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2011-2012 Student Information

IMPORTANT DATES

December 16 End of Semester

January 9 Semester 2 classes start

February 18-20 Semester Break

March 9-11 three60five Youth Retreat

Rempel Auditorium Completion & Renovation

We have been fielding questions about the project, so let me give you a quick update.

* Start date is February 2012!

* New Student Lounge — the whole second floor above the foyer and change rooms will become a beautiful Student Centre, including RD offices and viewing windows into the gym.

* Suspendedbalconyandwalkway—thiswillbealong the south side of the gym area, providing inside access from back of the gym to the front of the gym and more viewing space for soccer tournaments.

* Expanded foyer space — the main entry area will be expanded by moving the Fitness Centre into the existing Student Lounge and then moving the gym kitchen to the current Fitness Centre.

* Complete exterior and stairwells.

The basic plans are in place but we are waiting for the drawings, building codes, and engineering specifications from the architect to finalize the plans and budget. We expect the materials to be approximately $150,000, with us providing the bulk of the labour. There is $112,000 in place, so more funds are still needed. We are excited about this project and think you will be too. If you would like to help by donating labour or materials, please contact Wes or Kendall.

Student Missions Trips

Each year our Freshman and Junior classes spend the last 2 weeks of January on missions trips within Canada. This year our Juniors plan to head for Vancouver on January 21 and our Freshmen will disperse to points in Saskatchewan on January 25. The goal of these trips is to expose students to a variety of established ministries and to promote in the students’ hearts a Christ-like compassion for people.

Laura Thiessen, a student from last year's Vancouver trip, said, "I learned that stats about other cultures are more than stats—there is a person behind each number. It kind of blew up a few stereotypes. It was cool to see different ways you can get involved in serving inner city people."

The students will be working with groups like Gleaners, Union Gospel Mission, MCC, Mission Possible, Urban Promise, and Power to Change. Joanne Anderson — Manager, Volunteer Resources at UGM in Vancouver — said last year that she had heard nothing but positive reports about NBC’s students from UGM’s site supervisors. They said things like, “They came prepared to serve,” and, “Their sharing times in chapel were effective.” We are vey pleased to hear positive reports like these from both the students and their supervisors.

Nikki Lobert, the Volunteer Resources Coordinator at UGM, was pleased with the work and attitude of NBC’s students. She said:

The Nipawin students were genuine and their passion for God and His children was evident. We are happy to have Nipawin Groups come in as they come ready and willing to serve wherever we needed. They were informed of what they would be doing ahead of time which helped them come prepared and therefore ready to minister to our guests whether that be practically in our Thrift Store, spiritually in the Chapel Service or relationally through Streetlight Ministries. The students showed a maturity and understanding;  they were inquisitive, attentive and communicated very well with the community we serve.  The students spoke very well as they led chapel services and interacted well with guests. We hope it opened their eyes to the needs of the poor in Vancouver, and they would continue to partner with our guests through prayer as they recall events and experiences that God put them in. Also, we hope their experience with us here in Vancouver encourages and inspires them to look for people in need in their own communities as there are hurting people all over the world.

Our first-year class will be divided into 4 groups, and each group will spend one-and-a-half weeks at either Big River, Kinistin, Meadow Lake, or Regina. Kurt Klassen, one of the students who went to Regina last year, said: “It was good. It was lots of just serving in the community. We worked in a soup kitchen, cleaned up at the men’s shelter, sorted out things at the food bank, and read to kids at the school.” Again, the ministry supervisors were pleased with the effort and enthusiasm the students brought to their work.

Bob Lydiate from Healing Hearts Ministry worked closely with the freshmen in Regina. Bob shared his goals for the students: "I hope that they were made aware of the existence other people live in. I hope their eyes were opened to things that … they couldn’t cope with without God. I hope they learned greater dependence on God."

Jason Boucher, director of Big River Bible Camp, was glad to have our students bring an infusion of energy to his ministry and fill gaps by teaching Sunday School, teaching religion classes in the local school, and helping lead the youth group. Jason tried to open the students’ eyes to ministry opportunities. He said, "There is a need to be missionaries in your own backyard. Whatever your vocation, you can be a missionary. Missions isn’t all scary. Sometimes you are called out of your comfort zone, but sometimes it’s really fun.

Our students are looking forward to their ministry trips again this year, and we expect they will have another time of growth and service.