"Through God's eyes": WBI

Winkler, Man.

Winkler Bible Institute held its opening celebration Sept. 15 together with family, alumni, friends and its 40 full-time students.

This special occasion was opened by the WBI Chorale, joined later by an all-school choir led by Arlene Kroeker.

First-year student Daphne J. Cunningham and second-year student Joel Toews shared their testimonies and feelings about being led to WBI and how they are looking forward to being challenged in a new school year.

Walter Hiebert, board member, encouraged the students in their decision to attend a Bible school and welcomed them to "university"--a place where there is unity in the diversity of life through theology and the study of God's Word.

Canadian MB Conference Minister Reuben Pauls challenged the students to see the world "Through God's Eyes". Students later had an opportunity to experience the theme "through God's eyes" as they participated in Urban Plunge in Winnipeg and Chicago in early October.

New faculty/staff members joining the team at WBI this year include Jamie Rogalsky, dean of men/sports director; Lisa Kutz, teaching interpersonal relationship skills; Shannon Unger, part-time music theory/voice teacher; and Garry Thiessen, men's resident intern.

WBI's target is to train students in lay ministry. Its mandate states, "We see students as 'tent-makers'; people who live their faith at work and serve in the church as volunteers." 

Enrollment
                                     1996-97      1995-96
Mennonite Brethren                     26            45
Other Mennonite denominations	       10            11
Other denominations                     3             7
No Church Affiliation			1             1
Total                                  40            64
Of this year's students, 23 are female, 17 are male. Twenty-three are from Manitoba, seven from Ontario, five from B.C., three from Saskatchewan and two from outside Canada.

from WBI release

SIDEBAR

Low enrollment raises questions

Winkler Bible Institute's 1996 enrollment of 40 full-time students and 1 part-time is a significant drop from last year's enrollment of 64 full-time students and 1 part-time. It is also well below the benchmark set for the school at the 1994 Manitoba convention. The enrollment criteria approved at that convention required that Winkler achieve an enrollment of 55 in 1994, 65 in 1995 and 75 in 1996 in order for the school to stay open. The approved recommendation from the Committee of Reference and Counsel also called for a reduced Conference subsidy to WBI, $190,000 in 1996, down from $225,000 in 1994. The recommendation stated that if the benchmarks are not reached in the second or third year, "the school may be closed the following year". Thus, the future of WBI is unclear.

KH

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