President's Message

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment." 1Timothy 6:6

Shortly after college, in an accountability relationship, I memorized 1 Timothy 6:6. This is a passage of priorities-a statement about what matters most. It has become a prayer for my life and a prayer for others; a prayer that we might find ourselves compelled to wrestle with what matters most.

Briercrest College and Seminary offers students, from high school to graduate studies, the opportunity to build important foundations for life. Our mission highlights the value we offer our students and the church. Out of honour to our Lord, we urge students to seek the kingdom of God in this life, to embrace the word of God with obedience, and to be trained up for lives of service.

We intend to call each other to the Lord and our need to align our lives with his will. The kingdom of our Lord is the "jewel in the field" (Matthew 13:44) and, as we discover it, we come to recognize that our relationship to the King is worth everything we are and have. It is far too easy to forget what has been learned about this life through history, to ignore the voice of God, and to live without attending to the importance of knowing and living the will of God.

Inevitably, each of us needs the Saviour to confront us with our loves and the decisions we must face if we truly wish to find life. Like the rich young ruler, it will require that we release our hold on this world and pursue that which will give life (Matthew 19:21).

My prayer is to see our students prepared with a foundation adequate for the pace of change that will continue in our lifetime-to see our students engaged in a wide variety of contexts where they can complete everything the Lord intends for their lives; to see our students bring a depth of resource to communities with impossible questions and amazing potential.

What I love about this learning community where I have been a participant for the past 20 years is the people and their commitment to seeking God. This is a community that has intentionally set out to gather around the word of God and to submit to its call on our lives. This is a community that has coveted to wrestle with the human story and how we think and frame our understanding. This is a community that lives in relationship and invites fellow learners to sharpen our character. This is a community where thinking translates into action as we serve our Lord and his church.

This type of education has changed my life. I confronted questions I needed to answer, I was encouraged to explore how God is at work in this world, I was challenged to prepare to join in that work, and I was motivated to alter the direction of my steps. I gained a deep appreciation for what it means to be godly and content.

May God bless you as you follow him.

Dwayne Uglem