Spokes Fall 2007 Issue - Emmanuel Bible College

100 Fergus Ave., Kitchener ON N2A 2H2
Em: admin@ebcollege.on.ca / Ph: 519-894-8900 / Fx: 519-894-5331
PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THE FINAL DAYS OF CONSTRUCTION
EVERYDAY LIFE TO
RAISE $$ FOR
EBC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION!!
$$
Summer 2007
A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of EBC
Imagine raising money for EBC Alumni Projects by doing your regular grocery and gas shopping, furnishing your home, or even by eating out!!
NEW BUILDING NAMED AFTER J. Harold Sherk
Just as parents of Christian-school students have been doing for years, we as alumni can now do for EBC. Through shopandsupport.ca, we can buy certificates for
grocery stores, gas stations, furniture stores, restaurants, and more. Up to 15% of each purchase is instantly contributed to the EBC Alumni Association. A weekly
grocery certificate for $100 could earn up to $240 a year to help the Alumni help students!
Visit our website www.ebcollege.on.ca for more details and to sign up. The group I.D. number you will need to get started is 100554826. Please register today!!!
WINTER COURSES 2008
.
J.H. Sherk Education Centre
Since 1995 we have been playing
Hockey in memory of Cam Howie
.
14th Annual Cam Howie Memorial
Hockey Tournament @ Rim Park on
.
February 29th and March 1st, 2008
.
We are looking for both Recreational
and Competitive Teams for this year's
Tournament.
.
For more info please contact
Ryan Erb (ext.254)
.
All proceeds from the Cam Howie Hockey
Tournament go into the EBC Alumni Scholarships
& Projects Fund to assist current & future students.
GP385AA WORLD VIEW STUDIES SEMINAR
BT391BA CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES: GOD AND HUMANITY
GA240AA DOCUMENTING JUSTICE
BN112AA NEW TESTAMENT II
BN362AA APOCALYPTIC STUDIES: REVELATION AND THE MANDATE OF THE CHURCH
GH250AA HISTORY OF MISSIONS
BT432AA THEOLOGY SEMINAR
GS211BA SOCIAL ISSUES
BT210AA INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
CM391DA URBAN MINISTRY
ED241AA MINISTRY TO CHILDREN
BO112AA OLD TESTAMENT II
GS212AA GROUP DYNAMICS
CM333AA HOMILETICS II
CM228AA TEAM LEADERSHIP
BI210AA INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT
ED220AA EDUCATION IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
GR311AA WORLD RELIGIONS
GH211AA INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH HISTORY
GL242AA NEW TESTAMENT GREEK II
CM323AA INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
WM121AA CONTEMPORARY EVANGELISM
CM284AA EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP OF YOUTH
GS310AA ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND ADMINISTRATION
BO221AA THE MEANING OF SACRIFICE
GK211AA SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY
CM111AA SPIRITUAL FORMATION
GL111AA ACADEMIC WRITING
CM286AA CRITICAL ISSUES IN YOUTH MINISTRY II
BN222CA GOSPEL STUDIES: JESUS, MIRACLES AND THE MODERN CHRUCH
CM222AA COUNSELLING SKILLS
PS391AA PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY
GH231AA CHRISTIAN WORSHIP THROUGH THE CENTURIES
(Dec. 20, 1903 - Feb. 28, 1974)
Emmanuel Bible College
Give today online at ebcollege.on.ca
After graduation from CEI, Harold spent two or three years as a “helper” in the
Markham area. (A helper was a sort of apprentice pastor who worked, without
pay, under the supervision of the local pastor.) Then in 1926 he was
assigned to pastor the Maryborough and Wallace congregations (now
Palmerston). Harold and Mila were married in Kitchener on October 16,
1926, and immediately drove up to Maryborough to begin their ministry
there.
After Maryborough, Harold pastored the Elmwood church (now Hanover),
and then the Ebenezer Church in Sunnidale Township, near Stayner. He
preached in at least four different places in the area, including a schoolroom
on the second floor of Eberhardt's store in Wasaga Beach. To our knowledge
it was the first outreach effort of our denomination in the Wasaga Beach area.
4
www.ebcollege.on.ca
www.ebcollege.on.ca
From 1936 to 1940 Harold pastored the Stayner Church. During the years of
World War II, when schedules and jobs changed very quickly, Harold
pastored the Aylmer church for one year (1940 - 1941) and the Markham
church for one year (1942 - 1943).
Spokes is edited by Heather Fardy, EBC Alumni, 1993.
Send comments or questions to fardy@sympatico.ca
100 Fergus Ave., Kitchener ON N2A 2H2 | Email: admin@ebcollege.on.ca | www.ebcollege.on.ca Ph: 519-894-8900
J. Harold Sherk was the oldest child of J.
Hubert and Lydia Sherk. He was born on his
father's farm in Centreville, now part of
Kitchener and not far from the present EBC
campus. The family (four boys and three girls)
was a part of Bethany Mennonite Brethren in
Christ Church in Kitchener. Hubert was a
deacon, and also was Sunday School
Superintendent for many years.
Early in life, Harold felt a call to the ministry, and also had a strong interest in
teaching. When he was an EBC staff member, he used to remark that the Lord
had made a way for him to exercise his teaching talent as well as his call to
preaching. In preparation for the ministry, Harold enrolled in the Chicago
Evangelistic Institute. At the time, CEI was favoured by the Ontario
Conference of the MBC as a place for the training of pastors and missionaries,
and several young men from Ontario studied there. Harold Sherk and Percy
(P.G.) Lehman were among that group. Most of the young men who went to
CEI from Ontario found their American brides there. Harold's bride was Mila
Senor, from West Berlin, New Jersey.
ONE-WEEK MODULAR COURSES JAN. 7 TO 11, 2008
BO226AA WISDOM LITERATURE: THE READING OF JOB
GL231AA ORAL COMMUNICATION
CM310BA PASTORAL CARE AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
| Fx: 519-894-5331
6
www.ebcollege.on.ca
- Founding Faculty Member
The various Mennonite denominations in Canada, as well as the Brethren in
Christ, were part of the Conference of Historic Peace Churches. It was
necessary for them to work out arrangements with the Canadian Government
for alternative service for young men who were conscientious objectors and
could not go to war. Many of these arrangements were assigned to Rev.J. B.
Martin of the Mennonite Church, Bishop E.J. Swalm of the Brethren in Christ,
and Rev. J. Harold Sherk of the MBC. One of the projects, which involved
many young men from Ontario, was road building in Northern Ontario.
Eventually, the road built there became part of the Trans Canada Highway. A
camp was set up at Montreal River (about 80 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie),
and several hundred young conscientious objectors were assigned there.
They needed spiritual leadership, and Harold Sherk was chosen to be their
pastor. So, for the sixteen-to-eighteen month duration of the Montreal River
project, with the exception of January, February and March in 1942, he spent
most of his time at Montreal River.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
J. Harold Sherk Article .................................................................. cover-pg 1
Alumni Updates ........................................................................... pg 1 - pg 2
Bonnie Mair Article ................................................................................ pg 3
Photographs of New Building ..................................................................pg 4
cont. from cover page.
Harold Sherk was absent from Montreal River for the first three months of
1942 because he was teaching at Emmanuel Bible School in Stouffville. He
was part of the original staff, along with Ward M. Shantz, P.G. Lehman, and
Maude Warder. This was EBC's third year of existence. In the first and
second years, Harold had travelled from his pastorate each week to be there,
first from Stayner, then from Aylmer. In the third year, the family lived in
Stouffville, thus eliminating his commute for three months. In its fourth year
EBC moved to Gormley, and Harold was pastor in Markham. When the
College moved to Kitchener the following year, Harold was a full-time
instructor for the academic year, using other projects in the summer to help
support the family. The family's next move, of course, was to Kitchener.
While World War II raged on, a devastating famine hit Bengal Province, India.
The Mennonite Central Committee already had a great and extensive ministry
there, and J. Harold Sherk took a two-year leave of absence from EBC to
minister with the MCC in India. On his return, he again took up his position at
EBC.
In 1949, Harold, Mila, and Mildred, their youngest child, left Kitchener and
moved to Akron, Pennsylvania, where Harold became a staff member in the
U.S. office of the Mennonite Central Committee. The other three children,
Iva, Harold Jr. and Arthur stayed in Ontario. Harold's job in the U.S.A. was to
help conscientious objectors with draft problems, and to present the C.O.
case in Washington D.C. Later on, Harold and Mila moved to Hyattsville,
Maryland, a suburb of Washington, where Harold was Executive Secretary of
the National Service Board for Religious Objectors. In all this time, J. Harold
Sherk remained an ordained minister of the Ontario District, and attended the
Annual Conference every year.
Note about Facebook
OK, just because a lot of us are on Facebook, doesn't mean we all are! Please
continue to send in your updates to Spokes, for those of your classmates who
aren't 'yet' on facebook!
safely stored (retrieving memories). He investigates the impact of stress and
emotions on remembering, and considers reasons why at times we lose our
memories. Harold also explores ways to improve the success of our attempts
to remember.
.
.
Look Who is Published!
.
Harold Faw (Bth ‘69)
Memory matters-for daily living and for your faith journey.
.
Having safely crossed the Jordan, the Israelites were directed to construct a
monument out of stones, taken from the waterless riverbed. This structure
would provide countless opportunities for telling their stories of deliverance.
.
You too have stories of God's interventions and they need to be told. In
Sharing Our Stories, (Harold Faw) explores fascinating dimensions of human
memory, and vital links between remembering God's deeds and learning to
trust him. He relates faith stories, and guides you along the path of recapturing and passing along your own stories of God.
In his last two years in Washington, Harold developed cardiac problems. He
retired in 1969, and he and Mila returned to Kitchener. Harold developed
polycythemia and died in hospital on February 28, 1974, less than a week
after suffering a stroke. Coincidentally, on the same day and in the same
hospital, his friend and colleague of wartime C.O. days, Rev J.B. Martin, also
died. Mila lived on, and eventually took up residence at Fairview Mennonite
Home in Cambridge, where she passed away on January 13, 1983.
.
In the book, Harold examines ways in which memory researchers have
characterized this vital ability, and takes a close look at the processes of
storing away new information (making memories) and accessing what we've
If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it
My most fond memory of EBC is when I found out I had cancer. I was met with prayer, support, love, cards, and even a small gift of money. God's love is
awesome, and it is abundant at EBC.
Since scripture urges us to remember and pass along the stories of God's
deeds, we need to be doing this regularly. Harold illustrates what this looks
like, and encourages us to adopt the pattern as our own. His explorations take
us through a range of passages, beginning in the Psalms.
Bonnie Mair has found God to be faithful in her life through
much change and many challenges. She graduated from
EBC in April 2007 with a BRE in Pastoral Studies. Bonnie
lives in Teeswater, Ontario, a little over an hour's drive from
EBC. She is married with three sons, and her family
supported her decision to follow God's call into pastoral
ministry after a successful nursing career of many years.
She owned and maintained a nursing home during the time
of her studies at EBC. She managed to do all this without a
computer or internet access. Since graduating, she has
entered the electronic age and now has an email account!
.
Sharing our Stories is due in stores this fall.
.
Since graduating from EBC, Harold studied at WLU to complete BA degree
with double majors in Math and Psychology; then moved to U of W to
complete graduate work (MA and PhD) in Psychology. He and Fern (nee
Densmore) married in 1970; they have two sons (now both married and living
in the Vancouver area. They were members at Lincoln Height church for eight
years (1970-1978), then moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia so that
Harold could take up teaching duties at Trinity Western University in 1978
(student enrolments then were 500, now in excess of 3000). Harold is still
enjoying his work at TWU, beautiful B.C. (he loves biking and hiking), and his
three grandchildren.
Bonnie grew up in the United Church, and only happened
upon EBC by accident one day while shopping in
Kitchener. Here she found a warm welcome and loving
support for her goal to pursue a new direction in life. She was pleased to
receive credit towards her degree for previous education in various settings,
and for her life experience.
by Dr. F. Arthur Sherk,
son of J. Harold Sherk and
former Board Chair for EBC
EMMANUEL BIBLE COLLEGE presents:
Alumni UPDATES:
Our Sympathy
.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Bill Page (BRE '83) and his family on the loss
of his wife, Diana. Bill and Diana were involved in a tragic accident that took
Diana's life on Saturday, Aug. 25. Bill had his one leg shattered, requiring
extensive pinning and plating.
.
Bill had been a pastor with EMCC in the past. Please pray for Bill, his family,
his church, and Bethel EMC of Lindsay ON.
.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Bryan (BTh '93) and Brent Ferguson (BRE '00)
and their family on the passing of their father, David Ferguson (1942-2007).
David was the beloved husband for 43 years to Marilyn (Alton) Ferguson. As
a loving brother, father and grandfather, he will be greatly missed. After a
year long battle with cancer, David went home to heaven!
Our deepest sympathy goes to Wanda (GBD ‘86) and Bill Johnston (BRE
‘88) on the loss of Wanda’s mother, Mildred Wideman who was killed in a car
accident in August. The Johnston’s currently serve as pastoral couple to the
Crossroads Brethren in Christ Church in Cambridge, ON.
.
Alumni Updates
.
2000's
Fane, Jenn (BRE Counselling 2005) and Jason Parke (BTh - Youth, 2005)
- married Sept 28th, 2007. Congratulations Jenn and Parker! God bless you
in your lifelong commitment.
.
McCulloch, Amanda (nee Hamm, BRE'06) was recently hired at Faith
Evangelical Missionary Church, Kitchener, as the Children and Family.
1
www.ebcollege.on.ca
She enjoyed all aspects of her time at the college, especially the chapel
services. Her favourite course was Drama & Storytelling. “I have used that
so much,” she says. During the winter months, she avoided some
'treacherous driving' by taking Distance Education courses. She found that
the commitment and discipline required for these courses was worth it, as
she could work at her own pace and schedule her assignments and tests
around her busy life and work schedule.
Ministries Director. Amanda and her husband Adam live in Kitchener. She is
in her second year of her Master of Divinity, at McMaster Divinity College.
.
Mills, Jason (BTh 2000) and Erika - email: j@jasonmills.ca, telephone:
519-584-2856 Moved to KW, Jason is teaching New Testament I & II at EBC
this fall.
.
Schmitz, Bjoern (Diploma '06) and Callie (current student) had a son,
Benjamin Courage, on June 29th, weighing 8 lb and 3 oz. A baby brother for
Caleb.
a
.
1990's
Martin, Brian (1999) and Alicia. Flew to West Africa on Sept. 3rd, working
with New Tribes Mission as missionaries. They have two young children,
Haley and Jordan. Address: (letters and small packages only) Mission
Evangelique de Boke, Brian and Alicia Martin, B.P. 438 Conakry, Republic of
Guinea Conakry, West Africa. brianandalicia@ntmc.ca Pray for them in the
next three months, as it will be a time of great transition and learning. They
praise God for His faithfulness.
S
on
aviour
S
a
Admission (Tax not included)
Adult:
$30.00 (Advance)
$35.00 (Door)
Student: $10.00
Child : $ 5.00
Group: $25.00 (Advance)
Family: $75.00
“However,” Bonnie says, “my most fond memory of EBC is
when I found out I had cancer. I was just about to start my
internship, so called to postpone it for a while. I was met
with prayer, support, love, cards, and even a small gift of
money from a professor 'to get myself something I wanted'.
God's love is awesome, and it is abundant at EBC.” She
rejoices that God has carried her through her struggle with
cancer and that she has been a cancer survivor for two
years now.
While waiting once again on God's timing and His leading,
she ministers in her home church, Chalmers Community
(Congregational Christian Churches of Canada) near
Kincardine. “On occasion, they give me the opportunity to
use my education to preach the word of God. I am always
growing there, just as I grew at EBC.” She is also involved in youth work, on
the church board, and working with 'care partners' doing palliative care.
During the months of September and October she will act as interim pastor at
a small Presbyterian church near her home. Her long-term goals are to
pastor in a rural setting, and to be ordained.
Bonnie's advice for success in studies and in life is
this: “Listen to the call of God on your life. When you
decide to follow, be extremely and seriously
committed and disciplined. Do your work, and He
will help you. If He brings you to it, He will bring you
through it.”
by Carol Blake
Director of Distance Education
Distance Education at EBC
Call Nancy at:
519-894-8900 ext 226
Another way to achieve your goals-Your attitude is the key to success
November 23 and 24th, 7:30pm.
A Christmas Celebration Featuring
Christmas Carol Singing, Drama,
Music and Candle Light
.
1980's
Elliott, David (1986) and Marian are celebrating the arrival of their grandson,
William Ian born March 14, 2007. Parents Daniel and Jennifer, and sister
Tameika are happy with the new addition to the family, as well. Please
remember Marian and her family in prayers concerning the loss of her father
Wilfred Grieve, who passed away March 2007.
David has had the
opportunity to travel for meetings and missions, from Thailand to Kenya.
dmelliott@rogers.com.
“Life and work did not have to come to a halt. I could move forward with everything in my life,
including an education and not feel the load was too great.” – Bonnie Mai
DE offers:
Location: “The Gig” - 107-30 Duke St. North, Kitchener
Free Will Offering
Flexibility in location, course length, & due dates
Discounts for group study
Assistance in course planning, regular encouragement contacts
Course of the Month Discounts
33 courses to choose from
.
Learn more by visiting the DE page on the EBC website www.ebcollege.on.ca
Simply download an application form, submit it with payment, and you can start any time of year
Reifel, Elmer (BTh '85) let us know that his father, Rev. Arthur Reifel, died in
his home on Aug 30, 2007, at the age of 84. Our sympathies to Elmer and
Joann (GBD ‘85), and Connie (Reifel) Whetstone (’68), and whole family.
Location: Emmanuel Bible College
2
www.ebcollege.on.ca
3
www.ebcollege.on.ca