Previous | Next 

Abbotsford, B.C.
Columbia graduates 106


On April 16, Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., graduated 106 students. Of these, 28 earned four-year B.A. degrees, 46 achieved two-year diplomas and 32 received one-year certificates.

In his commencement address, James Richards, president of Western Pentecostal Bible College, Abbotsford, encouraged the graduates to invest their time, treasure and talents for eternity, maximizing the use of their time by developing their talents.

Valedictorian Elizabeth Best of Carstairs, Alta., who graduated with a B.A. in community support services, based her address on Jeremiah 17:7-8. She said her time at Columbia was a time of anchoring her roots securely in the knowledge of God. She encouraged the graduates to serve the Lord without restraint.

Darcy Froese, who graduated with a B.A. in biblical studies, was recognized for academic excellence.

Special recognition was given to David Giesbrecht, who is retiring after 36 years of service

David Giesbrecht

in education and missions. For the past 18 years, he has been Columbia’s director of the library. He provided leadership to the full computerization of the library by the late 1980s. The entire catalogue of holdings is now available on-line at www.columbiabc.edu.

Giesbrecht taught in British Columbia for 11 years; then, together with his wife Betty, did two stints of overseas teaching of three years each in Nigeria and Jamaica under Mennonite Central Committee. He was appreciated by both students and faculty as well as many pastors in the area for his expert assistance and caring attitude.

The new director of the library will be Richard Thiessen. For the past 10 years,

Richard Thiessen

Thiessen has been director of learning resources at Concord College, Winnipeg. He has a B.A. in history and music from the University of British Columbia, an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary and a master of library science degree from UBC.

Also joining the Columbia faculty for the coming year to teach in the area of youth work is Gareth Brandt. He is currently

Gareth Brandt

conference youth minister for the Alberta and Northwest Mennonite Conferences, a position he has held for the past six years. He taught at Swift Current (Sask.) Bible Institute 1994-96. He is a graduate of Steinbach (Man.) Bible College, has a B.A. from Brandon (Man.) University, an M.T.S. from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, and an S.T.M. from College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, University of Saskatchewan.

 – CBC release

Previous | Next 

Last modified May 26, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.