Advent is a treasured time in the Christian life. Through the busyness and messiness - the ups and downs – that come through our daily lives, Advent invites believers into a time of quiet reflection on Scripture, focusing on the great joy of the incarnation.

This is the motivation behind the new Advent devotional recently released by the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College and the Christian History Institute entitled The Grand Miracle.

This collection of daily reflections has been authored by a number of scholars and Christian leaders who have been inspired by seven prominent authors from Christian history. One of the authors who was asked to contribute to this project was Dr. Carolyn Weber, Professor of English Studies at Heritage College & Seminary.

Weber says that she was grateful to be asked by Marjorie Mead, the longtime Associate Director of the Wade Center, to contribute to this collection of reflections.

“I have had much rich interaction and longheld ties with the community at Wheaton and the Wade Center in the past and I very much admire all seven of the Wade authors – so the Wade Center holds a special place in my heart for me,” explains Weber. “I was honoured to be asked, and I appreciate the depth of their work.”

In the devotional, Weber was assigned a quote from G.K. Chesterton discussing the discord brought about by Herod in the midst of the joyous account of the birth of Christ in Matthew 2. She explains that this idea of discord describes personally the fallen human condition, like the disordering of our loves resulting from the fall as described by Augustine. The hope we have as Christians, especially around Christmas, is that within the discord of our own lives we can hear the song of heaven in the coming of Christ.

“Even though we are in discord on this side of heaven, we can still hear the tune – feel the tune – somewhere, out around us in Creation, and deep within our own creation, that reminds us of our longing for home, that sehnsucht or infinite longing, soul homesickness for eternity, that C.S. Lewis described so well as inherent in the human condition as made in God’s image, and our desire to be reconnected to it,” says Weber.

With the devotional’s unique blend of quotes from the “Seven Sages” connecting to the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, Weber says that this kind of reflection is helpful for today’s Christian to see that their thoughts are shared by a greater, historic community of faith.

“Looking back at these authors reminds me I am not alone: that others have grappled with the same questions, weights, fears, exultations,” explains Weber. “It is mindblowing company to keep, quite frankly. I am so unworthy of it, and yet here I am, proof of grace in how He sets us in relationship to better know his relational reality.”

“And that sigh, that goosebump, that catch of the breath, as Beuchner puts it, so representative of the hope embodied in Christmas – it changes, well, everything. Every thing.”

For more information on The Grand Miracle or to purchase the devotional, please visit the Christian History Institute website.

For Dr. Ian Vaillancourt, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Heritage College & Seminary, publishing his first monograph has been an exciting, learning experience.

As he anticipates the release of The Multifaceted Saviour of Psalms 110 and 118: A Canonical Exegesis, Dr. Vaillancourt looks back at all the support he received from an experienced faculty at Heritage, who gave him the feedback and encouragement needed to help produce his first book-length publication. He sees it as a blessing to be able to work alongside of this group and learn from their experience, knowledge and wisdom.

“I am humbled to be on a faculty team that is filled with people who have much more publishing experience than I have,” explains Vaillancourt. “It’s an honour to learn from these scholars as I seek to grow as a writer and use this ministry to bring God glory.”

It was this heart to see God glorified that led him to research Psalms 110 and 118. Vaillancourt explains that when he approached this study, he wanted to go deep in the Old Testament with the hopes that it would help Christians see Christ in its pages. In the case of this monograph, he hopes that the depth-work from an Old Testament perspective will also aid future work by New Testament specialists, as they explain the various appearances of the two most cited psalms in the New Testament.

In The Multifaceted Saviour of Psalms 110 and 118, Dr. Vaillancourt takes a canonical approach to these Psalms, arguing that within the final portion of the book of Psalms there emerges an eschatological messianic figure who will bring ultimate deliverance for God’s people.

“I pray that Christians would see that God planned to send his son before He laid the foundation of the world,” explains Dr. Vaillancourt; “that Jesus is the ultimate prophet who speaks God’s authoritative word to us, the priest who mediates between us and God, and the king who rules over his people and the cosmos.”

With the recent release of his first monograph, Dr. Vaillancourt will also be involved in a number of presentations this November focused on his research. In addition to a presentation in the Psalms and Hebrew Poetry section of the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), Dr. Vaillancourt was one of five people selected to present in the Emerging Old Testament Scholar section at the Annual Meeting of the Institute for Biblical Research (IBR).

Dr. Vaillancourt’s monograph is currently available through Sheffield Phoenix Press and will be made available at both the ETS and IBR meetings.

Please pray for our Heritage Theological Seminary professors as they travel to San Diego to attend and present at ETS, IBR and SBL.

Dr. Rick Reed, President of Heritage College & Seminary, has spent many years mentoring pastors and teaching homiletics here at Heritage. During this time, he says that he came to the realization that helping preachers preach better is more than just teaching them how to prepare and present sermons. He came to see that there is a need to prepare preacher’s souls to proclaim God’s Word.

“I realized the need to help preachers face the heart-level tests that come to us as preachers,” says Dr. Reed. “These tests, though commonly experienced by preachers, are not commonly addressed.”

This is the heart behind Dr. Reed’s recently released book, The Heart of the Preacher. Throughout the book, Reed sets out to describe and pinpoint a number of tests of the preacher’s heart. He draws attention to a number of common struggles that face preachers today:  ambition, insecurity, criticism, comparison, laziness and a number of others.  The remaining chapters of the book are devoted to providing a number of pastoral and practical tips, aimed at helping preachers develop regular habits to protect their hearts to serve effectively.

Though there are many books and resources that help preachers work out the mechanics and structure their sermons clearly and from the text, The Heart of the Preacher takes a different approach by focusing on personal heart preparation and transformation.

Dr. Reed explains that the challenges faced by many preachers are awkward to acknowledge. Though this may be the case, he feels these struggles of the heart are important to address for the health of someone’s preaching ministry.

“The condition and character of a preacher’s heart plays a big part in the spiritual impact of the preacher’s sermon,” says Dr. Reed. “Since God tests the heart, as we read in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, we must be concerned with our heart preparation not just our sermon preparation.”

By highlighting struggles along with the proactive ways to fight these challenges, Dr. Reed hopes his book will be a resource that will help those in preaching ministries keep their hearts strong.

“My prayer is that preachers and teachers will read the book and have their hearts stretched and strengthened so they can better serve Christ’s Church as they proclaim God’s Word,” says Dr. Reed.

To order a copy for yourself or for a pastor you want to encourage, visit Amazon.ca or Heritage’s online bookstore at http://bit.ly/TheHeartofthePreacher-Bookstore.

During the seventeenth century, an influential movement formed out of Great Britain known as the Particular Baptists. Today, the impact of this group and its leaders can still be felt today in the evangelical world. One of its prominent leaders was a pastor by the name of Hanserd Knollys.

Dr. Barry Howson, Academic Dean of the Seminary and Professor of Theology at Heritage College and Seminary, in his new book Christ Exalted seeks to provide readers the opportunity to take a deep look into the thought, works and ministry of Knollys that he believes are a valuable asset for Christians and church leaders today.

“His works are important because most of them were practical and pastoral, seeking to help his readers in their walk with Christ,” says Dr. Howson.

Beginning his ministry as a minister in the Church of England, Knollys then became a congregationalist before coming in contact with the growing Calvinistic Baptist movement in London at the age of 44. Through this group, Knollys became persuaded that only believers should be baptized, and shortly after became one of the leading pastors in this movement’s London churches.

One of Knollys’ theological focuses was his serious focus on eschatological thought. Though this was a common field of study for many educated and respected theologians and pastors during this time period, Howson says it was important to include an essay on Knollys’ eschatological thought in Christ Exalted. He explains that the work of Knollys on this aspect of theology is not only a valuable example of the work during that time period but also reflects an important theological perspective for Christians to hold in desperate moments of life.

“We need to remember that Knollys wrote all of his eschatological works during the Restoration Period in England (1660-1689), when Baptists were facing persecution,” explains Dr. Howson. “It reminds us that in dark times we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and our eternal hope in Him.”

Through his pastoral works, Dr. Howson also says there is much to gain for church leaders today by reading the thought and teachings of Knollys. He explains that, even in the face of opposition, Knollys reflected a great concern for those he led; that they would be instructed in the truth of Christ and its practical application to the life of the believer and the church.  For Howson, this is an example of a pastoral heart that is worth reflecting on for pastors today.

“He was deeply concerned that all under his ministry by truly saved, and therefore, the gospel was front and centre in his preaching and writing ministry,” says Howson. “For these reasons, he is a great example of a pastor even for the twenty-first century.”

For more information on Christ Exalted or to purchase the book, please visit: http://bit.ly/ChristExaltedKnollys

During the month of November, there are two unique opportunities for people to learn more about Heritage College & Seminary.

Young people who are interested in experiencing life at the College are also invited to attend Heritage’s first Student Sampler of the season – being held from November 18 – 19. This two-day, free event is the best way to discover Heritage, connect with current students and see for yourself the value of studying at the College.

Students will get the chance to stay in our dorms for the night, participate in student events, join students for chapel, enjoy meals in the cafeteria and even sit in on Heritage classes while on campus.

Plus, visit us during our Student Sampler and you will have the opportunity to have your Application Fee waived for the 2020 -2021 academic year.

If you are looking for the opportunity to take a tour of campus, meet some of the faculty and experience our College and Seminary for yourself - you are encouraged to book a tour on DiscoverHeritage.ca.

To register for the Student Sampler or to book a tour, please visit discoverheritage.ca/tour.

For more information, please contact us at admissions@heritagecs.edu.

It was an evening of joyful reflection and celebration as alumni, staff and faculty from Central Baptist Seminary gathered for a special evening and dinner marking 70 years of the school.

Close to 100 of Central’s student body came to Heritage College & Seminary to reconnect with classmates, professors and lifelong friends on the evening of October 3^rd. The night was hosted by Dr. Stan Fowler, who currently serves as Professor Emeritus of Theological Studies at Heritage Theological Seminary and is the former President of Central Baptist Seminary.

The evening’s program focused on recounting the illustrious history of the Toronto-based seminary leading up to the merger between Central and London Baptist Bible College and Seminary in 1993 that birthed Heritage.  From stories of W. Gordon Brown and other staff and faculty, to remembering the seminary’s various locations in the area of Toronto, all in attendance enjoyed looking back and seeing how God worked in their lives and in the church through the ministry of Central.

Dr. Fowler also took the time during the evening to interview a few of the alumni and members of the Central community. All the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, George Bell, a Central graduate of 1954, discussed his time at Central as a student, and after graduating serving as a pastor and as a President of the Seminary.

Those gathered also recognized the large contribution of Marina Coldwell, who graduated in 1977. She served for a number of years at Central in various roles and continues to serve at Heritage as a prayerful supporter and connection to alumni.

Jack Hannah, a Central graduate of 1967, reflected fondly on his time as a student at the seminary as Valedictorian of his class, while also talking about his time of service at Central as President and a board member.

As the evening came to a close, Dr. Fowler welcomed Dr. Rick Reed to the podium to share his thanks for the faithfulness and legacy of Central. Dr. Reed committed to continuing to build on that legacy by standing on the same values that were at the heart of the seminary and that they will continue to be at the forefront of Heritage’s vision.

Following the tradition of Central Baptist Seminary, the group stood to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness together – a hymn that will forever be connected with Central Baptist Seminary and its graduates.

It was a special evening of celebration of God’s provision and goodness to Heritage College & Seminary. On September 25th, the board of directors joined faculty, staff and members of the Heritage community gathered together to mark the official end of the College and Seminary’s financial debt.

“It is a historic day in the life of Heritage College & Seminary,” says Dr. Rick Reed, President of Heritage. “This is a great cause for praise and celebration, and we are grateful for the friends of Heritage who gave generously to demolish the debt.”

Around two years ago, the leadership and board of directors of Heritage College & Seminary set out in faith to service the existing debt held by the institution. The goal was to demolish the debt in order to financially enable Heritage to grow and continue equipping men and women for life and ministry.

Thanks to the generous support of the many donors and supporters who provided financially to this ambitious goal, Heritage will be officially free of the debt as of October 1st, 2019.

For Dr. Reed, this is a monumental moment in the history of Heritage College and Seminary that will allow the institution to grow in a sustainable manner and continue to train educate more people who will serve the Church across Canada and around the world.

“As I have been reflecting on this incredible story of God’s goodness and grace to Heritage, it hit me that the idea of paying off another’s debt is at the heart of our faith,” says Dr. Reed. “It’s why we give praise to God for His lavish grace; enabling Heritage to be debt-free and, better yet, through the sacrificial death of His Son, He has made a way for all of us who turn to Christ in repentance and faith to have the debt of our sin completely demolished.”

“That’s a reason to celebrate.”

To celebrate what God has done and continues to do at Heritage, members gathered for a special dinner to mark this historic end to Heritage’s debt. Students from the Music & Worship Studies department, led by Dr. Doug Thomson, performed a number of musical works during the evening followed by prayers, songs of worship and the ceremonial burning of the Heritage mortgage.

Click Here to Register for Ministry Leadership Day 2022

Join us on Thursday, March 31 for Ministry Leadership Day 2022 as Heritage Theological Seminary welcomes Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Dr. Vanhoozer will be discussing the topic of Doctrine for Discipleship—looking at how the local church can be intentional about discipleship and why it is important to the spiritual health of the disciples and equips them to live for Christ in today’s culture.

Heritage is excited to announce that this year’s Ministry Leadership Day will be hosted both in-person and online. We are looking forward to the opportunity to once again welcome pastors and ministry leaders to Heritage for a day of encouragement and equipping, as well as inviting people to join the event by livestream from their homes, offices, or churches.

Details and Registration

Date and Time

Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Registration Cost

General Admission - $60.00

Heritage Partner Churches - $30.00

Livestream Only - $30.00

Please Note: The Heritage Partner Church discounted rate is not available for the Livestream option.

Schedule

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Doors Open and Registration

9:00 am – 9:15 am: Welcome and Worship

9:15am - 10:15 am: Plenary Session 1 with Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

10:15 am - 10:40 am: Break

10:40 am – 11:45 am: Plenary Session 2 with Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

11:45 am - 12:00 pm: President's Update with Dr. Rick Reed

12:00 pm – 1:30pm: Lunch Off-Site

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Plenary Session 3

2:30 pm – 2:40 pm: Break

2:40 pm – 3:30 pm: Question & Answer Period with Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

3:30 pm: Benediction & Dismissal

About Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

Dr. Kevin J. Vanhoozer currently serves as Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Previously, Dr. Vanhoozer was Blanchard Professor of Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

He is the author and editor of a number of books including The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology and his latest book Hearers and Doers: A Pastor’s Guide to Making Disciples Through Scripture and Doctrine.

Click Here to Sign-Up for Ministry Leadership Day 2022

Pastors’ Wives Session

 Pastors’ wives are invited to join Linda Reed, along with other experienced, godly pastors’ wives, on Zoom for a special evening of Scriptural encouragement, wise counsel, and confidential prayer.

This evening of personal, timely encouragement will be held on Zoom on March 31 starting at 7:00 pm.

To take part in this time of personal encouragement, click here to register.

Please Note: This is only for pastors’ wives whose husbands are currently in pastoral roles.