by Tony van der Hiele

Since 2002, CBT has offered the Samuel Program, a gap year option at the college level designed for high school graduates who want to spend a year taking courses in a Christian environment and receive tools they need to prepare for their future. The program’s name came from a passage in the life of the Old Testament prophet Samuel. Here, Eli perceived that God was calling the boy Samuel and instructed him to respond with, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9). In a supportive environment over two semesters of on-campus study, CBT faculty and staff invest in Samuel students, helping them develop a deeply Christian worldview, and discover who God has made them to be.

Madison Rush arrived at CBT in 2017 from Pleasanton, Texas, and is one of the students who completed the Samuel Program. She now serves as the children’s minister at First Baptist Church of Hondo, Texas. In this article, she shares her journey of how God used her experience at CBT to equip her for this role.

When Madison was finishing high school, she wasn’t sure what school to attend or what to major in. Through relatives, she heard that CBT offered a gap year program, and decided to take the opportunity and come to Canada. The new setting as the semester began was a bit of a shock for her. Madison says, “I guess I was expecting younger students, but there was a mix of younger and older. And you know, it was great. I learned as they were learning, and everyone asked so many good questions. I love that learning [at CBT] is an open conversation. Everyone [in class] had different backgrounds, and I enjoyed hearing their stories of what God was doing in their lives.” The classes Old Testament and New Testament Survey, along with Bible Interpretation stood out to her. Madison particularly enjoyed diving into God’s Word together as a class. “I loved how we started at the very beginning and how everyone just grew excited as we learned about the history.” Some of the textbooks are still on the shelf in her office, and she pulls them out every now and then. “I love learning about God’s Word.”

The family concept on campus made Madison fall in love with CBT. “People are always looking for opportunities to encourage one another and pour into one another spiritually, not just inside the classroom but also outside the classroom.” She mentions College Instructor Elaine Philips, who always cheered her on when Madison struggled with essays. “Even though she was there to teach English, she taught me so much more than just English.” Madison continues, “I loved the small community of students getting together after class. Things like, ‘Hey, let’s go and get plugged into this church that needs help,’ made me step out of my comfort zone and grow in my relationship with the Lord.”