The end of an era

WINKLER, MAN.

Emotions ran high the weekend of April 19-20 when Winkler Bible Institute graduated its last class and closed the school. Sixteen students graduated with majors in biblical studies, contemporary ministries, missions, music and from "The Christian & Society Major".

At the graduation ceremony on Saturday evening, Neil Block, pastor of Winkler MB Church, gave a message entitled "Through God's Eyes". He stated that the evening was "an occasion of hope amidst confusion". He challenged the students to see life through God's eyes. First, they should see themselves through God's eyes, as chosen, holy, loved, forgiven and forgiving (Colossians 3:12-13); then, they see others through God's eyes: recognizing the needs of the masses and reaching out to individuals; finally, they should see God through God's eyes, as faithful. Graduates of other schools, Block said, are encouraged to follow their dreams; graduates of Christian institutions are encouraged to follow Christ. He urged the students to leave WBI as trailblazers for God.

Paul Kroeker, president of WBI, stated that what students had learned at the school was how to live; therefore this was not a time of finishing, but rather a starting point. He also asked the congregation to continue investing in the lives of students. "Investment in changed lives is more rewarding than investing in Bre-X."

Remembering

Sunday afternoon was a time of reminiscing for many former students of WBI. A quartet from 1957 sang, and H.R. Baerg, president of WBI from 1969 to 1978, talked about the years that he was involved with the school. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, he said, "we have come, not to bury WBI, but to praise the school" and "the evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones". He also apologized for being "quite contrary to romancing at WBI". Baerg became president of WBI in 1969 when the school was at its lowest ebb for many decades. He came to "salvage the school" and was given three years to bring up the enrollment. During his tenure, the school grew from 45 students to 138 full-time and 24 part-time students.

Eldon DeFehr, who was president from 1987 to 1994, talked about meeting faculty now who were his students some years ago. He indicated that WBI was a place for dreams and a place to meet God. He then went on to talk about the dreams of past presidents and how they were fulfilled. He also mentioned that WBI was a place for growth for both students and staff.

Paul Kroeker, the present president, complimented the present board, saying that they were godly people, committed to WBI and wanting to discern what was best for the school. He also indicated that there was still a great need for what this place represented. Kroeker recently showed guests around the school; their conclusion was that the best use of the facilities was as a Bible school.

Kroeker then went on to recount a recent chapel service with a potter. The potter had created a beautiful pot on his wheel. However, he had had no need for the pot at present so had squished the clay and put it back with the unused clay in the bag. When he was asked about this, the potter had replied that the clay had to set a little while for the texture to again become right for it to be used. Kroeker used that as an analogy for what WBI needs to experience; that perhaps it needs to set awhile, but then it will again be useful.

Vic Neufeld, president from 1978 to 1987, paid tribute to the boards which had served the school, and the many donors who were willing to be approached when needs for beds, paving or a bus arose.

Celebration

The Sunday evening service was one of celebration. Music groups from past eras were called upon to contribute to the worship service. John Wiens, chair of the WBI board, cited Philippians 1:6, thanked the constituency for support in the past and encouraged an offering that would enable the school "to finish strong".

The highlight of the evening was an interview with past presidents and students. Each of them was asked to recount one incident in which they had seen God at work at WBI. Bettie Goossen represented her late husband John, who was at the school for 30 years. She had observed the building of the facility and the important papers being placed in the cornerstone, as well as the transition from German to English. She reminisced that John had never been one to be able to throw out a book, and when this transition happened, it also meant that the library had to be updated. The German books found their way into his library at that time. Just recently, they were sent to a library in Mexico, and thus still are useful.

Frank Friesen, although never a president at the school, represented the second year of operation for WBI. He had been in a class consisting of four boys and two girls, and he spent three years there. He called those years "a turning point in my life". But, he also "thought heaven would fall

in if they started in English!" Friesen went on to serve in many different capacities in churches and in the conference, including starting the Morden MB Church in 1930.

Victor Neufeld talked about the adjustments students had to make when coming to Bible school, and how having only a two-year program meant that second-year students were pushed into leadership very quickly.

Eldon DeFehr appreciated his colleagues who prayed together, strategized together, but were also able to laugh together. He also related an incident when he was on a deputation tour in B.C. with a singing group. They had taken time off to spend at the Harrison Hot Springs mineral pool. Suddenly one of the singers gave the pitch, and the group started to sing "contemporary

music" in four-part harmony.

Then it was again H.R. Baerg's turn. He suggested the people on the platform might wish to sit down because he was known to use more than his alloted time. He again talked about the watershed year of 1969, when the Manitoba Conference talked about closing the school. Baerg was not for closing, so he was told, "Then you be principal". He thought and prayed about it and then decided, "If a man can walk on the moon, I can be principal of WBI." (Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, July 16, 1969.) During that time there were merger talks with Elim Bible School, the General Conference Mennonite Church school in Altona. Elim wanted a 50/50 split between GCs and MBs but Baerg was not content with that and so said "No." That year, WBI had 70 students, and, during Baerg's tenure the school had its highest enrollment ever. He, too, gave credit to the students who had come through the school and had changed and matured, taking their places in the church and conference.

Although Baerg had talked about the demise of the school, and about being at a funeral, he also encouraged the congregation that God can bring beauty out of ashes.

The evening ended with the reciting of the Lord's Prayer. Former students were invited to take a flower from the arrangements at the front of the auditorium as a memento of their time spent at WBI.

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