Welcome aboard

It is a great to have a constancy in life. We all like things to be stable. This is especially true when that which is changing has been there for a long time. But change is or can be very good. Readers know we made some major staff changes this summer. Coming into the Fall term I have already announced the new dean of men. Troy Goodman has settled in, painted his new office and will be on hand Monday.

It with great pleasure that I am now able to announce the replacement for the registrars position. Mark Tubbs will join us in this important position. Mark will bring his own fingerprints to this position, not replacing Mrs B or Lenin but rather making it his own “mark” with the people making inquiries at the college.  Mark will blend the recruiting aspects of Lenin’s position and the administrative side of Mrs. B. It will be interesting to see the affect this change makes.

Endang joined us last summer and has been great in the business office. But love has prevailed and she is returning to Indonesia to marry Kolin. As a result we sought a suitable replacement and believe we have found just that in the person of Jennifer. A recent grad from UBC, she comes with kknowledge, experience and most importantly a love for God. She knows her finances and she knows her God.

We owe a debt to the B’s, Lenin, and to Endang. We will miss them and pray for them as their life takes this turn. We also look forward to the arrival of the new faces. The team is strong, we are excited and know that God is firmly in control!

A caring community

Each year the students who have reached the end of their program of study give a gift to the college. Over the years these gifts have covered a range of items. Pictures, games, books for the library have all been given to the betterment of the college.

At the end this last term during the commencement ceremony I was given an envelope with this years gift. It was money towards the purchase of a new computer for the library. We have six computers in there for the use of the students during the term and it is usually very well used. All things in life grow older and that is very true with computers. With this new unit all the students will benefit.

This gift shows the care the students have for each other. The remaining students and the new incoming students will find an aid to help them in their studies. Thank you to the Graduating class of Spring 2009.

OBTW

We still need to replace other computers in the library as well. If anyone out there reading this are interested in sponsoring a new machine contact our office at 1-888-999-2364. It takes $500.00 CDN to secure a new machine.

A welcome change

It has been hot, not hot as in Arizona or the deserts of Iraq but hot for the lower mainland. The streak seems to be over and rain is even in the forecast for later in the month. It has been a welcome change for the sounds of the AC units in the neighborhood have started to get on my nerves. It is not envy, i spent enough time in AirCon country to know I don’t like the artificial environment it creates. While in Jamaica, we learned to deal with the heat the way the local folks did. we worked during the morning and afternoon but left the heat of the day to the tourists!

Another reason I am glad the heat has broken is the start of the new term is drawing near and the task of enticing students to study in stifling heat was not a pleasant thought. Soon the sounds of the fans will be replaced with another, that of exciting chatter. Many of you may remember that first week you were in school. It all seemed new and perhaps a bit overwhelming. Soon though they will settle in and allow the work of the Holy Spirit to begin. His desire is to shape and mold these willing hearts to serve Him in the great call.

The staff is once again complete and as a team we are looking forward to meeting the new students, renewing friendships with the returning ones and together seeking all that God has in store for us.

Great humor

It is with heavy hearts

No, that sounds too serious. It is bitter sweet to say goodbye today to two co-workers who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us for so many years.

Grant’s contributions are countless from the wise counsel given to the students to the care he shows for the physical building.  Time will reveal just all that he did for us. He is going to have a whole new community to influence. The folks of Cherryville will enjoy his wit and the stories he will have to tell. But as he tells the story he is also teaching as Christ taught. The starting point for Jesus was a listening ear to what the Father had to say. So it will be a prayerful and careful presentation from the new shepherd.

Janyce has had her fingers in so many of the operations here at the college that her finger prints will be surfacing for a long time. First hired way back 90-91 as administrative assistant she helped to develop just about every department in one way or another. Of course it was as Registrar that her greatest influence was felt. Each student in the last 10 years have dealt with her, often before anyone else. Her voice became the voice of answer to many of the first questions asked by inquiring students.

We can put a body in the position to cover the tasks but we are not replacing Grant and janyce, because no one can.

Blessings to the “B’s” as they depart for Cherryville.  God’sgrace and strength be your portion.

Welcome aboard

It is a privilege to announce that the new Dean of Men has been chosen. He is not a stranger but is well known to our current students.

Troy Goodman has joined us as a full time faculty member beginning this Fall 09 term. He will teach several courses as well as begin to pastor the men of the school as the Dean of Men.  He will have a “official” CFN email shortly. Please drop him a note of welcome so that his mailbox is full when he take up his office. That email address will be troy@cfnc.ca

Welcome Troy!

The way forward

One of the things I have really enjoyed about being with the college is the team of people I work with. It is a joy to know them as brothers and sisters in Christ and to see the heart they put into training the next wave of workers for the Kingdom.

One of these brothers has been trying to make the jump into the RCMP force. He has received his call up notice and will be leaving mid July to join the other brave souls who serve Canada as Mounties. We will miss him but know that the purposes of God are higher then ours.  Good luck Lenin as you lead in this new endeavor.

Everyone who has any contact with CFN over the last 12 years know the B’s. This couple has served the body of Christ through CFN in teaching, mentoring, training, and just plain service. I could not even begin to list their input over these past years. If you know Grant and Janyce, you know they have a heart for the people of God. To honor that heart’s call, Grant and Janyce are leaving the college to return to the pastorate.

It is bittersweet to see these departures. Bitter because as selfish people we want to keep our family and friends close. Sweet because we know they are following God’s direction and others will be blessed by their lives as we have.

We pray for their ministries as they yeild themselves to God’s Holy Spirit. May He guide them, teach them, protect them, and bless them beyond measure.

Where oh Where has it gone

I am looking for the month of June. Has anyone seen it? I lost it along the way during weekend visits to Tim’s, holiday early  and parental visits late. I guess I have seen the last week of June 2009.

I am shocked how a whole month can disappear into thin air. Has anyone else ever had this problem? My daughter blames twitter for stealing her blog desire but my lack of twitter posts reveal that it would be a lame excuse indeed. I guess I can bleame facebook, but excuses are not the answer. I just have to face the fact that I lead a boring life. Not really boring (to me anyway) just normal. I am not a spiritual giant that has “voice from on high” revelations to pass along. I am not an expert on current events or living an extreme life of any kind.

I am just me and I am just lazy busy and did not take the time to put my wonderful thoughts onto cyber paper. I could never keep a journal or diary either.

At least my dog supports me. She thinks I am the bee’s knees! (you know-neato, cool, spiffy)

Time marches on.

May has been a blur and June is less than one week away. Wow has the time flown by. When last I posted I brought my (small) world up to date on Tim’s accident and injuries. He is back in Seattle, convalescing at home. He is able to move around on crutches and work a bit on projects for his clients.  We have begun to understand the extent of Tim’s recovery period. It has been three full weeks since the call and not a day goes by that I don’t realize how blessed we are to still have him. It will be a long road but he does not walk it alone. We met he and Rachel’s minister yesterday. They attend a small church located in Fremont. The abbess came by to pray for Tim’s recovery. It was fun to witness her support of them and to see her anoint his injuries with oil as she prayed from the Book of Common Prayer. Quite the blending of the old with the freedom of the Spirit.

God is good and we serve Him willingly. Trust and rest, these are the words we march too this summer.

Shalom

Where do I start?

The school year ended, we had a few days of summer (enough to plant flowers and put down a new paver walk to the front of the house) and now the rain has come with a vengeance. But the big news came last Monday morning. We received a call about an accident and the short story is that Sue has been in the LA area every since. She is being mom to our son and daughter(-in-law) while recovery is taking place.

This is one of those events that will mark our lives for a long time. we will remember 2009 as the year we became grandparents for the first time. But we will also remember it for the events of “May.” Time will tell how long May will last this year. Full recovery is on the horizon, lest my few readers worry but it is a distant place at this point.

When my oldest son and daughter(-in-law) were in a roll over years ago our family learned a valuable lesson about car insurance. Another couple is learning that lesson right now. All of you should consider the company you keep and I don’t just mean your friends. Read the fine print!

The Word of God is my comfort in all I face. This morning was no exception.

Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.

How is that for fine print!

Be blessed,

Gerald