by Tony van der Hiele

As summer slowly starts to transition into fall in Cochrane, students’ arrival on campus creates quite a buzz.  Some come back from their well-deserved summer break and are ready for another semester, while others are brand new on campus and are excited to start their academic journey. A fall semester at CBT always starts with two days of New Student Orientation, where they receive a warm welcome and learn more about the mission and purpose of CBT.  They are introduced to the different departments, learn about our facilities, and have the opportunity to fellowship with staff and faculty. But what most excites us during these days is the time when new students share their testimonies of how God brought them to this very moment, to pursue ministry training at our school.

Some are still figuring out God’s call on their lives, while others already know the direction in which he is leading them. Whether they have a passion for teaching the Bible, want to have a deeper biblical foundation, want to reach a certain people group in remote Mongolia, or want to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership, all of them are eager for the equipping that bears fruit for the kingdom. Some of them have undergone amazing journeys and shared powerful testimonies. “I want to reach the ends of the earth for Jesus,” said one. “I want to see Jesus revealed in this generation,” shared another. A third one said, “I’m excited to study the Word and share it with as many people as possible.” CBT President Dr. Rob Blackaby closed the time of testimonies and thanked the brand-new students for allowing CBT to walk with them in the next few years. “We will add to your life” he said, “but you will add to our lives and community as well. It’s not a one-way street, and we are looking forward to getting to know all of you better in the coming months.”

This year we welcomed sixteen new students – five college students and eleven seminary students. Four have traveled from beyond Canadian borders – from Louisiana and Texas in the United States to as far as Zambia and Nigeria in Africa. But no matter how far or near, God is the one who called these men and women to be trained and equipped for work in His Kingdom. We are excited to see what God will accomplish in their lives and hope you are too!