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A reunion of current and past students and faculty members was held at Providence on Oct. 26 to celebrate God’s faithfulness over four decades.

by Doris Penner

Fall 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of Providence Theological Seminary and the institution celebrated with a reunion of current and past students and faculty members.

“We gathered to celebrate the faithfulness of God over these 40 years,” says academic dean Stan Hamm. “The event was encouraging as well as inspiring.”

The reunion on Oct. 26 included the opportunity to attend several lectures, a banquet and an evening program.

“Tonight is a testimony that the seminary has been fulfilling its mission for four decades,” said interim president David Johnson in his closing remarks. He pointed out the word of the gospel—which the seminary has passed on to more than 1600 students over the years—is powerful and active, demolishing strongholds and every power that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

The seminary began in 1972 as a division of Winnipeg Bible College under the tenure of Ken Hanna, president at the time, who saw the need for graduate level theological training in western Canada. The seminary has expanded its curriculum from offering only a master of divinity program to master of arts and doctor of ministry programs. Today PTS has 185 full- and half-time students.

Looking at the future, Johnson told the audience that the seminary will continue to train leaders to prepare them for service in Canada and around the world. He suggested the churches in Asia, African and South America are growing much faster than North American churches.

“Providence will attract more leaders from these churches who will return to preach, teach and pastor those churches,” he said, “Our dream is that the word will sound forth and bring about the reality of a multi-coloured and multi-cultural church standing together to worship Jesus Christ our Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.”