MWR : MB Seminary sends 34 graduates forth to serve

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June 16, 2008 issue

MB Seminary sends 34 graduates forth to serve

By Megan E. Richard MB Biblical Seminary

FRESNO, Calif. — Rebecca Stanley is taking her master of arts in Christian studies degree to Vancouver, B.C., where she and her husband will serve as church planters with the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

Gabriel and Marie-Noëlle Yoder will use their master of arts in marriage, family and child counseling degrees to serve those in need in their home country of France.

Nathaniel Mullen will continue his position on the pastoral staff of a Fresno congregation.

Other new graduates of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary will serve in lead or supporting roles in churches and counseling, or continue their education, or serve God in the marketplace.

In all, 34 students made the transition to alumni of MB Biblical Seminary during commencement ceremonies in Langley, B.C., and Fresno.

The seminary’s Langley campus graduated 14 students with their master of arts degrees during a ceremony at South Delta (B.C.) Baptist Church April 19.

Larry Perkins, president of Northwest Baptist Seminary, gave the graduation address. He used 1 Peter 2:5-9 as his text to encourage graduates that, “By living consciously as part of the body of Christ, we maximize our ministry and together can do great things for God.”

The Fresno commencement ceremony was held May 18 at Fresno First Baptist Church. Twenty students graduated with master or diploma degrees. Raymond O. Bystrom, retired MB Biblical Seminary professor of pastoral ministries, gave the commencement address, “The Dance of the Liberated.”

Bystrom encouraged the graduates to be free from the need to justify their time in seminary or their future work or ministry. Because of what God has done, through their calling to seminary and in their lives, he implored the new alumni to “bring a little bit of heaven to birth on Earth.”

The annual Community Service Award was presented to First Baptist Church for its work in serving the neighborhood and the city. A handful of MB Biblical Seminary graduates and students attend or serve in this congregation.

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