CLBI will begin year with 70 students
By Dan Jensen

It's shaping up to be another exciting year at Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute.

"We have another terrific group of students who are coming," said CLBI president Harold Rust last week.

Total student enrolment, as of August 25, was 70.

"Seventy is a number we always aim for," said Rust.

"We find it an ideal total for the facilities that we are able to offer."

While most of the students will be from the four western provinces, there will also be some from the United States and Switzerland.

"We have been pretty successful in getting students from Switzerland over the last few years," said CLBI director of admissions Darby Murphy.

"One of the Swiss students is the daughter of an alumnus."

CLBI's opening convocation will be held at Grace Lutheran Church this Saturday, starting at 7 p.m.

Orientation

The students will spend a few days in orientation before embarking September 6 on an three-day outdoor education program that is designed to stretch them both in a physical and spiritual sense.

"It helps to build a sense of community and trust amongst the students," said Murphy.

"The program forces them to rely on God and his provisions."

Most of the leadership for  CLBI's outdoor program is provided by second-year students.

"The role of the second-year students is to be servants to the first-years," said Murphy.
Foundations

CLBI will again be offering the Foundations program, which will give eight male students the chance to take classes on discipleship in a rustic outdoor setting at Mountain Valley Ranch and Wilderness Ranch Camp, near Pincher Creek.

"The classrooms, for the most part, are in the kitchen or living room of a log home," said Rust.

"They will have the chance to address their struggles and develop their character."

Second year students will have the opportunity to spend the month of January on mission assignments in developing countries around the world.

"They will be working in teams of three or four," said Rust.

"They'll be doing everything from construction work and street evangelism to teaching English."

Students who have been involved in the cross cultural program in the past have returned to their homes with a greater sense of compassion for the poor and underprivileged.

"Seeing first-hand how Christ is lived out  in different cultures is a vital aspect of exploring our faith," said former student Neil Kroeger, who went to Sri Lanka.

"It was revealed to me the breadth of life outside of my Christian experiences in Canada. As followers of Christ we are called out and sent out."

Discipleship

CLBI's one-year discipleship certificate program offers 33 credits in the areas of biblical studies, Christian living, church history, biblical and doctrinal theology, mission and communication, and practical ministries. According to the CLBI catalogue, many students attend the one-year discipleship program to gain a biblical foundation for life and then continue on to other university or career studies.

"For many students, the one-year program assists them in determining God's direction for life," it states. "Great benefits are gained by living in a Christian community and the wide array of experiences in which students have an opportunity to take part."

The two-year Christian leadership diploma program provides instruction in the areas of biblical studies, Christian living, church history, biblical and doctrinal theology, leadership, development, mission and communications, and practical ministries.

"The focus of the second-year program is on leadership," said Rust.

"We give them every opportunity we can to try various aspects of leadership experience: what it means to lead others through servanthood."

Students take classes in one-week modules that are taught by guest instructors.

"Some of the weeks the students are all together with one instructor and some of the weeks they are divided into first and second years," said Murphy.

CLBI students are encouraged to do community service and outreach.

"We don't want them to be isolated," said Rust. "We want them to be involved and make their faith active. Give their faith a practical experience in the community."

LOL event

CLBI's first Live Out Loud (LOL) event in the community will be September 24, starting at 7 p.m., at CLBI.

"The events are for anyone from Grade 7 up to post-secondary," said Murphy.

"They're just a time of worship, bible studies, fun and games, and food.

"Our turnout last year for these events was between 80 and 120."

The theme of the LOL event will be Refined, based on the biblical passage from Zachariah, chapter 13 verse nine.

Fixings

CLBI is running a more energy efficient operation.

"We replaced the furnaces, air conditioning and boilers and put a new gabled roof on the administration building, and saw real positive energy savings," said Rust.