In fall 2007, a community in the small town of Hepburn, Sask., began to shape my life. I was a first-year student at Bethany College, a place of profound formation and development for me as a disciple of Jesus.
The place captured my heart with an all-encompassing, life-altering, horizon-expanding revelation of the depth and breadth and width of Christian discipleship.
Bethany College was also my first encounter with the MB family, and I was smitten.
Fast-forward 12 years to a place far from Bethany, I found myself experiencing much of the same emotions and thoughts as I once did on the old Bethany campus as I took in the EQUIP study conference in Waterloo, Ont.
Oct 23–25, 2019, I was privileged once again to sit and listen to my former Bethany professors share their wisdom, intellect, and experiences on the topic of community hermeneutics. Now, I participate as a fellow member of the MB family.
As I reflect back on the past week, I am moved. The hermeneutical tools with which I was equipped as a Bethany student still have the power to help me learn the heart and discern the will of my Jesus. As our faith family filled with diversity engaged each other to collectively implement these tools, I witnessed their transforming power for our community.
Every recollection of my time at Bethany is accompanied by twinge of loss; I feel a deep sadness that Bethany College is no longer. However, God is faithful and I am heartened to know that the legacy of community hermeneutics has not been lost in the MB faith family.
Now, more than ever, we need to focus our attention, discipline our hearts and minds, slow down, and allow Scripture to inform our choices in a very distracted time in human existence.
For these reasons, I am deeply grateful for the practice of gathering together as the MB family to wrestle with Scripture together, to teach tools and impart wisdom, and to continue to equip our family as disciples of Jesus.
Ashley Wiebe
is a graduate of Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask., a professional social worker, and a member of Faith River Christian Fellowship, Saskatoon.
Read also
https://mbherald.com/the-offspring-of-a-bridal-school/