Renewed emphasis on spirituality and fundraising help school to grow

Buhler donation kick-starts school’s fundraising campaign

John and Bonnie Buhler

John and Bonnie Buhler of Buhler Industries in Winnipeg, Manitoba gave the 113-year old Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) in Gretna, Manitoba $500,000 to help start phase two of a $4 million fund-raising campaign.

“It’s a very worthwhile, much needed project and I consider it a privilege to contribute to something so worthwhile,” said Buhler in an interview following the cheque-giving ceremony at the MCI on February 5.

MCI is run by a society and receives its financial support from that society, independent churches, including South Park MB Church, Altona; individuals and businesses.

Life for John and Bonnie Buhler hasn’t been easy after settling with the union following a 9 1/2 month strike at their Versatile tractor plant in Winnipeg, Man. “All the press, most of it was bad press, forced us into a shell. We had to figure a way to get out of the shell and get back to a normal life,” said John.

About 6 months ago they started going to social functions and that’s how they came to donate $500,000 to the school.

Paul Kroeker, principal of the MCI and formerly president of Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute, was hired by the board of directors in 1999 to give strong spiritual, administrative, and academic leadership to the school.

“They wanted the faith element of the school to come into focus. That was also my calling,” he adds.

Kroeker outlines how three years ago, 70 staff and board members and key supporters and spouses, held a weekend think tank to determine the direction of the school.

“We had done a couple months of research in advance, talked to some alumni and people in the area,” he says.

It was time to reexamine how the school could best serve the community in the future, and create an effective educational program that would train leaders in an understanding of a faith commitment to Jesus Christ.

Paul Kroeker, principal, with John and Bonnie Buhler and Reg Klassen

With the results of an extensive survey and study in their hands, the 70 people gathered to pray. After soul searching and discussion, the group agreed the school had to address four essential needs:

• Remove the debt incurred in building the residence and cafeteria and make much needed repairs and improvements to the facility.
• Insure an excellent school program with up-to-date equipment to attract students.
• Establish a sound endowment fund to help those students from families who couldn’t afford to attend the school.
• Build a performing arts centre to help the school and the area which has such a long history in music and drama, grow and move forward.

Kroeker reflects on the success of the school in the last four years saying, “It’s sometimes hard to guess why God blesses you.” The enrollment has climbed steadily from 115 students to 170 this school year.

While the principal can’t put his finger on any single factor, he contributes it to the Lord blessing their prayers, obedience, good planning and hard work.

“That’s been the Lord’s blessing, spreading the word that we’ve really given attention to the quality of the program and the quality of the individual experience,” says Kroeker.

The MCI wants to make sure that every student who attends can develop his or her gifts and receive a sense of the mission of the school.

Part of the MCI’s mission statement reads, “Our aim is that our students accept Christ as Lord and that they be disciples who express Christian hope by serving others, promoting peace, and providing Christ-like leadership within the church community and secular world.”

“We’re a Christian school within a Mennonite tradition, and we want every student to encounter Jesus Christ. Without question I’m hearing students say, good things are happening in their lives at the MCI,” he adds, things like their encounter with missions and about the staff that cares about them and is spiritually alive.

“When they come into this context, they’ll be part of a dynamic Christian experience. I think students are coming because of those reasons,” he says.

The proposed performing arts centre caught John and Bonnie Buhler’s attention. Buhler is no stranger to southern Manitoba and its agriculturally-based community. In addition to his close ties to the farming community, Buhler has supported Health Care and Education in Manitoba.

Last fall, they attended a concert by the students (including two of their grandchildren) of MCI; the quality performance and talent overwhelmed them.

“When I heard the choir sing, I decided if a school can produce that kind of music and talent, it deserves some form of support,” said John.

That’s when he decided to make a donation.

“We make our living in the farming community, and we want to give a little bit back to the farming community,” he adds.

—Harry Siemens is a writer, trainer and speaker living in Altona, Man.