by Tony van der Hiele

What a joy it is for the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College to be a part of training spiritual leaders for God’s mission! His movement across Canada is unmistakable. From the increasing number of Canadian students answering the call to train for ministry to new and thriving church plants taking root in Canadian neighbourhoods, God is drawing people to Himself. CBT is now furthering that mission through an ongoing partnership with the International Mission Board to meet the need for training leaders in French-speaking Canada. The CBT community readily welcomed a new addition to their growing faculty in January: IMB Missionary Dr. Thomas Sieberhagen and his family, all of whom are fluent in French!

CBT President Rob Blackaby explains the need for theological education in French. “As we have prayed and talked with IMB leadership about future partnership initiatives, a decision was made to bolster the strength of CBT through a fully funded faculty member who is fluent in French. The Canadian National Baptist Convention has seen remarkable growth in Quebec, and the need for theological education for current and future French-speaking leaders is paramount…With the support of the Executive Director of the CNBC and the CBT board of trustees, we welcome the IMB’s able assistance in meeting this critical need!”

The new CBT Adjunct Professor comes with a rich background in church planting in Francophone Belgium. Dr. Sieberhagen shares some of his experience. “We were sent to a city in the south of Belgium that had no evangelical presence in the downtown area, and that’s where we planted a church. I co-pastored that congregation for the past 6 years, and it was a joy to turn over my role to local leaders last year.” While serving in Belgium, Thomas also completed his PhD studies at KU Leuven (a Belgian university). His field of study was Systematic Theology, with a thesis on Christological Aesthetics and Subversive Christian Art. “Alongside the church,” Thomas continues, “we founded an arts centre in the heart of the city to connect with Belgians and share the truth with them. Some of our favourite memories are of the open-mic night we hosted once a month, where Christians and non-Christians alike would come together at our arts centre and share music.” His experience in secular contexts and arts-centred outreach will help equip French-speaking Canadian churches with innovative approaches to evangelism and community engagement. Associate Professor of Theology & Assistant Dean, Dr. Scott MacDonald, celebrates Thomas’ intellectual interest in the intersection of theology and art. “We all know and experience the power of images, and Thomas will provide a knowledgeable voice as to how the church can better think about art and its Christian use.”

After 10 years of living in Belgium, Dr. Thomas, his wife Holley, and their children, Primrose (6), Ransom (4), and Harmony (1), are starting to find their way in Canada. For Thomas and Holley, the adjustments were fairly easy; they know the language and North American culture. The children, however, were all born in Belgium, and Primrose and Ransom attended school in French in Belgium. “It’s been a big transition for them, but they are beginning to find the fun in Cochrane,” says Thomas. “Primrose is doing a French-immersion program at her school, and she is happy to be studying French again!” The CBT community played a huge role in welcoming the Sieberhagens. From home-cooked meals to roasting marshmallows and trips to the mountains, the family feels grateful for the community’s blessings and God’s provision. “Six months ago, we did not know what our next assignment would be, but we hoped and prayed it would be CBT. God used both the seminary’s leadership and the IMB leadership to make it clear that this was where God wanted us to be.” Eager to get into the classroom to gain further teaching experience, Dr. Sieberhagen is ready to serve the faculty however he can. “I have had a desire to work in theological education since I was hired with the IMB…and I am very grateful that God has sent me here. I am doubly grateful that I will still get to use my French in this position!”

Thomas is also delighted about the chance to connect with CNBC churches and pastors in Quebec to build relationships. “I earnestly desire to discover how CBT can best serve those churches.” The Sieberhagens will spend the next three years in Cochrane to get to know the team, culture and identity of CBT. Dr. Blackaby further explains, “He will begin to explore the needs for theological education in Quebec and develop strategies for mobilizing CBT resources to meet those needs. He will lead the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College in developing a sustainable approach to French language training in collaboration with CNBC regional leadership.”

CBT rejoices in the continuing partnership with the International Mission Board. The IMB has been playing a distinct role in shaping the school. “For close to four decades, the IMB has strategically placed core faculty members at CBT,” the President says, clearly grateful. “These globally experienced and academically excellent missionaries have ensured the delivery of quality, contextual, and theologically robust training to Canadian spiritual leaders for the CNBC. At the same time, they have thoroughly embedded a missionary ethos into everything that CBT does.” It is evident that partnerships like these are more than strategic relationships—they are a testimony to God’s provision in placing leaders at the right time in the right place, all for His glory and the good of His people. “With the addition of Thomas and Holley Sieberhagen to our robust CBT leadership, our resolve to ‘train leaders for tough places’ is only strengthened,” the Assistant Dean notes, “and in the years ahead, our prayer is that we will increasingly provide Francophone training!”

Join us in praying for the Sieberhagen family as they take on their God-given assignment at our school. May God be glorified as we continue to train the leaders He has called to every corner of Canada and beyond!