NEW BIBLE SCHOOL PLANNED FOR WINKLER

Winkler, Man.

Participants in an open community meeting in August passed a motion to establish a school, and elected a seven-member provisional board to proceed with plans to that end.

The concept of the new institution has been taking shape under the leadership of a steering committee elected at an open meeting last spring, and was presented to the August gathering.

The school will be non-denominational and community-based. The vision is to provide two one-year programs (possibly stand-alone programs) with an emphasis on Bible teaching and ministry. The focus will be more on spiritual growth than academics, somewhat after the Capernwray model.

A start-up fund has been established, and a January 1988 meeting will ratify a Board of Directors. This Board will take over all aspects of establishing and running the school.

The location has not yet been determined. Both the Winkler Bible Camp and the former Winkler Bible School present possibilities, though no agreement has been reached with the Manitoba MB Conference, owners of the WBI facility.

In a telephone conversation Arnie Neufeld, pastor of Grace Mennonite Church (Bergthaler), and member of the Steering Committee, explains the impetus for the new school. The Southern Manitoba area has a large number of growing churches with many young people, he says, who would benefit from spiritual training without having to leave the community. The institution would also serve as a unifying force for the churches of the area.

Although the program curriculum would have to be fairly narrowly prescribed because of costs, Neufeld says it could be supplemented through evening classes and weekend seminars of continuing education interest to the wider community.

The initiative for the school has come from individuals rather than congregations, but those involved represent several Mennonite denominations as well as non-Mennonite churches in the area. Members of the provisional board come from Elm Creek, Winkler, Manitou, Carman and Wawanesa.

DDueck

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