NEWS

Steinbach Bible College celebrated the graduating class of 2021 with a live-streamed celebration over April 23 – 24. A total of 38 graduates were recognized with seven Certificate of Biblical studies, nine Associate of Arts, and 22 Bachelor of Arts degrees.

With the third wave of COVID-19 looming in Manitoba ahead of the official graduation date, Provincial restrictions in place and more likely coming down the pipe, the task was set to celebrate SBC’s graduates while also maintaining safety and adhering to the Provincial Health guidelines.

After many altered plans and sacrifices of “tradition” with no spring concert, banquet, or friends and family-filled seats, a much-scaled back celebration took place privately among students and staff with each awards chapel, celebration chapel, and conferring of degrees being live-streamed for supporting family and friends from across the campus, province, country, and globe to “attend” safely. Each chapel was held twice over with half of the graduates being recognized each time to keep numbers within provincial guidelines.

“Graduation serves as a time to reflect on the growth and maturing of our students. What greater satisfaction can I have than to see students grow in their relationship with Jesus, be eager to serve the church, and have a passion to engage the world,” reflects SBC President Rob Reimer.

Studying in the midst of a pandemic has certainly presented itself with numerous difficulties that our students adapted to with admirable grace. Students adjusted from being able to be out “in the world” making a difference, to learning how they can make a difference from where they are. Service and ministry were re-imaged in various ways and the sentiment of the lessons this taught them was evident in the conversations you’d hear about between students and their faculty advisors.

“We are graduating from a college that has fostered and developed our love for the Word, and the Lord, and for His people,” said 2021 class valedictorian, Andrew Reimer, BA Christian Studies (pictured left), who addressed his fellow grads and online viewers during Saturdays Celebration Chapel.

“Wherever our separate paths lead, as we scatter from here, I want to encourage us to follow through on these things; to commit to using what we have learned to follow Christ in tangible actions. Choose Him and live like it.”

Reimer concludes, “I wait with anticipation, to hear of your journey beyond SBC and a life of continued service, for the sake of the Kingdom.”

If you would like to watch the recorded live-streams of our graduation festivities, you can view them on our website at HERE for a limited time.