Kate had a baby girl, you stepped into the role of dean of students at MBC, and you ve begun a Master s degree in Christian apologetics through Biola University. What has it been like to transition from student to staff? Danny: I am just so grateful that I did not have to leave MBC after graduation. I relate with the feeling of dread that many students experience when the time comes to leave the people they love and the environment that God has used to change their lives. So, I praise God nearly every morning when I sit down in my office for His graciousness to me in that regard. Beyond that, it is simply an honor to be working here. Profile: Having spent four years as a student at MBC, what is it like to step into the academic setting of Biola University at a graduate level? Danny: Well, I have to admit that it was a surprise and a relief to discover that four years of working hard at MBC has more than prepared me for graduate school. The workload for my courses at the graduate level is about equivalent to the workload at MBC at an undergraduate level! Beyond that, I am thankful to have developed a biblical epistemology at MBC through which I can now filter everything that I am exposed to. Profile: What does the future look like for you and your family? Danny: Kate and I hope to continue serving the Lord by being and making disciples here at MBC for many years to come. Page Seven

8 South 19th Avenue Bozeman, Montana Return Service Requested Our Mission: Montana Bible College is committed to glorifying God through biblical higher education by training men and women for a lifetime of dynamic Christian living and service. CONTACT US: / Editor: Jenni O Brian / Photographer: Drew Lowe and Allison Fanning STUDENTS SPEAK When Andrew Alberda trusted Christ in June of 2013, he was riding bulls in the college rodeo in addition to pursuing a degree in business management at Montana State University in Bozeman. That summer, God performed a transformation in Andrew s life that was drastic and immediate. I remember getting on my knees and thinking Alright, Jesus is Lord. The next day I found myself sharing the gospel with a truck driver in the parking lot at Murdoch s. The dramatic changes in Andrew s life didn t stop there. A couple months later he left MSU, got hitched to his best friend (Callie Martin), and together they began serving at CrossLife, the college ministry at Grace Bible Church. Within a few short months, CrossLife s leadership asked him to lead a Bible study and encouraged him to enroll part-time at MBC. God was opening doors for Andrew in rapid succession, and in the spring of 2014, he enrolled as a student at MBC. In December of 2014, Andrew began a two-year apprenticeship at Grace Bible Church. Though Andrew is sad to be finishing that apprenticeship, he is excited to move in the direction of pastoral leadership. Next semester, Andrew will be a sophomore at MBC. He and Callie recently celebrated three years of marriage and the first birthday of their daughter, Evangelin. They are enjoying their time of growth at MBC as well as eagerly waiting to see where God will transition them next. -Danny Johnson Page Eight