by Tony van der Hiele

Since August 1, CBT’s Keith C. Wills Library has been in the capable hands of Dr. David Fuller. After serving overseas for the past two years, he, his wife, and son will move on campus this summer. CBT is excited to welcome the new Director of Library Services, who has experience in both ministry and libraries, is competent in playing several instruments, and is well-versed in the academic world! This feature will explore some of David’s broad set of skills. 

“Books have been a passion since childhood,” he says as he shares how he enjoys reading a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction. Not only that, David holds a PhD in Old Testament and has five years of graduate teaching experience on his resume. CBT strives for academic excellence, and Dr. Steve Booth, Academic Dean, is thrilled to have David as Director of Library Services. “With an MA in Christian Studies and a PhD in Old Testament, David Fuller is well acquainted with theological libraries. He also has extensive research, writing, and publishing experience, which will be an invaluable asset to both our students and our faculty!” For his new role, David will soon start a new educational venture. “I am now preparing to start a Master of Library and Information Services degree, so I am excited to be equipped with a new skill set.”

David finds great pleasure in music and having been involved in music from a young age, – he can play piano, guitar and drums – David started his educational journey with a Bachelor of Church Music at Heritage College in Cambridge, Ontario. “While I enjoyed the program, about halfway through, I sensed a call to further training in theology.” His further education included an MA and a PhD from McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario.” During his studies, he served three years as a library assistant at Heritage College and four years as Managing Editor of McMaster Divinity College Press. With this track record, David knows how to handle the written word well. CBT’s president, Dr. Rob Blackaby, is particularly eager to welcome David in this role. “He has a passion to promote and marshal all available resources to facilitate growth, competence, and effectiveness in students’ studies, learnings, and ministries. Canada desperately needs skilled next-generation librarians to strengthen the work and the scope of theological education. His passion for his new role is bolstered by his commitment to research and writing.”

The new Library Director mentions how he enjoys working with students. Until recently, David served as Assistant Professor of Old Testament at a seminary in South Korea, where he taught, mentored, and discipled master and doctoral students. “One of my favourite parts of this role was getting to connect with the students one-on-one.” He felt honoured to pray with students from all over Asia and Africa, and continues, “It was both inspiring and convicting to see the effort they were willing to undergo to adapt to life in a different country so they could be prepared for their local ministry contexts, which were often in quite difficult circumstances.” David’s experience overseas is a great fit with CBT’s mission-minded faculty. “Spending time overseas has undoubtedly been a faith-building experience,” he acknowledges. “It’s quite humbling to realize the extent to which one is dependent on others for many of the logistics of daily life, but at the same time, it is powerful to be forced to depend on prayer and God’s provision when so many things are outside of one’s control.”

As David and his family are moving back to Canada, they are particularly looking forward to the community on campus. “Every interaction I have had with the CBT staff and faculty from my initial email discussions and interviews onwards has been incredibly warm and encouraging. We can’t wait to participate in the fellowship and service in person!” At CBT, we feel the same. We are praying for them as they settle into the community and eagerly anticipate getting to know David better as he joins the faculty and steps into serving our school’s precious library.