We Can Help

Evangel – Christmas 2013

Articles

Type “We Can Help” into a search engine and you’ll get 308,000,000 hits! At ABC we don’t promise that much! But there are many ways we offer to help supporting ministries.

Of course, our main help is in the equipping of people for ministry and service to Christ. ABC has thrived on the single- minded generosity of the Christian public who believe that one of the keys to the future of the church, in Canadian culture no less than any other, at any time, is in discipled leadership. We value the opportunity to provide Christian education and discipleship training to supporting congregations.

This role is expanding in a revolutionary way through online access to our Professional Adult Christian Education (PACE) program. Through a high speed internet connection, adults over 25 can take a variety of six-week long courses from the comfort of their own home. We are excited about the huge possibilities of equipping ministry leaders, irrespective of geography. Three of the first six video-conference students were recruited for leadership from within their own congregations. This is a beautiful and timely way to help each other: congregations recruit; ABC equips.

Beyond formal programming, there are other aspects to the reciprocal partnership between ABC and supporting ministries. We offer a variety of joint scholarships. Through our Summer Service Program, ministries provide opportunities for first-hand experience to our students as they serve as summer pastors, or as youth and children’s leaders in camps. ABC provides scholarships to make these educational opportunities feasible for students. There is synergy as together we “equip people for effective service and witness for Christ.”

Upon request, ABC will also provide the following for supporting ministries:

Equipping workshops for training teachers and leaders
Equipping workshops for congregations on visioning and strategic planning
Personal coaching for leaders • Mediation and change management consultation
Consultation on how to access a variety of resources
“Pulpit supply” for special celebrations or during a minister’s absence
Teaching on a variety of topics: from “Stewardship of the Earth” to “Interpreting the Book of Revelation”
Programming for youth and children events

As a College community, from Board members, to supporting public, to faculty and staff, to volunteers, we know “we’re better together.”

While we can’t promise to meet every request for help that comes our way, we will try our best! And if we don’t have the resources to help, we will provide resource options. If you’re unsure about whether ABC can help, ask anyway!

For more information contact Ron Fraser at rfraser@abccampus.ca or 403.282.2994 ext. 222.

Dr. Fraser is the Director of Learning Services as well as a professor who specializes in New Testament and Christian history; theological pedagogy; and social ethics in contemporary education. He credentials include B. Th. ’73 Alberta Bible College; B. Ed. ’73 University of Calgary; M.C.S. ’86 Regent College; Ed. D. ’08, University of Alberta Academic.

Ron has also published extensively: From Tinkering to Transformation: Christian Ministry in an Age of Secularism (1993, Lectures of the College of Churches of Christ in Canada. Published by the College of Churches of Christ in Canada); A History of the Restoration Movement in Canada (2008, as in Foster, Blowers, Dunnavant, and Williams, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Eerdmans); Ron has also written numerous articles for the Christian Standard from 1989-2002 and the Alberta Bible College Evangel from 1982-2011.

His ministry activities include Alternative Dispute Resolution; Mediation Training and Peace Education; Ecclesial Leadership and Equipping Education Workships including Inspiring a Shared Vision through Appreciative Inquiry, Group Needs Assessment, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Growing and Empowering Influencers, etc.; Preaching.

In his spare time Ron enjoys hiking, woodworking, visiting with people.

Other articles by Dr. Ron Fraser:

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