For Jake and Roseanne Tomc, the opportunity to move to Heritage and begin their new role as Residence Directors is an answer to prayer.

After Jake officially graduated with his Master of Divinity from Heritage Theological Seminary this spring, they began praying about an opportunity to serve God’s people together and use their passion for higher education in a way that edified the church. With their experience serving together at Maple Avenue Baptist Church while Jake was an intern, and Roseanne’s experience working with students—it became clear that serving as Residence Directors fit both of their hearts for ministry.

“We feel that our love for higher education will rub off on the students and that we will be able to help them succeed in reaching their own goals, while also reminding them that academic success is not where our identity lies. Our identity is found in Christ and our desire to bring God glory in our lives,” says Jake. “We are both so looking forward to getting to know the students and pouring into their lives while they are on campus.”

From their own experience as students and staff at different universities, Jake and Roseanne understand that the years students spend in a postsecondary environment are some of the most formative in a student’s life. This is especially the case at Heritage, where the students are part of a community that is seeking to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ together.

The couple explains that this is seen most practically in living in residence, where lifelong relationships are developed, and the lessons learned in the classroom are put into action. To have the opportunity to foster this type of community focused on the spiritual growth of each student is one of the reasons this new position is exciting for the Tomcs.

“Our hope and prayer is that by God’s grace we can be a model of what it looks like for justified sinners to pursue godliness in community—showing humility where we fail, pointing to Christ where we get it right, and showing what it looks like to bear one another’s burdens,” says Jake.

When Roseanne looks ahead to this new opportunity, she says that she has been praying that the students this year will grow as they both seek biblical wisdom in their studies and develop deep relationships with one another—especially after a year where God has shown people how important community truly is.

“With the isolation we have all experienced, I am asking the Lord to give students the desire to take advantage of all Heritage has to offer and truly capitalize on their time living on campus,” says Roseanne.

The impact of learning and growing in a community is one of the elements of Jake’s time at Heritage that he treasured the most. He now looks back at his time at Heritage and sees how his experience learning from professors along with his fellow students gave him a deeper love for theological education.

It is this kind of experience that he hopes to share with the students on campus as he begins his Ph.D. studies this fall at McMaster Divinity College.  He hopes that the opportunity to disciple Heritage students while continuing to learn alongside them will help foster the community and growth he still values from his time at Heritage.

“I want us to grow in the knowledge and love of our Lord together,” explains Jake. “I believe that as they pour themselves into their studies, and seek God’s glory in their work, their time at Heritage will serve to prepare them to be ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ in their fields of influence.”

Please pray for Jake and Roseanne as they begin their new role at Heritage this August. As well, pray for our new and returning students as they prepare for the start of the Fall Semester this September.

In the fall of 2019, brothers Ian and Josh Cushnie began their studies at Heritage together in the Worship Leaders Certificate program. Now, as they both look back at their time at the college, it’s clear that the decision to take one year to learn and grow at Heritage was a worthwhile one.

For Ian, the decision to come to Heritage came at a time in his life when he felt he needed some sort of change. At the time, he says that knew he wanted to study somewhere and pursue music. So, after hearing about Heritage from his friends, family and leaders at his church he decided that Heritage would be a great place to go to not only learn but also grow in his faith.

After arriving, he soon began to see how God was going to use this one year of learning in a Christian community to strengthen his walk with God.

“I was submerged fully into Christian life. Studying the Bible in and out of class, learning and growing in areas of music, and even just being with others was teaching me so much,” says Ian. “Even though I am an introvert, I am very much influenced by the people I’m around and it helps when they have only God on their mind.”

Josh says that his one year at Heritage was also excellent in how it provided him a place and community to grow within – in his faith, skills as a musician, and knowledge of worship.

“My musical abilities grew substantially, and I have a much better understanding of music theory,” says Josh. “And I feel that I finally understand why we worship.”

As a musician, Ian also says that the musical education that he received at Heritage in just one year provided him with knowledge that he now finds himself applying to different situations after graduating from the program. He sees how each lesson that he learned while at Heritage has allowed him to help his local church and has also impacted the way he lives each and every day for Christ.

For both Ian and Josh, this growth musically and spiritually was made even more incredible by the opportunity to live and grow in loving community centred on Christ. It was this experience to live and learn alongside other Christians that they say makes studying at Heritage for one year meaningful and worthwhile.

“The best thing you could do is just commit to one year and take each day as it comes because there will be plenty to learn and lots of fun to be had and I guarantee it will change your life for the better,” says Ian. “You are surrounded by great people, you will get to learn from awesome loving teachers, deepen your faith, and you will love God more each day in the process.”

Josh agrees with his brother after his one year at Heritage, saying that he would encourage others to take one year at Heritage and experience this community for themselves.

“I think the real question is why not choose Heritage? Heritage is a close community who truly cares for each other and wants to see those in the community grow," says Josh.

As a recent graduate from Heritage, I am currently in a season of reflection. Over my four years I have learned so much and experienced so many unique opportunities that have grown my relationship with the Lord.

One specific example began during my second year. I was helping with the ESL program. I remember being so nervous, as it was something I had never done before. Little did I know though that this day would end up being something the Lord would continually use from there on out to deepen my relationship with him and serve the nations.

Once my final year arrived, I needed to complete an internship. After much prayer, my mentor and I decided that continuing in ESL would be the perfect fit. This year stretched me far greater than I ever would have expected- especially having to navigate through COVID-19.

With COVID-19 restricting how we gather, the ESL classes begun being held over Zoom. It was a little strange when we first began switching from in person to online, but it ended up turning into a blessing for the ministry.

Being online allowed us to have multiple classes a week, which turned into the opportunity to share the gospel multiple times a week. This season of uncertainty with COVID, turned into a season of fruit and celebration.

One of my most memorable experiences was during Easter. I had the opportunity to plan an event for our students. Originally, I planned a socially distant event, as it complied with restrictions, however a few days prior, the restrictions changed and we were no longer able to continue with the event. This change in restrictions was not the end. The ESL team and I just needed to be a little more creative on ways to still present the gospel.

We ended up putting together some cards, flowers, goodie bags and printouts explaining the true meaning of Easter. With these gifts, we went to each student’s home to do a curb side drop off. To each of our students, it was a great surprise, as they felt both loved and valued by their teachers. I firmly believe God used this to strengthen the ministry.

There have been countless moments in this ministry that share the Lord at work, and I can’t praise him enough for having me be a part of them!

And so, as I move forward from my time at Heritage, I look forward to continuing to serve the Lord through ESL ministries, sharing the light of the gospel to the various nations.

To read more stories about how God has been working in and through Heritage, read our latest newsletter. Click here to read this year's Spring & Summer Newsletter.

Dr. Ian J. Vaillancourt’s 2019 monograph, The Multifaceted Saviour of Psalms 110 and 118: A Canonical Exegesis, has recently been recognized by the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (CSBS) as the recipient of its R.B.Y. Scott Award. This award recognizes an outstanding book in the areas of Hebrew Bible and/or the Ancient Near East. It is named after Robert Balgarnie Young Scott, one of Canada’s most renowned Old Testament scholars.

When Dr. Vaillancourt received the news that he had received this award, he says that he was both honoured and encouraged as he continues to serve the Lord through a writing ministry.

As he looks back on the book that began his Ph.D. dissertation, Dr. Vaillancourt hopes that it influences Christians more broadly, by first convincing Psalms scholars to find Messianic hope in a Saviour to come as a prominent theme in the latter portion of the book of Psalms.

“Ultimately, I hope that Christ is exalted from this study of the Old Testament,” says Vaillancourt.

The CSBS, known for being the oldest humanities academic society in Canada, annually awards Canadian scholars who are interested in the academic study of the Bible in its literary and historical contexts. As a winner of the R.B.Y. Scott Award, Dr. Vaillancourt’s name has been added to the ranks of previous winners, who include Carmen Joy Imes, Iain Provan, John Kessler, Keith Bodner, and Mark Boda.

Dr. Vaillancourt continues to serve the Lord through his writing and publishing, and is currently working on several projects. These include books on the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and a pair of commentaries on 1 and 2 Samuel for the Pillar Old Testament Commentary series.

To learn more about Dr. Vaillancourt’s award winning scholarly monograph, please click here.

For over 40 years, Dr. David G. Barker’s ministry in the church and the academy has been defined by his heart for God and His Word. Whether one sat under his preaching in the church or under his teaching in the classrooms of London Baptist Bible College and London Baptist Seminary and Heritage College and Seminary, Dr. Barker has made a lasting impact on the lives and hearts of the many congregants and students who have been shaped by his devotion to God and the truth of Scripture.

Now, as Dr. Barker enters a new stage of his ministry in retirement, many who have served alongside him celebrate his twin passions for the theological academy and the local church in a collection of essays that have been compiled into a new book, Reading Scripture, Learning Wisdom: Essays in Honour of David G. Barker.

Dr. Barry Howson, Professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean of Heritage Theological Seminary, says that this festschrift is a fitting honour for Dr. Barker who has made a significant impact through his ministry in the church and academy.

“His impact has been felt in the church through his thoughtful exegetical preaching of the Word along with his caring pastoral ministry of his flock,” says Dr. Howson. “He has trained many students who are now ministering around the world as servants of Christ, and he has been a part of their preparation to handle the word with precision and relevance.”

Dr. Howson explains that each of the essays found in the festschrift represent several biblical and theological topics with a focus on Biblical Studies which has been the focal point of Dr. Barker’s time as a pastor and professor.

“This collection of essays emulates the scholarly and relevant pastoral and academic ministry that marked David’s life,” explains Howson. “As you read these essays you enter into David’s world over the past 40 years.”

To write these essays the book, co-edited by Dr. Howson along with Professor of Church History at Heritage Theological Seminary, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin, has brought together 15 contributors, most of whom have served alongside Dr. Barker throughout his ministry at Heritage and London. For Howson, each essay reflects Barker’s heart for the church that was always behind all his work in the academy.

“This collection of essays reflects David’s passion for the truth, not for the academy as an end in itself but for the church of Jesus Christ,” says Howson. “David has been an example of the reason for the academy’s existence – to serve the biblical and practical needs of the church.”

People can purchase a paperback edition of Reading Scripture, Learning Wisdom by contacting the Main Office at Heritage at info@heritagecs.edu or call Heritage at 1-800-465-1961 or 519-651-2869.