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Heidebrecht, a 1970 graduate of MBBS, is pastor of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford. He drew from the biblical stories of Elijah and Elisha as he spoke to 10 Master of Divinity and 14 Master of Arts candidates, including his son, Bob, who received a Master of Divinity in Youth and Family Ministries.
"We who are called to serve God, women and men alike, are called to be disciples," Heidebrecht said. "Discipleship is a character calling where we forever are practicing at the feet of Jesus through His Spirit."
"We are pilgrims who are on a journey," he added. "The journey has been outlined by God. It takes all of God's grace and all His power to live it."
From the story of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha in 2 Kings 18, Heidebrecht drew several principles for the graduates:
1. Celebrate the call to ministry. Elisha was working the fields with 12 yoke of oxen when Elijah came along and threw his cloak around him.
"Imagine you're out there in a church, sitting and counseling, teaching a Sunday School class, and someone, somewhere, someplace and at sometime throws his or her cloak around your shoulders, saying, 'We see in you a person who is called to serve.' There is some kind of electricity at that point that one can never, never forget."
2. Serve with joy. Heidebrecht said Elisha, when chosen by Elijah, called together his friends, "turned the oxen into Arch Deluxe burgers, and celebrated." Roman Catholics, he added, once felt it necessary during ordination services to see evidence of the candidate's joy.
3. Anticipate the journey. As Elisha repeatedly refused to be left behind by Elijah, but clung to him, persons in ministry should find mentors at least 10 years older than themselves and seek them for counsel and prayer.
"I have a mentor who is 76 years old," Heidebrecht said. "He speaks into my life and prays up a storm."
4. Participate in the very works of God. In John 14, Jesus told his disciples "greater works than these shall you do." "Don't get sidetracked," he said. "Be involved in the works of Christ."
5. Pick up the mantle. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, and was promised that if he saw Elijah whisked away to heaven, his request would be answered. After it happened and Elijah's mantle fell to the ground, Elisha still had to make the choice to pick it up.
"I believe today there is a tremendous need for women and men to pick up the mantle in churches," Heidebrecht said. "To not be afraid to make the changes necessary. To be on the front edge of ministry. To be willing to risk all to do what God asks."
Like Michelangelo, who once told a prelate he was "chipping away at the marble until the image (of David) emerges," the Lord tells Christians and leaders that He will chip away at them until His image appears.
The class of 1996 had several unique features. Two husband-wife teams graduated together, Murray and Rosalyn Thiessen of Jordan Station, Ont. and Andres and Amy Zorilla of St. Davids, PA. For the first time in the school's history, a father-daughter team graduated together, as Phil Plett of Olathe, KS received his Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries and his daughter Lisa received her M.A. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. The class was represented by seven denominations and five nations (US, Canada, Germany, Singapore and Japan). Eleven of the graduates are entering senior or associate pastor positions, nine are going into counseling, one is a prison chaplain, two will teach and one is in agribusiness.
Sylvia Klauser of Gottmadingen, Germany, and Sam Kuna of Singapore were chosen by their classmates to deliver senior response messages.
Klauser spoke about the determination and team spirit she and her classmates learned as they went through MBBS. She challenged the class to seek wisdom after the manner of Solomon.
Kuna told a story illustrating the point that in order to change the world, one must first change his/her self. He quoted 2 Cor. 5:17 and said "If there is one person who has kept me going, it is Jesus Christ."
Canadian graduates receiving a Master of Divinity degree were John Neufeld, Rob Reimer and Faith Wiebe, all of Winnipeg.
Canadians receiving the Master of Arts degree were James Dunn of High Prairie, Alta.; Murray and Rosalyn Thiessen of Jordan Station, Ont.; and John Walker of Winnipeg.
Kent Gaston, MBBS
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