by Tony van der Hiele

Woven through the tapestry of the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College are the footprints of Henry T. Blackaby. As his message and ministry are remembered and celebrated following his passing this past February 10th, CBT is gratefully aware of how Henry shaped the school. He was an early pioneer in theological education for the family of churches now called the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and his legacy of faith and biblical teaching continues through many of his family members who love and serve the Lord in various capacities, including at CBT.  
 
Born in Williams Lake, British Columbia to parents who were fiercely committed to the Lord, his service began when he was called into ministry at a youth rally in Vancouver, BC. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in History and English at the University of BC, he moved to California to pursue seminary education. There, he met his beloved Marilynn, and they married in 1960. For the following ten years, they worked diligently as a team as Henry pastored various churches in California.  
 
In 1970, Henry moved his family back to Canada to answer God’s call to pastor a small congregation. As he put it, “Everyone is called to go. Has God given you permission to stay? We chose to go to Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, where ten people were ready to disband. From that humble beginning, God started thirty-eight churches and missions.” The manner in which God worked in that small church through Henry, Marilynn, and other leaders has given Henry numerous testimonies, which he later used when writing “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” with help from Claude King. This interactive study is considered Henry’s signature work and has sold more than eight million copies and been translated into eighty languages. Some of the CNBC’s earliest leaders have been influenced by the movement God started through that church. Among them were former CNBC Executive Director Gerry Taillon, his wife Connie, and Paul Johnson, who served in various team leader positions. 
 
When God showed Henry the need for theological education, he obediently started a Bible college in the basement of Faith Baptist Church. As he once looked back upon that season, he expressed how mightily they experienced God. “…[God] orchestrated things that only He could have accomplished. Over one hundred college students were called into ministry, and we started the Canadian Baptist Theological College to equip them.” Dick Hale was one of those college students. Looking back on his time there, he says, “It was a wonderful experience. God was very much in there. Henry was a godly man and an excellent teacher; he was relatable and always asked questions.” 
 
Dick remembers him as an exemplary pastor. “He really led a church that lived out the fellowship of believers, and as a pastor, he didn’t hide his life at home; he let us be part of it. Part of his success at that church, I believe, was through his one-on-one meetings with people.” Dick is incredibly thankful for his time and training there. Since then, he and his wife Shirlee have been in ministry for the long haul. They have been faithfully serving Worsley Baptist Church in northern Alberta for forty years. 
 
Henry’s legacy continues. His children and grandchildren have continued to serve the Lord. Blackaby Ministries International, founded by Henry, will continue to promote biblical teaching and pastoral training around the world. This spring at CBT, three of the four professors teaching the upcoming May intensive classes are close relatives of Henry. His son, Dr. Richard Blackaby and his nephew, Dr. Rob Blackaby, are co-teaching the seminary course Spiritual Leadership. Henry’s grandson, Dr. Mike Blackaby, will teach “Straight to the Heart,” an apologetics course about how the gospel engages the whole being. The family has also impacted CBT through the Blackaby Spiritual Leadership Award, given annually to a deserving student, along with the ongoing donations of endowed funds toward a future Blackaby Chair of Spiritual Leadership.  Endowed faculty chairs are an essential part of the financial strength of CBT as we seek to carry out our mandate to train leaders. We welcome donations to this chair in memory of Henry Blackaby, whose legacy at CBT lives on through his family and his books, which are used in the classroom.  
 
Henry himself became famous for the teaching, “Look to see where God is at work and join Him.” As a school, whether faculty, staff, students or the greater CBT community, we pray that God will find us faithful to move people onto God’s agenda! 
 
Donations in Henry’s memory may be made here. A gift acknowledgement will be sent to his family in recognition of your gift.  Thank you!