Mid-Year Update

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Dr. Blackaby and all our students, faculty and staff, greetings from the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary & College! I pray you are experiencing God’s grace and peace during such unusual and unsettling times. As we approach the midpoint of 2021, and the end of our fiscal year, I wanted to write and give you an update from our school.

We have so much to celebrate and thank the Lord for over the past year. Recently, Dr. Blackaby and our department heads gathered for our annual assessment. Here are some of the highlights from that meeting:

• God’s financial provision – once again, God generously provided for the needs of the school, despite a year of turmoil due to the pandemic.
• Accreditation renewal – both of our accrediting bodies (ATS and ABHE) performed routine but thorough reviews of our school and renewed our credentials for another ten years. This required hundreds of combined hours by faculty and staff in the months leading up to these reviews. The reviews strongly affirmed both our college and seminary programs.
• Online learning – significant gains in the capacity and variety of online learning portals were realized, enabling CBT to continue teaching with minimal disruption during COVID-19.
• Safety on campus – a large number of protocols were adopted on campus in regard to COVID-19, and as a result, we were able to hold classes in person for most of the school year. We know of no cases of transmission that occurred in the classroom or common areas. A handful of students did contract COVID-19 through other contacts, but we’re thankful that none had severe cases, and none required hospitalization.
• Opening of RV storage facility – after years of planning and working with the Town of Cochrane on regulations, Hill Country RV Storage opened on our campus in the fall of 2020, with almost 400 parking spots, and is now generating significant revenue. The facility is already completely filled to capacity.
• Graduation – after having to cancel the 2020 commencement ceremony, last month we celebrated the in-person graduations of both our 2020 and 2021 graduates. What a tremendous joy it was to see these outstanding men and women complete their training at CBT.
• Fall 2021 enrollment – we look forward to welcoming a large number of dedicated new and returning students in late August, and returning to a more normal classroom and community experience, while still offering maximum flexibility through distance learning options in the post-COVID days.

There are many, many other ways that our school has not only survived, but thrived in the past year, and this could not have been possible except for the dedication and faithfulness of the entire school community – faculty, staff, and students. Yet scripture teaches us in 1 Cor 1:31, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” So we give all praise and glory to God through the power of the Spirit for all these things, and we thank Him!

We are also mindful and thankful for the sacrificial and generous support of hundreds of supporters over the past year, and for the prayers offered on behalf of our school and students. Please pray in faith that God would continue to show His favour to us!

To start the 2021-22 year well, we are asking for a total of $125,000 in gifts, which will allow us to make some needed repairs on our campus and also build much-needed operating reserves. We know that many have experienced financial hardships this past year. But if you are able and wish to invest in a cause that has eternal dividends, please use the enclosed envelope, or visit our website at cbtsc.ca/donate for instructions on how to make a gift online.

And finally, a blessing:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

Sincerely in His Service,

Barry Nelson