Alumni Newsletter

February 2013

Greetings Alumni!

I hope you've all had happy New Years and wonderful Christmases filled with joy, family, and reflection upon the birth of our Saviour!

For myself, it was my first Christmas that I've experienced as a father!  It's interesting how perspectives change depending on what season of life you find yourself in...  I had been listening to a Christian radio station in Saskatoon, and the lyrics spoke of Mary looking at baby Jesus' hands and realizing that these were the same hands that formed the world and created humanity.  My daughter's hands are still very small, but to know that Jesus was a baby just like her, and yet at the same time was fully God, the same God who created the entire world and everything in it… including me! He is amazing!

I had the privilege of seeing many of you at this year's Alumni Weekend in the end of November, but for those of you who weren't able to make it, I'd like to quickly recap the weekend.  It was great! Besides our annual soccer tournament and hockey game, we had a “favorite duos and trios” theme at Obah night, our first “Amazing Race” event, and all the three President’s representing the last 50??? years of leadership at NBC: Mr. Jake Rempel, Mr. Mark Leppington, and Mr. Wes Fehr! It was great to catch up with them, and with the numerous other alumni that were present.

Another highlight (for some) was when I took a pie in the face for the first time in my life. I was very surprised to find out how much it burns the eyes!  It was all worth it though, as between the Silent Auction, Presidential Pie Challenge, the offering, and various gifts, we were able to raise over $11,000 for the school! Praise God!  These proceeds will go towards this year’s alumni projects: wireless microphone headsets for the tour team and school functions, and a new roof for the Education Center which was in need of repair.  Thank you to all who gave so generously!

One of the highlights of the weekend was the dedication of the Leppington Student Center!  For those of you who haven't seen it yet, it's a great facility located above the foyer area of Rempel Auditorium.  There's a couple offices, a coffee house, a viewing area overlooking the gym, plenty of seating for students and visitors, and even a balcony for 'studying'.  Being an engineer, one of my personal highlights was thoroughly testing the lounge's engineering design and load capacity as we had our Praise 'n Prayer, U R Us meeting, and the Sunday morning service in the lounge with up to 250 people attending!  I'm happy to say that there didn't appear to be any excess stress on the structure!

We know in our Christian lives that inactivity and stagnation bring deterioration, and I believe the same could be said for schools.  NBC, however, is far from stagnant!  It's great to see how NBC is continually growing and changing as it continues to “Hold Forth the Word of Life” into the world through its students, staff, alumni.

May God bless you fully as you continue to walk with Him throughout 2013.

 

Ryan Jansen

Alumni Exec President

 

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” -- John 7:38